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You can personalize AirPods by renaming them, changing supported controls and listening settings, setting up Personalized Spatial Audio, and adjusting accessibility options. The exact choices depend on your AirPods model, device, software, app, and content, so first connect your AirPods and check which settings appear for your pair.
Find your AirPods settings
On iPhone or iPad, connect your AirPods and open Settings. Their settings are available from the device information for your connected AirPods; you can also find them under Bluetooth. Menu labels and available controls vary by model and software. Apple’s AirPods settings guide describes model-specific options.
Rename your AirPods
- Open the charging case with your AirPods inside, then open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Bluetooth and select the information button next to your AirPods.
- Tap the current name, enter a new one, then tap Done.
If the labels or route differ on your device, open the settings page for your connected AirPods and look for the name field.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChange controls and listening behavior
Available controls depend on the model. Some AirPods let you customize what a double-tap or press-and-hold action does. On certain models, you can also choose supported listening modes, including Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Adaptive Audio. These options are not available on every generation; use the controls shown on your own AirPods settings page rather than assuming all models share the same choices.
#1 Best Overall
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
Set up Personalized Spatial Audio
Personalized Spatial Audio has specific requirements: an iPhone with iOS 16 or later and a TrueDepth camera, supported AirPods or Beats, and compatible audiovisual content. If your devices meet those requirements, use the AirPods settings on iPhone to start setup and follow the guided capture of your face and ears.
Apple says the camera data used to create the profile is processed entirely on the device and that the images are not stored. Apple also documents profile syncing with an end-to-end encryption qualification. See its Personalised Spatial Audio setup instructions for current compatibility and setup details.
Rank #2
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Choose how Spatial Audio behaves
On supported devices, you can choose among three Spatial Audio presentations while wearing connected AirPods:
- Off: Spatial Audio is disabled for the current app.
- Fixed: Spatial Audio is enabled without head tracking.
- Head Tracked: The sound presentation responds to head movement.
To change the setting on iPhone or iPad, open Control Center while wearing your AirPods, touch and hold the volume control, then choose a Spatial Audio option. The documented flow saves the setting per app. Spatial Audio is not available for every app or item of content, and the choices shown depend on the device and connected AirPods. Apple provides further details in its Spatial Audio and head tracking guide.
Rank #3
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Adjust accessibility settings
For supported AirPods, iPhone accessibility settings can change press speed and press-and-hold duration, as well as head-tracking behavior for Spatial Audio. These adjustments tailor how you interact with the earbuds; the available options depend on the model.
AirPods Pro also have documented Transparency adjustments. Depending on support and software, you can tune amplification, balance, and tone. Find the relevant controls in Accessibility settings or the AirPods settings on iPhone. Apple’s AirPods accessibility instructions and Transparency customization guide list the supported options.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
Rank #4
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- Easy setup for all your Apple devices
- Quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
- Double-tap to play or skip forward
- New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices
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