To choose what a press-and-hold gesture does, connect and wear your AirPods Pro, then open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap the AirPods name. Under Press and Hold AirPods, choose Left or Right, select Listening Mode, and pick the modes you want that stem to cycle through. If the option is missing, look under Controls & Gestures first. You can also switch modes in Control Center without changing the gesture setup.
What the AirPods Pro listening modes do
| Mode | What you hear |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation | Reduces external sound. |
| Transparency | Lets environmental sound through. |
| Adaptive Audio | Blends noise cancellation and Transparency behavior, adjusting to changing noise conditions. It is available only on supported models. |
The modes available in settings depend on your AirPods model. Apple describes Adaptive Audio as blending Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency to control how much noise you hear as your surroundings change: Apple’s Adaptive Audio instructions.
Choose what pressing and holding a stem does
- Open the charging case and connect the AirPods to your iPhone or iPad. Wear them while changing the settings.
- Open Settings and tap your AirPods name near the top of the screen.
- Under Press and Hold AirPods, tap Left or Right. If you do not see that section, tap Controls & Gestures.
- Select Listening Mode, then choose the modes you want the press-and-hold gesture to cycle through.
You can select two or three modes for the gesture. If both earbuds are assigned to change listening modes, choosing the modes for one applies to both; you can instead assign one side to Siri. Menu names and available options can vary by AirPods generation and software version. See Apple’s instructions for changing AirPods controls.
Switch modes without changing the gesture settings
Use the AirPods stem
With the AirPods connected and in your ears, press and hold either stem until you hear the mode change. The gesture cycles through the modes you enabled in settings.
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- 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.*
Use Control Center
On your iPhone or iPad, open Control Center, touch and hold the volume slider, then select a listening mode. The choices shown depend on your AirPods model and which modes are enabled. Apple’s instructions for switching listening modes cover the available controls.
Customize how Transparency sounds
Choosing Transparency is separate from changing how its sound is adjusted. To customize it on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Headphone Accommodations. Turn on Headphone Accommodations and the Transparency customization option, then adjust Amplification, Transparency Balance, and Tone to suit your preference. Apple’s setup steps require the AirPods to be connected and worn. Refer to Apple’s Headphone Accommodations guide; labels or navigation may differ across software versions.
Rank #2
- 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.*
Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness
On supported AirPods, Adaptive Audio can be shifted toward allowing more ambient sound or applying more noise cancellation. Conversation Awareness is a separate feature: when enabled, it lowers media volume as you begin speaking and enhances voices in front of you. Depending on the model and software, these options may appear in the connected AirPods settings or Control Center. If a control is not present, your model or software may not support it; Apple’s Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness instructions describe the supported controls.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
Rank #4
- 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.*
Rank #3
- 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
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