How to Change Song on AirPods: Quick Tap Controls Guide

AirPods are designed to provide a wireless, hassle-free listening experience, and knowing how to change songs efficiently can further enhance your enjoyment. Whether you’re on a run, commuting, or simply relaxing, the ability to control your music without reaching for your device is a significant convenience. Apple has integrated simple touch controls on the AirPods to manage audio playback and calls with ease.

For the standard AirPods, you can double-tap the touch control on either earbud to skip to the next track. If you have the AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation), a double-press on the force sensor, located on the stem, will achieve the same result. Meanwhile, to replay or skip back to a previous song, the process requires a triple-press on the same force sensor. Adjusting these settings allows for a more personalized listening experience, aligning with your preferences and habits.

Mastering these gestures allows for seamless transitions between tracks, ensuring that your focus remains undisturbed. Whether you’re an avid music listener or someone who appreciates the occasional melody, familiarizing yourself with AirPods’ controls enhances the wireless experience, making sure your soundtrack is always within reach.

Understanding AirPods Controls

Your AirPods are designed for ease of use, and controlling them is simple and intuitive once you understand the basic gestures and commands available to you.

For AirPods (1st and 2nd generation):

• Double-tap the top part of the stem of your AirPod to answer a call or to play and pause audio content.

For AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods (3rd generation):

• Single Press: To play and pause audio, press the force sensor on the stem once.
• Double Press: Skip forward by double-pressing the force sensor.
• Triple Press: To skip back, triple-press the force sensor.

For volume control on all AirPods:

• You can’t directly adjust the volume through your AirPods’ touch controls. Instead, say “Hey Siri“ followed by your request to turn the volume up or down.

To customize your AirPods controls:

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Find your AirPods in the list and tap the More Info button (i icon).
4. From here, you can assign different functions to the double-tap action for each AirPod.

Remember, for detailed audio control, such as precise volume adjustments, you’ll still need to use your connected device or ask Siri for assistance.

Basic Gestures for AirPods

Managing your audio experience with AirPods is intuitive, with a few simple gestures to change songs, access Siri, and control music playback directly.

Activate Siri for Song Changes

To change songs using Siri, first ensure that Siri is set up on the device connected to your AirPods. Here’s what to do:

• AirPods (1st and 2nd Gen): Double-tap the top of the stem to activate Siri, then say something like, “Play the next song,” or “Skip this track.”
• AirPods Pro & AirPods (3rd Gen): Press and hold the force sensor on the stem until you hear a chime, and then speak your command.

Control Music Playback Directly

For direct control over your music playback without using Siri, follow these gestures:

• Play or Pause: Single-tap on either AirPod.
• Skip Forward:
  • AirPods: Double-tap on either AirPod.
  • AirPods Pro & AirPods (3rd Gen): Double-press the force sensor.
• Skip Backward:
  • AirPods: Triple-tap on either AirPod.
  • AirPods Pro & AirPods (3rd Gen): Triple-press the force sensor.

Note that for the AirPods Pro and AirPods (3rd generation), the force sensor replaces the tap function with a press.

Changing Songs on AirPods

Managing your music without reaching for your device is easy with AirPods. You can skip tracks using voice commands with Siri, or control playback manually with gestures.

Change Tracks with Siri

To change songs on your AirPods using Siri:

1. Activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri,” followed by your command, without the need to touch your AirPods.
2. Command Siri with phrases like “Skip this song” or “Play the previous track” to navigate your music library.

Skip Songs Manually

To skip songs manually on your standard AirPods:

• Double-tap the outside of either AirPod to advance to the next song.
• Triple-tap to go back to the previous track.

With AirPods Pro, it’s slightly different:

• Double-press the force sensor on the stem to skip forward.
• To replay the previous song, triple-press the force sensor.

Customizing AirPods Gestures

With a few steps, you can customize how your AirPods respond to taps and touches, allowing you to skip songs, pause music, or answer calls without ever touching your device.

Setting Preferences on iOS

To customize AirPods gestures on your iOS device:

1. Open your Settings app and tap on Bluetooth.
2. Look for AirPods in your list of devices and tap the “i” icon next to them.
3. You’ll see options to configure gestures for both Left and Right AirPods.

You can assign different actions such as play, pause, skip to the next track, or go to the previous track with either a double-tap or a triple-tap on AirPods (1st and 2nd generation). On AirPods Pro and later, you can also press on the stem to skip songs.

Adjusting Settings on Mac

To change the gesture controls on your Mac:

1. Open the Apple Menu and select System Preferences.
2. Click Bluetooth and find your AirPods in the device list.
3. Click the “Options” button next to your AirPods’ name to customize the gestures.

Here you can set the double-tap functionality, choose which AirPods will respond to these gestures, and decide whether each AirPod will perform the same or different actions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

When your AirPods don’t respond as expected or song playback is not working correctly, these simple steps can help rectify common issues.

Addressing Unresponsive AirPods

• Ensure Charging: Make sure your AirPods are charged by placing them in their case for at least 15 minutes.
• Restart Device: Restart your connected smartphone or tablet to eliminate potential software glitches.
• Reset AirPods: If they remain unresponsive, reset your AirPods. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes amber and then white.

Fixing Song Playback Problems

• Check Connectivity: Verify Bluetooth is enabled and your AirPods are selected as the audio output device.
• Inspect Gestures: For AirPods with touch controls, make sure the double-tap feature is correctly set up for song skipping under your device’s Bluetooth settings.
• Firmware Update: Ensure your AirPods’ firmware is up to date for optimal performance and compatibility.

Advanced Tips for AirPods Users

As an AirPods user, you can elevate your listening experience by mastering some advanced techniques, including how to effectively use them with non-Apple devices and optimizing their gesture controls for efficiency.

Using AirPods with Non-Apple Devices

To use your AirPods with Android or other non-Apple devices, you’ll need to manually pair them. Start by opening the AirPods case, then press and hold the setup button until the status light flashes white. On your device, go to Bluetooth settings and select your AirPods from the list.

• Pairing process:
  1. Open the case with AirPods inside.
  2. Hold the setup button till the light flashes white.
  3. Go to your device’s Bluetooth settings.
  4. Select ‘AirPods’ to pair.

Remember, functionality may be limited when connected to non-Apple devices — for example, you might not be able to customize double-tap settings as easily as on Apple devices.

Maximizing Gesture Efficiency

To get the most out of your AirPods’ touch capabilities, understand how to customize your gestures. On an iPhone or iPad, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods. You can assign different actions for double taps, such as playing the next track or activating Siri.

• Customization Steps:
  • Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your Apple device.
  • Tap the ‘i‘ next to your AirPods.
  • Customize double-tap for either AirPod to your preference: Play/Pause, Next Track, Previous Track, or Siri.

Get familiar with these gestures and you can switch tracks or pause music on-the-go without ever having to take out your device.