To change what double tap or press and hold does on AirPods, wear your AirPods, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your AirPods’ name near the top, choose Left or Right, and pick an action. On AirPods 1 and 2 you change the double tap. On AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 (ANC), and AirPods 5, you change the press-and-hold action on the stem.
These steps follow Apple’s AirPods User Guide pages Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro and Use controls and gestures with your AirPods, plus Apple’s support article Change the settings of your AirPods and AirPods Pro.
How to Change the AirPods Tap or Hold Action on iPhone
- Put in your AirPods and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone or iPad.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
- Under Press and Hold AirPods, tap Left or Right. If you don’t see them, tap Controls & Gestures first.
- Choose the action you want.
Result: The AirPod you picked uses the new action from then on. On a Mac, Apple says to open System Settings, click your AirPods in the sidebar, and choose Left or Right the same way.
Double-Tap Options on AirPods 1 and 2
Apple says you can set each AirPod 1 or 2 to do one of these with a double tap at the top of the stem:
- Play and pause audio
- Play the next track
- Go back to the previous track
- Activate Siri
Result: Each ear can have its own action, such as Siri on the left and next track on the right. Apple’s support article also describes reaching these options by tapping the More Info button next to your AirPods. Volume control is not among Apple’s double-tap options, so it isn’t included here.
Press-and-Hold Options on AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 (ANC), and AirPods 5
Apple says these models have three listening modes: Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Adaptive Audio, and you can also turn Listening Mode off. By default, pressing and holding the stem switches between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency. To change it:
- Open Settings and tap your AirPods’ name.
- Under Press and Hold AirPods, tap Left or Right.
- Make sure Listening Mode is selected, then select the two or three modes you want to cycle through. Or select Siri instead.
Result: Apple says you can set one AirPod for Siri and the other to change listening modes. If both are set to Listening Mode, a change on one applies to both. Apple also notes that press and hold won’t change listening modes while Camera Remote is set to use it and a supported camera app is open.
What About AirPods 3?
Apple’s two guides differ here. The settings page includes AirPods 3 among the models whose press-and-hold action you can change, while the controls page lists only Siri for press and hold on AirPods 3. AirPods 3 controls can’t be remapped. If you have AirPods 3, check the Settings screen for your AirPods to see which options appear.
What the Stem Presses Do on Newer AirPods
On AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, and AirPods Pro, Apple says you press the stem to play or pause, double-press to skip ahead, triple-press to go back a track, and press once to answer a call. AirPods Pro 2 and later and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case also let you swipe the stem lightly to change the volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set each AirPod to do something different?
Yes. Apple says you choose Left or Right separately, so each AirPod can have its own double-tap or press-and-hold action.
Where do I change noise control if not on the stem?
Apple says you can also switch between listening modes in Control Center. To use noise cancellation with just one AirPod in, see how to enable noise cancellation for one AirPod.
More AirPods Guides
- How to change which AirPod has the microphone
- How to check AirPods battery life
- How to make AirPods connect to your iPhone automatically
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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