Getting More From Your AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro are among the most capable earbuds on the market, but most people use only a fraction of what they can do. Between the default settings and features buried in menus, there's a lot of untapped potential in those small white earbuds. Here are ten features worth knowing.

1. Adaptive Audio Mode

Introduced in a firmware update, Adaptive Audio is a middle ground between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. It dynamically blends the two based on your environment — reducing noise when it's loud, letting in important sounds like voices when the environment is quieter. Enable it by pressing and holding the stem to cycle through audio modes, or set it in Settings → Bluetooth → AirPods Pro → Noise Control.

2. Conversation Awareness

When Conversation Awareness is on, your AirPods automatically lower your music volume and activate Transparency mode when they detect you speaking. When you stop talking, your audio fades back in. Find it under Settings → Accessibility → AirPods.

3. Personalized Spatial Audio

Spatial Audio is impressive on its own, but Personalized Spatial Audio uses a Face ID scan of your ears to tailor the audio profile to your specific ear shape. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → AirPods Pro → Personalized Spatial Audio to run the setup.

4. Custom Press-and-Hold Actions

You can customize what the stem press-and-hold gesture does on each AirPod independently. Instead of cycling through noise modes, you can assign it to Siri or a specific noise mode. Go to Settings → Bluetooth → [AirPods Pro] → Press and Hold AirPods.

5. Loud Sound Reduction

AirPods Pro can analyze and reduce sudden loud environmental sounds in real time — like a siren or a construction drill — without fully activating noise cancellation. This is separate from ANC and works even in Transparency mode. Enable it in Settings → Accessibility → AirPods → Loud Sounds.

6. Find My Network Support

AirPods Pro (2nd generation and later) support Apple's Find My network, meaning they can be located even when they're not connected to your device — as long as they're within Bluetooth range of any Apple device. Open the Find My app, tap Devices, and you'll see your AirPods listed with their last known location.

7. Ear Tip Fit Test

Getting a good seal dramatically improves both noise cancellation and bass response. If you haven't run the Ear Tip Fit Test, go to Settings → Bluetooth → AirPods Pro → Ear Tip Fit Test. It plays audio and analyzes the seal in seconds, telling you if you need a smaller or larger tip.

8. One AirPod Mono Mode

If you need to stay aware of your surroundings but still want audio, you can use a single AirPod and your iPhone will automatically play stereo audio through that one earbud. Enable it under Settings → Accessibility → Audio/Visual → Mono Audio.

9. Announce Notifications

Siri can read your incoming notifications aloud through your AirPods without you having to pull out your phone. You can set it to announce notifications from all apps or specific ones. Find this in Settings → Notifications → Announce Notifications.

10. Automatic Switching Between Devices

AirPods Pro can automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac based on what's playing audio. If you start a video on your Mac, they'll switch from your iPhone seamlessly. You can control this behavior in Settings → Bluetooth → AirPods Pro → Connect to This iPhone → Automatically.

Keep Firmware Updated

Apple regularly adds features and improvements through AirPods firmware updates. These update automatically when your AirPods are in their case, connected to power, and within range of your iPhone. To check your current firmware version, go to Settings → Bluetooth → [AirPods Pro] → About.