How to Use AirPods Pro Controls — A Complete Guide

Apple’s AirPods Pro aren’t just wireless earbuds — they’re smart, responsive, and packed with hidden controls that make listening seamless. Whether you just unboxed them or have been using them for a while, mastering the controls will completely change how you experience your music, calls, and Siri commands.

Below is a complete, hands-on guide that walks you through every control option on the AirPods Pro — from the basics to the pro-level tricks Apple doesn’t always tell you about.

Check Out: How to Use AirPods Pro Controls

Understanding the AirPods Pro Force Sensor

Instead of relying on taps like older AirPods, the AirPods Pro use a pressure-sensitive sensor built into the stem of each earbud.
When you squeeze it, you’ll feel a soft click — that’s your cue that the command was registered.

This design makes controls more accurate and eliminates the awkward “tap echo” in your ears that older AirPods had.

You can use the force sensor to control:

• You can play, pause, skip songs, or go back to the last track.
• Phone calls
• Block noise or hear your surroundings with a simple switch.
• Siri activation (customizable)

Let’s go step by step.

Basic Playback Controls

You can control your music right from the AirPods Pro. Play, pause, or skip songs without using your phone.

Action	Control
Play / Pause	Press once on either earbud
Next Track	Press twice quickly
Previous Track	Press three times quickly
Fast Forward / Rewind (using Siri)	Say “Hey Siri, skip forward 30 seconds” or “rewind 15 seconds.”

Tip: A soft squeeze on the stem gives a satisfying “click,” so you know it worked. No tapping needed.

Managing Calls

Calls are fully controllable directly through your AirPods Pro:

Action	Control
Answer a call	Press once on either earbud
End a call	Press once again
Reject a call	Press and hold the force sensor
Switch between calls	Press twice quickly during an active call

If “Hey Siri” is enabled, you can also answer or reject calls completely hands-free by saying:

“Hey Siri, answer the call” or “Hey Siri, decline.”

Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode

This is what sets AirPods Pro apart from regular AirPods. You can control how much outside sound you hear using the press and hold gesture on either earbud.

By default:

• Press and hold → toggles between Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode

To change what the long press does:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth on your iPhone.
2. Tap the i (info) icon next to your AirPods Pro.
3. Under “Press and Hold AirPods,” choose Left or Right.
4. Select whether that side controls Noise Control or activates Siri.
5. If you choose Noise Control, select which modes you want to cycle through (e.g. Noise Cancellation, Transparency, or Off).

Pro Tip

Transparency Mode is perfect for walking outside or talking to people. It mixes the outside sounds with your music or podcast, so you can still hear what’s going on around you.

You may like: How to Reset AirPods to Factory Settings (All Models)

Noise Cancellation is your best friend on a noisy plane or in a loud coffee shop. It basically turns off all that background noise so you can just focus on your audio.

Using Siri with AirPods Pro

Siri is your shortcut to every command your AirPods can’t do through physical presses.

Once “Hey Siri” is enabled on your iPhone, you can simply say:

• “Hey Siri, turn on Transparency mode.”
• “Hey Siri, skip this song.”
• “Hey Siri, call Mom.”
• “Hey Siri, what’s the battery level on my AirPods?”

You can also assign Siri to a long press:

• Go to Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to your AirPods → choose Siri under “Press and Hold.”

This way, holding one earbud activates Siri, while the other controls noise modes — giving you the best of both worlds.

Volume Control Options

Here’s where many users get confused: there’s no dedicated volume sensor on AirPods Pro (except the 2024 AirPods Pro 2 with Adaptive Audio, which supports swipe gestures). If you have an older model, you have three simple choices:

1. Ask Siri: “Hey Siri, turn the volume up/down.”
2. Use your connected device: Adjust volume on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
3. Use your Apple Watch to quickly change the volume: Tap the AirPlay icon, then adjust your AirPods Pro.

Pro Tip: If you use your AirPods with both your iPhone and your MacBook, the volume controls are separate. So if you turn the volume down on your laptop, it will still be loud when you switch back to your phone—just something to remember!

Customizing Controls in Settings

AirPods Pro are fully customizable. Here’s how you can set them up just the way you like:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Tap the i icon next to your AirPods Pro.
3. Here you can:
   • Rename your AirPods Pro.
   • Change what happens when you press and hold each earbud.
   • Turn Automatic Ear Detection on/off.
   • Enable or disable Noise Control options.
   • For the best sound and comfort, try the Ear Tip Fit Test.

Why this matters

Setting up your own controls is really useful. It’s not just about making things quicker—it can also make your earbuds work better and even save battery life.You know how your music automatically stops when you take an earbud out? If you turn that feature off, you won’t have to deal with your music pausing every time you just want to readjust your earbud for a better fit.

Battery & Case Status

Knowing your battery level saves you from mid-song surprises.
Here’s how to check it:

• On iPhone: Open the case near your iPhone → the pop-up shows battery levels for each earbud and the case.
• Widgets: Add the Batteries widget to your home screen for instant checks.
• Charging Case LED:
  • Green = charged (80–100%)
  • Orange = charging or below 80%

Bonus tip: If you’re charging wirelessly, tap the case — the LED will flash to indicate battery status.

Finding Lost AirPods Pro

Lost one earbud? Don’t panic.

• Open Find My app → Devices → AirPods Pro.
• Tap Play Sound to locate them (works if the earbud is out of the case).
• If they’re offline, you’ll see the last known location.

This feature alone can save you thousands of rupees in replacements — so it’s worth knowing.

Pro Tips for Smarter Use

• Switch devices instantly: If you’re signed in with the same Apple ID, AirPods Pro automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Avoid unwanted switching: Turn off automatic switching in Bluetooth settings if you prefer manual control.
• Want to use your iPhone like a microphone to hear things more clearly? Just turn on “Live Listen.” First, open your Control Center and add the Hearing icon—it looks like a little ear. After you’ve done that, just place your phone near whoever is talking. The sound will come straight through your AirPods, which is super helpful for hearing conversations or a presentation clearly.
• Check the Ear Fit Test: Helps ensure the best sound quality and ANC performance by testing the seal of your ear tips.

Final Thoughts

Once you learn how to use the AirPods Pro controls, they stop being just regular wireless earbuds. They start to feel like a truly smart and helpful audio partner.

Once you master the force sensor, Siri integration, and noise modes, you’ll rarely even need to take your phone out.

Apple’s design keeps things simple, but under that simplicity lies a deep set of functions that reward those who explore.

So go ahead — squeeze, press, hold, and talk to your AirPods. They can do a lot more than most people think.