Apple fans who want the complete experience have invested in AirPods, the stylish wireless headphones that leave you untethered as you listen to music, take calls, or check out a good podcast. But there’s more to AirPods than just popping them in your ears. You can pick up some tips and tricks that will help you get those most out of them.
These suggestions will show you how to clean your AirPods properly, rename them, adjust the double-tap feature and really harness the power of Siri.
Your AirPods are an extension of your Apple experience. Use these tips to get the most out of your time with them.
Name your AirPods
You can personalize the name of your AirPods by following this sequence: Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad. Tap on Bluetooth and look for your AirPods in the list of devices. Tap on the small blue "i" inside the circle. This gets you access to your AirPods settings. Tap on the current name and then type in the new name and tap on "Done" to finish.
Get the most out of Siri
Siri is a powerful friend when it comes to your AirPods. The earphones don’t have a lot of physical controls, but your voice can do a lot. Here are some of the useful commands Siri will respond to when you summon her:
"How is the battery on my AirPods?"
"Skip this song."
"Turn down (or up) the volume."
"Raise the volume 30 percent."
"Play my Party playlist."
"Call [your contact name]."
"Pause music."
"Play country music."
"Skip this song."
"Turn down (or up) the volume."
"Raise the volume 30 percent."
"Play my Party playlist."
"Call [your contact name]."
"Pause music."
"Play country music."
Change up the double-tap
Out of the box after setup, your AirPods will turn on Siri with a double-tap. If you prefer a different response, then head into Settings on your iPhone, tap on Bluetooth, and touch the blue "i" in the circle. Look for the "Double-tap on AirPod" section and tap on either left or right to access your options. From here, you can change the double-tap to play, pause, stop, skip track, or go back to the previous track.
Get call announcements
You can have Siri tell you who’s calling right through your AirPods. Open Settings for your iPhone and tap on Phone. Tap on Announce Calls and select the situation you prefer. You can have the calls announced just over your headphones, or over your headphones and when you’re in your car.
Clean your AirPods the Apple-approved way
Your sparkling white AirPods may not stay that way for long. They’re in your ears, exposed to the elements, and maybe even rolling around in your pocket or purse. You’ll want to stick to a hygiene routine to keep them clean. Apple offers up some pretty specific instructions for doing this.
Apple recommends using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and avoiding getting any liquid into the AirPod openings. You can use a dry cotton swab for the mic and speaker meshes. For more serious cleaning, a dry soft-bristled brush can be used to dislodge anything stuck in there. For the case, use a microfiber cloth. If a truly serious cleaning is called for, then dampen the cloth slightly with 70% isopropyl alcohol and take care not to get any liquid in the charging ports.
Pair with non-Apple gadgets
Your AirPods are free to connect with other non-Apple, Bluetooth-enabled devices. You won’t get access to Siri, but you can still use the earphone and mic features.
For example, you can hook them up to an Android phone by opening the phone’s Bluetooth settings. Open the lid of your charging case with the AirPods inside. Locate the setup button on the back of the case. Press and hold this button and look for the status light to flash white. Now check your Bluetooth settings for the AirPods and tap on them to connect.
Take a few moments to learn these settings and features. Your AirPods are your close companions and you’ll soon know them inside and out.
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