How to Pause AirPods

AirPods are popular not just for their audio quality and battery life but also for the functions they provide without requiring you to pick up your phone. For example, you can do a couple of things to pause your AirPods while they’re in use.

The easiest way to pause AirPods is to take one earbud out of your ear. This works for all AirPods models. Another way to pause the AirPods is by using the buttons on the stems.

Pausing the AirPods by Taking One Earbud Out (All AirPods Models)

Taking one earbud out of your ear is the simplest and fastest way to pause your AirPods. This works because of a feature called Automatic Ear Detection, which is available on all AirPods models. It’s enabled by default, so you don’t have to do anything to set it up.

The audio will resume playing when you put the earbud back in your ear. However, when you take both earbuds out, your AirPods will disconnect from the device, and the audio will not resume playing when you put your AirPods back on.

Pausing the AirPods by Pressing the Force Sensor (AirPods 3rd Generation and AirPods Pro 1st Generation)

The AirPods 3rd generation and the AirPods Pro 1st generation have a feature called “force sensor” on the stems. To pause the audio, all you have to do is squeeze the force sensor once.

Pausing AirPods Using the Touch Controls (AirPods 1st and 2nd Generations, AirPods Pro 2nd Generation)

Unlike the later versions of the AirPods, the AirPods 1st and 2nd generations don’t have the force sensor on their stems, but they do have touch controls that you can use. By default, these touch controls are used to change the track, but you can customize them.

Note: AirPod settings can only be customized on an iOS device. You can’t change them on Android or Windows.

Here’s how to do it on your iPhone:

1. Tap Settings.

   

2. Tap Bluetooth.

   

3. Wear your AirPods and tap the “info” icon next to their name in the list of Bluetooth devices.

   

4. Under the “Double-Tap on AirPod” section, tap either Left or Right.

   

5. Tap Play/Pause. Now you can double-tap the AirPod to pause the audio.