What Does the Button on the Back of Airpods Do?

AirPods are a popular wireless earbud option for those who want to listen to music, make phone calls, or use voice assistants on the go. One feature of AirPods that you might not be familiar with is the button on the back of the charging case. So, what does the button on the back of airpods do?

The button on the back of the AirPods charging case serves a few different functions. First and foremost, it is used to pair the AirPods with other devices. To do this, you need to put your AirPods into pairing mode by holding down the button on the back of the charging case. The LED light on the front of the case will start flashing, indicating that the AirPods are ready to be paired.

In addition to pairing, the button on the back of the AirPods charging case can also be used to turn off the AirPods when they are not in use. To do this, hold down the button for a few seconds until the LED light on the front of the case turns off. This will power down the AirPods and conserve battery life.

In addition, the button on the back of the AirPods charging case can also be used to manually trigger Siri, the voice assistant on Apple devices. Simply hold down the button for a few seconds to activate Siri, and then release it when you finish using it.

What is the function of the button on the back of AirPods?

What is the function of the button on the back of AirPods

Here are the steps for using the button on the back of AirPods to control audio playback and access Siri or another voice assistant:

  1. To play or pause the current audio, press the button on the back of one of the AirPods once.
  2. To skip to the next track, press the button twice quickly.
  3. To skip back to the previous track, press the button three times quickly.
  4. To access Siri or another voice assistant, press and hold the button for a few seconds until you hear a beep.

Note that the exact behavior of the button may vary depending on the version of AirPods you have and the device you are using them with. For example, on some devices, pressing and holding the button for a few seconds may activate a feature called “transparency mode,” which lets you hear the sounds around you more clearly.

How do I use the button on the back of my AirPods?

Here are more detailed instructions on how to use the button on the back of the AirPods:

  1. Play/pause music: Press the button once to play or pause the music. This can be useful if you want to pause the music quickly without having to take out your phone or other device.
  2. Skip to the next track: Press the button twice quickly to skip to the next track. This is useful if you don’t want to listen to the current track and want to move on to the next one.
  3. Go back to the previous track: Press the button three times quickly to go back to the previous track. This can be useful if you accidentally skip over a track that you wanted to listen to.
  4. Change the volume: Press and hold the button to increase the volume, or press and hold the button on the opposite earbud to decrease the volume. This is useful if you want to quickly adjust the volume without having to take out your phone or other devices.

Note that these functions may vary depending on the device you are using the AirPods with and the settings you have configured. 

For example, if you are using the AirPods with an iPhone, you can customize the double-tap and triple-tap functions in the “AirPods” section of the “Bluetooth” settings.

Can the button on the back of AirPods be customized?

The button on the back of AirPods cannot be customized. The button has a fixed function, which is to control playback and access Siri. When you press and hold the button, it will activate Siri. 

You can then use Siri to control your AirPods and perform various tasks. If you double-tap the button while listening to audio, it will play or pause the audio. And if you triple-tap the button, it will skip to the next track. 

If you press and hold the button while listening to audio, it will skip back to the previous track.

How do I reset my AirPods using the button on the back?

Here are the steps to reset your AirPods in more detail:

  1. Locate the small button on the back of the charging case. This button is used to reset the AirPods.
  2. Press and hold the button for about 15 seconds. You should see the status light on the front of the charging case start flashing amber.
  3. Release the button and close the charging case.
  4. Wait a few seconds, then open the charging case. The status light should now be flashing white, indicating that the AirPods are in pairing mode.
  5. Press and hold the button on the back of the charging case again until the status light starts flashing amber. This will reset the AirPods to their factory settings.
  6. Open the lid of the charging case and press the setup button on the inside of the case. This will initiate the pairing process for the AirPods.

Your AirPods should now be reset and ready to be set up with a new device.

Can I use the button on the back of my AirPods to turn them on and off?

You can use the button on the back of your AirPods to turn them on and off. To turn them on, press and hold the button until you see the white light flashing. To turn them off, press and hold the button until you see the amber light flashing. 

Note that the button on the back of the AirPods case is used to put the AirPods into pairing mode, so you may need to press and hold the button for a longer period of time to turn them off.

How do I activate Siri using the button on the back of my AirPods?

To activate Siri using the button on the back of your AirPods, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods are charged and connected to your device.
  2. Press and hold the button on the back of either of your AirPods. The button is located on the stem of the AirPod, just below the “AirPods” logo.
  3. Continue to hold the button until you hear a chime and Siri activates. You may also see a visual indicator on your device, such as a notification banner or an animation on the lock screen.
  4. Once Siri is activated, you can ask it a question or give it a command. For example, you can say, “What’s the weather like today?” or “Call my mom.”
  5. When you’re finished, release the button on the back of the AirPod. Siri will deactivate, and you’ll be able to use your AirPods as normal.

Note: If you have “Hey Siri” enabled, you can also activate Siri by simply saying “Hey Siri.” This feature allows you to activate Siri hands-free without pressing any buttons.

Can I use the button on the back of my AirPods to control playback?

To activate Siri using the button on the back of your AirPods, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods are charged and connected to your device.
  2. Press and hold the button on the back of either of your AirPods. The button is located on the stem of the AirPod, just below the “AirPods” logo.
  3. Continue to hold the button until you hear a chime and Siri activates. You may also see a visual indicator on your device, such as a notification banner or an animation on the lock screen.
  4. Once Siri is activated, you can ask it a question or give it a command. For example, you can say “What’s the weather today?” or “Call my mom.”
  5. When you’re finished, release the button on the back of the AirPod. Siri will deactivate, and you’ll be able to use your AirPods as normal.

Note: If you have “Hey Siri” enabled, you can also activate Siri by simply saying “Hey Siri.” This feature allows you to activate Siri hands-free, without pressing any buttons.

How do I pair my AirPods to a new device using the button on the back?

To pair your AirPods with a new device using the button on the back, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods are charged and within range of your new device.
  2. On your new device, go to the Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on.
  3. Press and hold the button on the back of your AirPods case. The button is located on the rear of the case, opposite the hinge.
  4. Hold the button until you see the white light flash, which indicates that your AirPods are in pairing mode.
  5. On your new device, find the AirPods in the list of available Bluetooth devices and select them to begin the pairing process.
  6. If prompted, enter the PIN code displayed on your new device. The PIN code is usually a series of numbers, such as “0000” or “1234.”
  7. Once the pairing process is complete, your AirPods should be connected to your new device and ready to use.

Note: If you have already paired your AirPods with another device, you may need to reset them before you can pair them with a new device. To reset your AirPods, press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until you see the white light flash three times. 

This will erase all of the paired devices from your AirPods, allowing you to start fresh with a new device.

What happens when I press the button on the back of my AirPods multiple times?

What happens when I press the button on the back of my AirPods multiple times

The behavior of the button on the back of your AirPods can vary depending on the device you are using and the specific configuration of your AirPods. Here are some possible things that can happen when you press the button on the back of your AirPods multiple times:

  • If you are using an iPhone or iPad, pressing the button on the back of your AirPods once will play or pause the current audio, while pressing it twice will skip to the next track. If you are using an Android device or a computer, the button may not have these functions.
  • If you have “Hey Siri” enabled, pressing the button on the back of your AirPods three times will activate Siri. This can be useful if you don’t want to say “Hey Siri” out loud or if you are in a noisy environment where “Hey Siri” may not work.
  • If you have “Automatic Ear Detection” enabled, pressing the button on the back of your AirPods will also toggle this feature on or off. With Automatic Ear Detection, your AirPods will automatically pause the audio when you take them out of your ears and resume playback when you put them back in.
  • If you have “Announce Messages” enabled, pressing the button on the back of your AirPods will also toggle this feature on or off. With Announce Messages, Siri will read incoming messages out loud to you when you receive them.

Note: The specific functions of the button on the back of your AirPods may differ depending on the device you are using and the version of the operating system you are running. Some of the features mentioned above may not be available on all devices or in all regions.

Can I use the button on the back of my AirPods to adjust volume?

You cannot use the button on the back of your AirPods to adjust volume directly. However, you can use Siri to adjust the volume on your AirPods by saying “Hey Siri, set the volume to 50%” or “Hey Siri, turn the volume up/down.” You can also use the volume controls on your device to adjust the volume of your AirPods.

If you are using an iPhone or iPad with iOS 14 or later, you can also use the volume control feature in the Control Center to adjust the volume of your AirPods. To do this, swipe down from the top right corner of your device to open the Control Center, then tap and hold the volume control to access the AirPods volume slider.

Note: The volume control feature in the Control Center is not available on all devices or in all regions.

How do I check the battery level of my AirPods using the button on the back?

You cannot check the battery level of your AirPods directly using the button on the back. However, you can check the battery level of your AirPods using the following methods:

  • On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
  • Go to the “Settings” app and tap “Battery.”
  • Scroll down and look for the entry for your AirPods under “Battery Usage.” The battery level of your AirPods will be displayed as a percentage.
  • On your Mac:
  • Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and select “Open Bluetooth Preferences.”
  • In the “Devices” list, hover your cursor over the entry for your AirPods to see the battery level.
  • On your Apple Watch:
  • Swipe up from the bottom of the watch face to open the Control Center.
  • Tap the battery percentage to see the battery level of your AirPods.
  • On your Android device:
  • Go to the “Settings” app and tap “Connected devices.”
  • Tap “Bluetooth” and select your AirPods from the list of paired devices.
  • The battery level of your AirPods will be displayed as a percentage.

Note: If your AirPods are connected to a device that is not listed above, you may not be able to check the battery level of your AirPods directly. In this case, you can try putting your AirPods in the charging case and checking the battery level of the case using one of the methods listed above.

Can I use the button on the back of my AirPods to answer phone calls?

You can use the button on the back of your AirPods to answer phone calls. To do this, you can follow these steps:

  1. When you receive an incoming call, your AirPods will emit a chime, and you will see a notification on your device.
  2. Press and hold the button on the back of either of your AirPods. The button is located on the stem of the AirPod, just below the “AirPods” logo.
  3. Continue to hold the button until you hear a second chime, which indicates that the call has been answered. You may also see a visual indicator on your device, such as an animation on the lock screen.
  4. When you’re finished with the call, release the button on the back of the AirPod. This will end the call and disconnect your AirPods from the call.

Note: You can also use the volume control buttons on your device or the “Volume” slider in the Control Center (on iOS devices) to adjust the volume during the call. If you have “Automatic Ear Detection” enabled, your AirPods will also pause the audio when you take them out of your ears and resume playback when you put them back in.

How do I switch between devices using the button on the back of my AirPods?

How do I switch between devices using the button on the back of my AirPods

To switch between devices using the button on the back of your AirPods, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods are connected to both devices and within range of both devices.
  2. On the device that you want to switch away from, go to the Bluetooth settings and disconnect your AirPods.
  3. On the device that you want to switch to, go to the Bluetooth settings and connect your AirPods.
  4. Alternatively, you can use the button on the back of your AirPods case to switch between devices. To do this, press and hold the button on the back of the case until you see the white light flash. This will put your AirPods in pairing mode, allowing you to connect them to a new device.

Note: If you have “Automatic Switching” enabled, your AirPods should automatically switch between devices whenever you switch to a device that is connected to your AirPods. This feature is available on devices running iOS 14 or later, iPadOS 14 or later, and macOS Big Sur or later.

Can I use the button on the back of my AirPods to turn on noise cancellation?

No, you cannot use the button on the back of your AirPods to turn on noise cancellation. Noise cancellation is a feature that is available on the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max. To turn on noise cancellation on these models, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max are charged and connected to your device.
  2. On your device, go to the “Settings” app and tap “Bluetooth.”
  3. Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods in the list of paired devices.
  4. Tap “Noise Cancellation” and then tap the toggle to turn it on.

Alternatively, you can use Siri to turn on noise cancellation by saying “Hey Siri, turn on noise cancellation.”

Note: Noise cancellation is not available on the original AirPods or the AirPods (2nd generation). These models do not have the necessary hardware to support this feature.

How do I put my AirPods into pairing mode using the button on the back?

How do I put my AirPods into pairing mode using the button on the back

To put your AirPods into pairing mode using the button on the back, follow these steps:

  1. Find the small, round button on the back of the charging case.
  2. Press and hold the button for a few seconds. The white light inside the charging case will flash, indicating that the AirPods are in pairing mode.
  3. Open the Bluetooth settings on your device and look for the AirPods in the list of available devices.
  4. Select the AirPods from the list and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the pairing process.

If you are having trouble putting your AirPods into pairing mode, try resetting them by holding the button on the back of the case for at least 15 seconds. This will reset the AirPods to their factory settings, allowing you to pair them with a device again.

Conclusion

To wrap up the topic “what does the button on the back of AirPods doThe button on the back of AirPods is used to control various functions of the earbuds. Depending on the model of AirPods you have, the button can be used to activate Siri, change the volume, skip tracks, and more. 

It can also be used to put the AirPods into pairing mode, which allows them to be connected to a new device. In general, the button on the back of AirPods is a versatile and convenient way to control various aspects of the earbuds without having to use your phone or other devices.