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How Tos, Guides, and Tips for New AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max Owners

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Since their launch in 2016, Apple's AirPods have become wildly popular and are an oft-gifted item. In 2019, Apple released AirPods Pro, and this year the company debuted a pair of over-ear headphones called AirPods Max, offering more choice for consumers this holiday season.

If you received AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max as a gift, make sure to take a look through all of the how tos in this guide, because there are plenty of tips and tricks worth knowing.

airpods-family-800x429.jpg

Basic Features
Must-Know Tutorials
Connectivity With iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac
Tips and Tricks
Troubleshooting
Just for the AirPods Pro
Just for the AirPods Max

AirPods Guides

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Article Link: How Tos, Guides, and Tips for New AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max Owners
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/new-airpods-tips/
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I can not get my AirPods Pro to update for the life of me. I have tried leaving them in the case with the lid open (so they stay ‘Connected’ to my iPhone as per the status in the Bluetooth menu) and also having the lid closed for a prolonged period. Case is being charged and at 100%. iPhone is connected to WiFi and at close proximity. Have also tried resetting the AirPods.

Very annoying and unintuitive process honestly, just want to make sure my devices are up to date. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
 
AceFernalld said:
I can not get my AirPods Pro to update for the life of me.
Click to expand...

Mine just updated on their own, not fully charged, not plugged in, sitting in my pocket. Don’t know why.

I know this happened because when the update first came out, I checked the firmware version. Later, when I decided to plug them in to force update, I checked the version again and it was already done.

I have AP2s.
 
mac_in_tosh said:
Come on people, aren't things getting a bit out of hand when earphones have such complexity? Oh for the good old days when all you had to do to hear music was plug earphones into a jack.
Click to expand...
Well, this isn’t on Apple really. It’s just Macrumors making article bait as they expect a lot of new AirPod-owners because of the season. It is really not a hassle for most users (bar if you’re unlucky, get a dud and actually have to troubleshoot something). You open the package, the phone/pad offers to automatically pair them to your account, and you’re set.
 
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Thank you MacRumours for those tips as it reminded me to adjust my recently purchased AirPods Pro's settings plus I learnt some new functions. I have successfully Bluetoothed my previous AirPods 2 and current AirPods Pro to my Nokia 6.1 running Android 9 Pie. I prefer to utilise Apple's better quality stereo AirPods than Nokia's supplied wired earphones or my third party Bluetooth earphones and yes there is a noticeable sound grade difference compared to the the non Apple earphones. Force Touch and Siri are disabled when on Android however I have been impressed (on both my iPhone XS and Nokia 6.1) with Apple's AirPods connectivity (seamless / coverage 20 metre range), no latency and audio quality since the release of generation one. I am relieved that I have access to my  Music and have not to endure 📵ify or G Music whilst Bluetoothed to my Nokia. The Pros are brilliant with noise cancellantion resulting in my ability to focus on unadulterated music at the same low volume level when this function is active.
 

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mac_in_tosh said:
Come on people, aren't things getting a bit out of hand when earphones have such complexity? Oh for the good old days when all you had to do to hear music was plug earphones into a jack.
Click to expand...
AirPods are literally easier to use than corded headphones because you don’t have to spend any time untangling wires and staying tethered to your device.

“The good old days” are never actually that good in comparison. It’s only people living in the past who say that.
 
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What about how to connect your airpods pro to Apple devices that can't run iOS 13 and use all its features?
 
mac_in_tosh said:
Come on people, aren't things getting a bit out of hand when earphones have such complexity? Oh for the good old days when all you had to do to hear music was plug earphones into a jack.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but there was no way to fix latency issues using wired earphones, no way to increase battery life, and they were really hard to lose when they accidentally fell out of your ears.
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Jimmy Bubbles said:
That’s how Active Noise Cancellation works... by emitting white noise to cancel surrounding noise. Do you not know that?
Click to expand...
Bose sound cancelling earbuds / headphones don't noticeably hiss, at least not in my experience.
 
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Jimmy Bubbles said:
That’s how Active Noise Cancellation works... by emitting white noise to cancel surrounding noise. Do you not know that?
Click to expand...
Er, no it’s not. That would make no sense, read the link above. I’ll not post it again or my post won’t appear for a while.
 
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Let’s see how long it takes for the AirPod Pro memes to come out. I expect next Christmas, as the kids making those memes won’t get them for another year... smdh. That last series with the AirPods was extremely annoying. The memes became popular a year after the first AirPods were released because the kids were finally getting them for Christmas.
 
I have to agree it's a bit scary how complicated things like this have become.
And recalling Steve's view about how things should just work and be made so they don't need instructions as they just naturally work the way you'd expect it's a bit worrying.
This is where I do hope in X or XX years time AI Assistants will remove the need for the average consumer knowing all this.
You will just be able to talk to these devices, ask questions, or it could be pro-active if it thinks there is a problem coming up.
Everyone should not need to learn/remember all this stuff, esp for just earphones.
Let's hope those in the design labs who understand, live and breath this stuff every day, and to them it's normal and obvious. Actually stop and understand they should be making future items where things just work and don't need complex instructions or remembering things to fully enjoy a product
 
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Baymowe335 said:
AirPods are literally easier to use than corded headphones because you don’t have to spend any time untangling wires and staying tethered to your device.

“The good old days” are never actually that good in comparison. It’s only people living in the past who say that.
Click to expand...

Call me old fashioned, but that one advantage does not outweigh all the complexity involved with using these devices. And wireless headphones have existed for a long time and don't involve all the complexity that EarPods have.
 
How about some tips on how to buy AirPod Pro's that don't break down after a week. My 5th set have given up...same issue as the other pairs. Noise cancelling on the right pod has given up and in addition, a constant high pitched squeal and loss of bass coming from the right pod when i put it in my ear. Most unreliable Apple product that I have ever owned. Either there is a design fault or build quality issue.
My personal opinion is that Apple rushed these to market in time for Xmas without sufficient user testing. Apple are issuing a refund.
 
If AirPods were as simple as some like to claim, then we wouldn’t still have to go through the multi-step process of switching them back to an iPhone; they would’ve left that Connect button on that otherwise worthless pop-up.

And where is the article telling how to turn off that worthless pop-up so it’ll stop getting in the way? Does it still happen in iOS 13?
 
mac_in_tosh said:
Call me old fashioned, but that one advantage does not outweigh all the complexity involved with using these devices. And wireless headphones have existed for a long time and don't involve all the complexity that EarPods have.
Click to expand...
Seriously, what complexity?

How are EarPods complex? AirPods aren't complex either...the opposite actually.
 
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Bandaman said:
I put them in my ears and they play music. If that’s complex I don’t know what to say.
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That's great to know, but if it was as simple as that, then why would there even been the need for the massive amount of guides at the top of this article?

I use some old wired ones with an old phone at work.
I plug them in the phone, press them in my ears and they work.
There are no articles needed.
 
Piggie said:
That's great to know, but if it was as simple as that, then why would there even been the need for the massive amount of guides at the top of this article?

I use some old wired ones with an old phone at work.
I plug them in the phone, press them in my ears and they work.
There are no articles needed.
Click to expand...
There’s zero need for any of the guides in this article. There’s an intro to the AirPods as soon as you set them up and the intro isn’t very long. There is nothing complex about them.
 
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