iOS 11 Lets AirPods Users Change Tracks With a Double Tap

[michaelant]

Nice move. I love my AirPods, but can't really imagine using them without the Watch. Having to fish my iPhone out of pocket to move volume up or down (which I do a lot) would seriously impact the convenience of true wireless they provide. Having that control on my wrist, along with track skip & play/pause, makes them game-changingly friction-free. Hopefully we'll see all these controls native to AirPods 2.

 

[jhfenton]

I just checked that too! I'm going to test if it retains this setting when doing a run with my apple watch (without my iphone)

It does. I tried it last night and was surprised that it worked. When connected to my iPhone 7, I set the left ear double tap to Siri and the right ear to Next Track. I ran off and left my phone in the car, and connected to the Apple Watch Series 2, double tapping the left ear paused (no Siri without the phone) and double tapping the right ear jumped to the next track. My watch is still on Watch OS 3.2.2.

 

[jeterstheman]

Anyone know how to get the new functionality? I’m on iOS 11 and my AirPods are on the latest 3.7.2 firmware, but I only have the old settings available. I’ve disconnected and repaired the AirPods to my phone, restarted my phone and no success. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[TurboPGT!]

I guess I'm a rare case in that I typically only use 1 AirPod at a time? I use it for casually listening to audio from video, or podcasts. Only occasionally do I put both in for stereo music.

Certain features, like separate controls for left and right, just aren't practical for my use case. I also can't take advantage of auto-resume-playback when putting just one back in the ear. Oh well.

 

[jhfenton]

Anyone know how to get the new functionality? I’m on iOS 11 and my AirPods are on the latest 3.7.2 firmware, but I only have the old settings available. I’ve disconnected and repaired the AirPods to my phone, restarted my phone and no success. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Are the AirPods connected and in your ears? If so, you should have the new options.

 

[John.B]

Tim, I think your iPhone is jaundiced.

 

[imola.zhp]

Awesome! I don't own a pair but this seemed like a downfall to the product.

 

[nburwell]

I actually can't wait for this feature. Definitely looking forward to it!

 

[jeterstheman]

Are the AirPods connected and in your ears? If so, you should have the new options.

Yep, connected and in my ears, but no new options.

 

[The Game 161]

Great news for those without an Apple Watch

 

[jehrler]

Anyone know how to get the new functionality? I’m on iOS 11 and my AirPods are on the latest 3.7.2 firmware, but I only have the old settings available. I’ve disconnected and repaired the AirPods to my phone, restarted my phone and no success. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm in the same boat. Tried everything (even a hard reset) but no joy.

 

[joshuamj]

iOS 11 really is filling all the gaps and inconsistencies on iOS 10 for me. Now, if only I didn't have to tap so hard/precisely on the AirPods to get them to recognize my input...

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

Yep, connected and in my ears, but no new options.

And you are using iOS 11 DP1 on your iPhone?

 

[jehrler]

And you are using iOS 11 DP1 on your iPhone?

I am and the OP mentioned they were too. The main reason I installed on phone was to get this functionality. sigh.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

I am and the OP mentioned they were too. The main reason I installed on phone was to get this functionality. sigh.

Have you tried a reset of the AirPods and reconnecting them?

 

[jehrler]

Have you tried a reset of the AirPods and reconnecting them?

yup, assuming that is what holding down the button until the light turns orange and then repairing.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

yup, assuming that is what holding down the button until the light turns orange and then repairing.

Yep. Well then I'm at a loss.

 

[stevet]

Single Tap Left = Volume Up
Single Tap Right = Volume Down

Double Tap Left = Next Track
Double Tap Right = Previous Track

Configurable of course. The lack of volume control is baffling to me.

 

[DotCom2]

I can never get the "tap" right anyway.
Seems wherever I tap is not the right spot and I have to keep tapping over and over to even get Siri going, so usually I just give up and whip out my iPhone.

 

[ACST]

I can never get the "tap" right anyway.
Seems wherever I tap is not the right spot and I have to keep tapping over and over to even get Siri going, so usually I just give up and whip out my iPhone.

It's more of a double press than a tap. If you press it two times you get better results (although it's still not perfect).

 

[djlythium]

JUST CONFIRMED: setting AirPods left/right pod control transfers over to other non-iOS 11 devices!

Set up the controls on an iPad mini 4 running iOS 11, and the controls transferred over to my iPhone SE Running iOS 10. Moreover, it remains after disconnecting by placing the AirPods into the case, and still works when listening to iPhone music via Apple Watch. AND IT STILL WORKS WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC ONLY FROM THE WATCH!

YES! Shout it from the rooftops!

 

[clg82]

Wait, seriously?! This is a game changer!! The only thing I hate about the AirPods right now is that to change the volume I need to use my Apple Watch, iPhone or Siri.

This isn't a game changer....Bragi has been doing this for some time now......smh....you apple fanboys are lost....

 

[The Game 161]

This isn't a game changer....Bragi has been doing this for some time now......smh....you apple fanboys are lost....

This is macrumours so maybe you are lost too?

 

[CarlJ]

I guess they're waiting until iOS 12 for triple-tap.

Just think of the possibilities!

Triple-tap won't be too hard to use, it's when they start implementing coordinated taps on both ears at the same time (or, say, R-L-R-L-L-R), that things will start getting tricky.

I hear they're considering a silent Siri mode, where you talk to her by tapping on the AirPods in Morse Code.

 

[Vertigo50]

Apple is really catching up!

.....to 2009 bluetooth headsets.