Is there a way to change what app opens when plugging in headphones?

[Berthacrowley]

Is there any way to change what app re-opens when you plug in your headphones? Shouldn't it default to re-opening the last thing you were listening to?

For example, I often listen to audiobooks while I'm working. My phone is usually in my back pocket while I'm walking around and if someone starts talking to me the quickest thing to do is just unplug my earbuds rather than removing my phone from my pocket, unlocking the phone, opening the app, and pausing whatever I was listening to.

When I then go to plug the headphones back in, it always reopens the Podcasts app even though what I was just listening to was a book in the Audible app. I listen to podcasts too but if I was just in Audible why is it opening Podcasts that I might not have been in for days? It also doesn't automatically pull up the last podcast I was listening to, it seems to pick one at random?

Not a huge deal, just a minor annoyance that I was wondering if I could change.

 

[willmtaylor]

Is there any way to change what app re-opens when you plug in your headphones? Shouldn't it default to re-opening the last thing you were listening to?

For example, I often listen to audiobooks while I'm working. My phone is usually in my back pocket while I'm walking around and if someone starts talking to me the quickest thing to do is just unplug my earbuds rather than removing my phone from my pocket, unlocking the phone, opening the app, and pausing whatever I was listening to.

When I then go to plug the headphones back in, it always reopens the Podcasts app even though what I was just listening to was a book in the Audible app. I listen to podcasts too but if I was just in Audible why is it opening Podcasts that I might not have been in for days? It also doesn't automatically pull up the last podcast I was listening to, it seems to pick one at random?

Not a huge deal, just a minor annoyance that I was wondering if I could change.

Do you not have headphones with volume adjustment buttons? Apples' for example, allow the listener to pause from the headphone controls.

This would eliminate all of your podcast selection woes.

 

[Berthacrowley]

Do you not have headphones with volume adjustment buttons? Apples' for example, allow the listener to pause from the headphone controls.

This would eliminate all of your podcast selection woes.

That's a good idea, I just have a cheap pair I keep at work. I could bring in a pair of the Apple ones with the remote for sure. But I don't keep headphones plugged in for 24 hours a day so at some point I'm going to unplug and plug back in and have to manually close out the podcast and reopen Audible or Music or whatever I want to listen to. Just wondering if there was a reason it always defaults to that. I have to assume there are some people that never use the Podcasts app, I would imagine it defaults to something different for them. You would think it would go by the last app using the headphones than picking an (apparently?) arbitrary app.

 

[convergent]

I didn't know the iPhone opened an app when you plug in headphones. I don't think I've ever seen mine do that.

I have a several sets of earbuds and Bose QC25 headphones. All of them have controls on the cable to pause/play.

You might want to try the Apple Watch too... I love the control on it and usually use that instead of the cable controls... quicker/easier, and you get to see what the next track is.

 

[CNeufeld]

I just tried doing what you describe, and maybe I'm not understanding. I was playing some music (using the standard music app), had the screen turned off (like I would if my phone was in my pocket). When I unplugged the headset, it stopped. When I plugged the headphones back in and turned on the screen, the Music control was right there in my face, ready for me to hit Play and continue. The same thing happened with Podcasts (if I was listening to a Podcast, that's what popped up in the control). I didn't try an audio book, as I didn't want to skip ahead in the book I'm reading with my GF.

Maybe try the same behaviours with the Apple headset?

ETA: I don't even have to unlock my phone to continue playing my music where I left off...

C

 

[Berthacrowley]

I just tried doing what you describe, and maybe I'm not understanding. I was playing some music (using the standard music app), had the screen turned off (like I would if my phone was in my pocket). When I unplugged the headset, it stopped. When I plugged the headphones back in and turned on the screen, the Music control was right there in my face, ready for me to hit Play and continue. The same thing happened with Podcasts (if I was listening to a Podcast, that's what popped up in the control). I didn't try an audio book, as I didn't want to skip ahead in the book I'm reading with my GF.

Maybe try the same behaviours with the Apple headset?

ETA: I don't even have to unlock my phone to continue playing my music where I left off...

C

OK, I just tried your scenario. Played a song in Music with headphones plugged in, unplugged them, plugged them back in, and it opened with the same song, just like you describe. I then go back into my audiobook, unplug the headphones, plug them back in, it opens Podcasts again. Maybe it's a problem with the Audible app? Weird.

 

[CNeufeld]

OK, I just tried your scenario. Played a song in Music with headphones plugged in, unplugged them, plugged them back in, and it opened with the same song, just like you describe. I then go back into my audiobook, unplug the headphones, plug them back in, it opens Podcasts again. Maybe it's a problem with the Audible app? Weird.

I just tried it with the Audible app (listening to it, turn screen off, unplug headphones, plug them back in) and it came right back up. Maybe try uninstalling the Audible app, and re-installing?

C

 

[bpeeps]

I didn't know the iPhone opened an app when you plug in headphones. I don't think I've ever seen mine do that.

I have a several sets of earbuds and Bose QC25 headphones. All of them have controls on the cable to pause/play.

You might want to try the Apple Watch too... I love the control on it and usually use that instead of the cable controls... quicker/easier, and you get to see what the next track is.

iOS9 learns your behavior. My iPhone opens the music app whenever I turn my car on and BT connects to my system.

 

[Berthacrowley]

iOS9 learns your behavior. My iPhone opens the music app whenever I turn my car on and BT connects to my system.

Hmmmmmmmm. For a few weeks when I first got the phone, I was listening to a lot of Podcasts and no audiobooks. So chances are, when I plugged in my headphones that's the app I was going to. Maybe iOS learned this behavior and that's why it's always opening Podcasts? Maybe when I log more hours in Audible it'll default to that?

 

[cynics]

Hmmmmmmmm. For a few weeks when I first got the phone, I was listening to a lot of Podcasts and no audiobooks. So chances are, when I plugged in my headphones that's the app I was going to. Maybe iOS learned this behavior and that's why it's always opening Podcasts? Maybe when I log more hours in Audible it'll default to that?

Possibly, when I first got my 6S it was insistent on opening the music app or at least suggesting it. After what seemed forever it now will suggest the app I typically use.