The Apple AirPods Pro 2 remain among the best wireless earphones available two years after their release. iOS 18 transforms them into a hearing aid in addition to offering features like Voice Isolation, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume.

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I have been using the AirPods Pro 2 since they were released, and I have discovered a few hidden features that you can test to improve your listening experience.

The finest aspect? Even the AirPods Max headphones and previous iterations of the AirPods can use some of these tips. Don’t forget to update to the most recent version of iOS 18.

The Control Center for AirPods Pro 2

These are just a few of the settings available in Control Center’s Hearing option.
Screenshot of the CNET Hidden Control Center choices taken by Lexy Savvides
To access various AirPods options, use the Control Center. Press and hold the volume slider while your iPhone is linked to your AirPods. A variety of settings, including conversational awareness, spatial audio toggles, and noise control mode, will show up underneath.

But with a single simple action, you can add even more to the Control Center. Navigate to Settings > Control Center and add the Hearing option. By long-pressing the screen and selecting Add a Control, you may also add it straight from the Control Center.

The Hearing icon, which resembles an ear, should now be visible in the Control Center. Your AirPods’ battery level will be visible, and you’ll be able to manage features like Background Sounds and Live Listen Conversation Boost. In order to help you focus, Background noises plays noises like rain, the ocean, and white noise in your headphones. Learn more about the Live Listen function below.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Control Center and press the green plus icon next to the options you wish to appear in this menu if you are unable to see them.

Listen Live

With any AirPods model, you can use Live Listen to magnify what your iPhone’s microphone captures and direct it directly into your ears. Although its main purpose is accessibility, you might be able to use it as an audio-only baby monitor to hear what’s going on in a nearby room.

This capability can also be found in the Control Center’s Hearing option. To activate it, scroll down and tap the Control Center’s Hearing (ear) symbol, followed by Live Listen.

Currently Playing: AirPods Pro 2 Tips and Tricks 08:27

Use Headphone Accommodations to Personalize Audio

Do you want to modify the AirPods’ default sound profile? Go to Settings > Apps > Music > EQ to begin changing the equalizer if you use Apple Music. You may personalize the equalizer tool in other streaming programs, such as Spotify.

With Apple’s Headphone Accommodations, you can further adjust your audio. Navigate to Headphone Accommodations under Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual. Now, you may use the slider tool to enhance quiet sounds or select between balanced tone, vocals, or brightness.

iOS Headphone Accommodations
The Headphone Accommodations feature has many settings to choose from.
Screenshot via CNET/Lexy Savvides
The Headphone Accommodations menu also allows you to establish a custom audio configuration. Your AirPods will go into noise-canceling mode when you tap the personalized audio option, and you’ll be prompted to confirm that you can hear the softly whispered words. Two audio samples will be played, and you can select your favorite.

Head motions

When wearing the AirPods Pro 2, you can react to announcements by moving your head. To activate this, go to Settings > AirPods Pro 2 > Head Gestures on a device running iOS 18, iPad OS 18, macOS Sequoia, or WatchOS 11. Then, when you receive a Siri notification—such as a call, message, or notification announcement—you can shake your head to indicate no or no. Additionally, you may switch up the gestures so that a nod indicates rejection and a shake indicates acceptance.

If you don’t want to speak “yes” or “no” aloud in a quiet setting, head movements are perfect.

Customized spatial audio

The TrueDepth camera on your iPhone is useful for purposes other than FaceID. In fact, you may utilize it to get customized spatial audio that is adjusted to your ear shape.

To configure this, navigate to Settings > AirPods > Personalized Spatial Audio and then follow the directions. To map your ears, you will be asked to hold the phone in front of your face and then turn your head to the left and right. Now, turn on spatial audio from the Control Center and play some compatible music and movies.

Give a friend access to the audio.

Do you miss using wired earbuds to listen to music with a friend? This is the 2024 edition. Tap the AirPods icon in the upper right corner of the music playback box after swiping down to reveal the Control Center. Select “Share Audio.”

Press and hold the case’s pairing button after opening the lid and bringing another pair of AirPods or Beats nearby. You may jam out to the same songs by connecting this other pair to your phone by following the on-screen instructions.

Use AirPods Pro 2 to share audio.
utilizing an iPhone to exchange audio with a second pair of AirPods Pro 2.
Screenshot via CNET/Lexy Savvides

Pictures received in messages can be described by Siri.

It has lately come to my attention that when I wear AirPods Pro 2 and my phone is locked, Siri can explain pictures that I receive in the Messages app. Siri once told me, for instance, that my best friend had sent a picture of a brown puppy laying on a floor with black and white checkers as I was waiting for a bus. When I took out my phone to check, Siri was exactly right.

However, it has so far only worked with pictures of people and pets that are in the center of the frame with a clear background. I haven’t figured out the secret to making Siri do this with every single picture. I’ve contacted Apple to get more details about this feature, and I’ll be updating this post with more information.

Make sure “announce notifications” is enabled by heading to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications, and that the Headphones option is also enabled, in order to attempt to reproduce this yourself. Make sure the Messages app is on by continuing to scroll down this page. To see if it works, ask a buddy to send you a picture. I’ve found that both iMessages and SMS work well.

Use the Shortcuts app to access additional AirPods options.

An effective option for making even greater use of your AirPods is the iPhone Shortcuts app. Having the AirPods automatically convert to my preferred settings once they connect to my iPhone—noise canceling mode at 40% volume—is one of my favorite shortcuts.

First, confirm that your iPhone is linked to your AirPods and that they are in your ears. Select “Add action” under “Plus icon” in the Shortcuts app. To find “set noise control mode,” go to this page and then tap the gray “route” box. Choose your mode (in this case, noise canceling) after selecting the name of your AirPods from this selection.

You’ll then want to include an additional action. Type “Set volume” into the “Search for apps and actions” field, then click on it. Now adjust the volume to 40%, or any other desired level. After giving your shortcut a catchy name, click Done.

Pro 2 Shortcut for AirPods
The Automation (right) and my personal shortcut (left).
Screenshot via CNET/Lexy Savvides
Let’s now configure this shortcut to trigger when you place the AirPods in your ears. Locate Bluetooth by selecting New Automation under the Automations tab. Locate the name of your AirPods under “device,” confirm that “is connected” is turned on, and then select “run immediately.” Select the shortcut you just made by clicking next. You can try this shortcut the next time you put your AirPods in your ears and they connect to your phone.

Learn more about the differences between the new AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation and Apple’s AirPods Pro 2.