Even two years after their launch, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are still some of the best wireless earbuds you can get. Not only do they have features like voice isolation, conversation recognition, and personalized volume, but iOS 18 also turns them into a hearing aid.

I’ve been using the AirPods Pro 2 since launch and have discovered some lesser-known features that can improve your listening experience.

The best part? Some of these tips work with previous versions of AirPods and even AirPods Max headphones. Just make sure you have updated to the latest version of iOS 18.

Hidden Control Center options

Control Center is a quick way to access many AirPods settings. With your AirPods connected to your iPhone, press and hold the volume button. A list of options will appear underneath, such as: B. Noise cancellation mode, conversation detection and spatial audio switching.

But you can add even more to Control Center with just one simple step. Add the Listen option by going to Settings > Control Center. You can also add it directly from Control Center by long-pressing the screen and then tapping Add one control.

Now you should see the hearing icon that looks like an ear in Control Center. You can see your AirPods’ battery level and control options like Live Listen Conversation Boost and background noise. Background Sounds plays rain, ocean sounds, and other sounds like white noise in your earbuds to help you concentrate. Further information about the Live Listen function can be found below.

If you can’t see these options, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Control Center and tap the green plus icon next to the options you want to show in this menu.

Listen live

Live Listen lets you amplify what your iPhone microphone picks up and deliver it directly to your ears using any AirPods model. This is primarily an accessibility feature, but you could also use it to listen in on what’s happening in a nearby room, for example as an audio-only baby monitor.

This feature is also included in the listening option in the Control Center. Once you’ve turned it on, swipe down and tap the Hearing icon in Control Center, then tap Live Listen.

Adjust the sound with headphone adjustments

Do you want to change the default sound profile of your AirPods? If you use Apple Music, you can first adjust the equalizer by going to Settings > Apps > Music > EQ. Other streaming apps like Spotify have their own equalizer tool that you can customize to your liking.

Apple’s headphone storage options let you fine-tune your audio even further. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Adjustments. Now you can use the slider to choose between balanced sound, vocals, brightness, or boost quiet sounds.

You can also add a custom audio setup in the Headphone Customizations menu. Tap the “Custom Audio” option, then your AirPods will enter noise cancellation mode and you will be asked if you can hear the softly spoken words. Two audio samples will be played and you can choose which one you prefer.

Head gestures

When you wear AirPods Pro 2, you can respond to announcements by moving your head. Once you’re connected to a device running iOS 18, iPad OS 18, macOS Sequoia, or WatchOS 11, turn this on Settings > AirPods Pro 2 > Head Gestures. Then nod your head to respond “yes” or shake your head to respond “no” to a Siri notification, such as a call, message, or notification announcement. You can also swap the gestures so that a shake means “accept” and a nod means “reject.”

Head gestures are ideal when you are in a quiet environment and don’t want to say the word “yes” or “no” out loud.

Personalized spatial audio

Your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera isn’t just for FaceID. You can actually use it to get personalized spatial audio tailored to the shape of your ears.

Go to Settings > AirPods > Personalized spatial audio and then follow the instructions to set this up. You will be asked to hold the phone in front of your face and then turn your head left and right to image your ears. Now make sure spatial audio is enabled in Control Center and try it out with supported movies and music.

Share audio with a friend

Remember the good old days when you shared music with a friend via wired earbuds? Here is the 2024 version. Swipe down to open Control Center, then tap the AirPods icon in the top right corner in the music playback panel. Tap Share Audio.

Bring another pair of AirPods or Beats nearby, open the lid, and then press and hold the pairing button on the case. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect this other pair to your phone and you can jam to the same songs.

Siri can describe images received in messages

I recently discovered that Siri can do this describe Photos I receive in the Messages app when I’m wearing AirPods Pro 2 and my phone is locked. For example, one day I was waiting for a bus and Siri announced that my best friend was sending me a photo of a brown dog lying on a black and white checkered floor. I pulled out my phone to check and Siri had it just right.

I haven’t found the magic trick to get Siri to do this for every single photo, but so far it has worked for pictures of people and pets placed in the center of the frame with a clear background. I’ve reached out to Apple for more information about this feature and will update this story in more detail.

To try to reproduce this yourself, make sure “Announce notifications” is turned on by going to Settings > Notifications > Announce notificationsand that the headphones option is also activated. Scroll further down this page to make sure the Messages app is turned on. Now just ask a friend to send you a photo – SMS and iMessages both worked for me – and see if it works!

Unlock more AirPods settings with the Shortcuts app

The Shortcuts app on iPhone is a powerful tool that helps you get even more out of your AirPods. One of my favorite combinations is that every time the AirPods connect to my iPhone, they automatically switch to my favorite settings: noise cancellation mode at 40% volume.

First, make sure your AirPods are in your ears and connected to your iPhone. Open that Shortcuts app > Plus icon > Add action. Here you search for “Set noise protection mode” and then tap on the gray field that says “Route”. From this menu, select the name of your AirPods and then your mode (in this example, that’s noise cancellation).

Next, you’ll want to add another action. In the “Search for apps and actions” bar, type “Adjust volume” and select it. Now change the volume to 40% (or desired volume). Give your shortcut a concise name and tap Completed.

Now let’s run this shortcut automatically when you put the AirPods in your ears. Go to the “Automations” tab, tap “New Automation” and search for “Bluetooth.” Where it says “Device,” look for the name of your AirPods, make sure “is connected” is checked, then click “Run Immediately.” Click Next and then select the shortcut you just created. The next time you put your AirPods in your ears and connect them to your phone, this link should run and you can test it.

Learn more about Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and how they differ from the new AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation.