iOS 11 Lets AirPods Users Change Tracks With a Double Tap

Owners of AirPods will soon be able to skip forwards and backwards between tracks with a simple double tap of either earpiece, thanks to an additional setting Apple is providing in iOS 11.

Currently, AirPods users can only change tracks from the buds by invoking Siri with a double tap and vocally commanding the virtual assistant to do so, an action some people find cumbersome or simply embarrassing to have to perform in public.

Unfortunately the only available alternative to iOS 10 users is to take out their iPhone and perform the track change manually by tapping the lock screen.

Screen Shot 1
However, as demonstrated by YouTuber Appsolutely Tech, in iOS 11 it's possible to customize the Bluetooth settings on the AirPods so that a double tap on one earpiece skips to the next track, with the same action on the other earpiece returning to the previous track.

The Next/Previous track options join the existing settings found on the iOS Bluetooth 'info' screen that let users double tap to activate Siri, play/pause the track, or turn off the AirPods.

(Thanks, Jonathan!)

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 11

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Top Rated Comments

Eliottjames Avatar
111 months ago
Just discovered an interesting tidbit with this. Yesterday I tried out the new AirPods behaviour, setting the right to next track and the left to Siri. When I used my AirPods with my primary device running iOS 10 today, they had retained this behaviour! There was no option for separate left and right controls in the AirPods settings on my iOS 10 device but they still retained their iOS 11 behaviour. That's one iOS 11 feature that we can enjoy now I suppose (providing that you're running the beta on another device...).
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kubaw Avatar
111 months ago
Great. And with iOS 12 we shall expect to control the volume.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ma2k5 Avatar
111 months ago
That is good news, a much requested feature.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Game 161 Avatar
111 months ago
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?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
colmaclean Avatar
111 months ago
I guess they're waiting until iOS 12 for triple-tap.

Just think of the possibilities!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
111 months ago
Also:

LONG TAP: lowers volume
DOUBLE TAP+HOLD: raises volume
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)