iOS 16.1 Beta Lets You Disable AirPods Pro 2 Touch Volume Control

In the iOS 16.1 beta, Apple is giving users of the second-generation AirPods Pro the ability to disable touch controls for volume.

airpods pro 2
One feature of the new AirPods Pro is that users can increase or decrease volume by swiping up or down on the touch sensors on the individual stems. While some users may find the feature convenient, others may not. On iOS 16.0.2, the current public release of iOS 16, users cannot disable touch controls for volume.

ios16
In the iOS 16.1 beta, there is a new toggle inside the Accessibility page for the second-generation AirPods Pro to enable or disable touch controls for volume. As before, users can customize the press-and-hold functionality of the AirPods Pro stems, including to switch among Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Off, or to invoke Siri.

iOS 16.1 is available for developers and members of Apple's public beta program, with a public release expected in October. In addition to the new toggle for the AirPods Pro, iOS 16.1 will include changes to the battery indicator and more.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
AirTag 2 Mock Feature

Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code

Thursday December 11, 2025 10:31 am PST by
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already...
ipados 26 1 slide over

Apple Releases iPadOS 26.2 With Multitasking Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:09 am PST by
Apple today released iPadOS 26.2, the second major update to the iPadOS 26 operating system released in September. iPadOS 26.2 comes a month after iPadOS 26.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 26.2 continues with the multitasking improvements that were added with iPadOS 26.1. You can now drag and...
iphone fold text

'iPhone Fold' Arrival Expected to Cement Book-Style Era for Foldables

Friday December 12, 2025 3:55 am PST by
Foldable smartphone panel shipments are projected to jump 46% year-over-year in 2026, with Apple's entry into the market serving as the main catalyst, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Foldable-Rollable Display Shipment Tracker. "Apple is the key driver as it starts to procure panels for its first foldable iPhone," said Counterpoint's Guillaume Chansin. The research firm expects...

Top Rated Comments

Sydnxt Avatar
42 months ago

That’s tells you all you need to know about that “feature”.
Options are good; that's all this is.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PinkyMacGodess Avatar
42 months ago

I wonder if it's your sleeves or cuffs making that accidental swipe.
That is why I wear my watch on the left wrist configured with the crown to the left. My gloves for yard work and weight training were playing havoc with that volume function, and also pushing on the crown too, most distracting. I was overjoyed to find out that I could set it up this way and avoid it happening. It works so well in winter too. Not having that option, I could have seen dropping the AW.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Podracing2 Avatar
42 months ago

Anyone know how much the volume is changed by a single full swipe up or down, 10%, 25%, …?
The exact same amount as by the iPhone volume buttons.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
42 months ago
16.1 Beta 2 will let you disable the more frequent noise cancellation, the better sound driver, the U1 chip on the case together with the speakers. /s
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
msackey Avatar
42 months ago

Apple should make other features available not this one....here we just dont swipe if we dont want to adjust the volume from the airpods themselves. In 2 days i never from mistake swipe and adjust the volume while trying to do different things
Not sure I fully agree with this. There can be some differently abled users who have a hard time not accidentally changing the volume of their pods when trying to remove or put in the pod. I see it as good to have the option to disable swipe volume control.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
msackey Avatar
42 months ago

You can? Also I do it by mistake ALL THE TIME. I don’t know how but I always manage to somehow adjust the volume from my watch, either all the way down or up. Happens to my echos plying music or my AirPods
I wonder if it's your sleeves or cuffs making that accidental swipe.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)