Skip to Content

How to Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection on AirPods and AirPods Pro

by

Apple's AirPods and AirPods 2 include a feature called Automatic Ear Detection that allows the audio routed from a connected device to seamlessly switch to the AirPods the moment you put them in your ears.

airpodsnocase
This means the AirPods can automatically pause the audio track when you remove them, and resume playback when you put them back in again, ensuring you won't miss a thing.

The feature is enabled by default, but if you want to you can manually disable it once you've connected the AirPods to an iPhone or iPad. Just note that once you do, you'll have to manually play/pause audio routing to the AirPods.

How to Turn off Automatic Ear Detection

  1. On your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌, launch the Setings app.
  2. Tap the name of your connected AirPods, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the circled "i" icon next to your connected AirPods.
    AirPods turn off ear detection

  3. Scroll down and toggle off the switch next to Automatic Ear Detection.
Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iphone fold text

iPhone Fold Crease Measurements Revealed as Device Hits Production

Wednesday February 25, 2026 5:37 am PST by
Apple has submitted production line orders for its upcoming foldable iPhone, effectively confirming that the device will launch this year, claims a Chinese leaker. According to the Weibo account "Fixed Focus Digital," assembly lines recently received the orders from Apple, which has apparently allowed the leaker to learn the crease measurements for the device's 7.8-inch inner display....
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Leaker Says Apple's Lower-Cost MacBook Will Have These 8 Limitations

Wednesday February 25, 2026 9:25 am PST by
Apple is expected to unveil its long-rumored lower-cost MacBook next week. Given it will be more affordable, this MacBook model will obviously have some reduced specs and compromises compared to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. While we are still waiting for Apple to announce the new MacBook, a leaker has shared eight alleged limitations to expect, based on an internal version of Apple's...
m3 macbook pro blue

M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro: What to Expect

Wednesday February 25, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Apple is working on a new MacBook Pro that could launch next week ahead of the "Special Experience" planned for March 4, so we thought we'd highlight all of the rumors about the device so far. Design There are no rumors of design changes, and we are expecting the upcoming M5 MacBook Pro models to look just like the M4 versions. Apple will continue to offer 14-inch and 16-inch size options,...