How To Easily Adjust Volume On AirPods And AirPods Pro

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Many people find the ease with Bluetooth headphones; they can leave them in all day as they go about their daily routine. As such, they will lower and raise the volume as the situation calls for throughout the day. In this article, we will show you some great ways to streamline that process to make that even faster and, in some cases, hands-free.

Don’t feel like reading? Check out our full video on how to use your Airpods.

There are currently five different models of Apple AirPods. Four are the earbud-style that many think of when you hear AirPods: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation, and the AirPods Pro. There is also a fifth pair of full-size over-ear-cup headphones called AirPod Max. Adjusting the volume depends on which you own.

How to Easily Adjust Volume on AirPods and AirPods Pro

Adjusting the volume using AirPods, regardless of what model and generation, is a simple task. Easily doing so eliminates searching for a volume button or having to control the volume from your phone. No more interruptions from what you’re doing with having to pick up your phone to change the volume. Here’s how to adjust the volume on AirPods and AirPods Pro:

  • Use Siri
  • Use an Apple Watch
  • Double-tap settings (AirPods gen 1 and 2)
  • Using the force sensors (AirPods gen 3 and AirPods Pro)
  • Turning the Digital Crown Knob (AirPods Max)

You’ll also follow a similar process to skip songs with the AirPods. Keep on reading to learn how to create these settings and use them.

How to Adjust Volume for 1st and 2nd Generation AirPods

You can use a couple of methods to adjust your volume on your AirPods. The easiest is using voice commands using Apple’s voice-activated assistant, Siri. The others are by adjusting the volume inside the device itself, probably your phone, or adjusting the volume using your Apple Watch.

Set Up Siri for 1st and 2nd Generation AirPods

First, let’s make your AirPods can access Siri:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
  • Open the Bluetooth tab
  • Find your AirPods listed under My Devices and click the small More Info icon on the right (a small letter i in a circle)
  • There will be a menu titled Double-tap on AirPod
  • Choose either the left or right earbud that you would like to use to access Siri and tap to open that option.
  • Select Siri from the list of possibilities

This will allow you to Double-tap either the right or left earbud (depending on which you choose) to access Siri, which will be explained further in the next step.

Double-Tap AirPods to Access Siri and Adjust Volume

  • Whether you chose the right or left earbud in the previous section, you will just double-tap the earbud with your finger.
  • You will hear a tone that will indicate Siri is listening for a command.
  • You can now use voice commands to control the volume. For instance, you can say: “turn the volume up” or “lower the volume to 50 percent.”

As you can see, with a little experimentation, you can streamline the volume setting process with just a double tap and a quick voice line.

How to Adjust Volume With Siri for 3rd Gen AirPods and AirPods Pro

The 3rd generation of Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro changed the way that AirPods functioned and were able to operate. They removed the ability to double-tap and inserted a force sensor that acts as a sort of pressure button instead. You can still access Siri using your finger on the earbud, but they also added the ability to access Siri completely hands-free.

Adjust Volume Handsfree on 3rd Generation AirPods and AirPods Pro

One of the best parts about this generation of AirPods is that you can just say, “Hey, Siri,” using only your voice at any time you are wearing your AirPods, and Siri will begin listening for a command. Making adjusting your volume even easier.

  • Say, “Hey, Siri,” and you will hear a tone indicating that Siri is listening for a command.
  • You can now use voice commands to control the volume. 

You can also use the force sensors to access Siri and change the volume.

Access Siri on 3rd Gen AirPods and AirPods Pro Using Force Sensor

  • Press and hold the Force Sensor on the AirPod to activate Siri. You will hear a tone that will indicate Siri is listening for a command.
  • You can now use voice commands to control the volume.

 Finally, you can also adjust the volume using your Apple Watch.

Adjust Volume Using Your Apple Watch

If your iPhone is also paired with an Apple Watch or if your AirPods are paired with just an Apple Watch by themselves, you can adjust the volume of your AirPods using your Apple Watch. From the Apple Watch Home Screen:

  • Tap the Now Playing icon near the top of the screen (a small play button)
  • On the Now Playing screen, you should see the name of what is being played, pause, skip buttons, and a volume symbol.
  • Simply turn the Digital Crown Knob (the physical knob on the side of the Apple Watch)
  • That will pop up a small green volume indicator that will show you the volume settings on your AirPods

Adjust Volume Using Your AirPods Max Full-Size Headphones

Adjusting the volume of the AirPods Max headphones is probably the most straightforward of all of the AirPods. Like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max have a Digital Crown Knob located on one of the speaker cups. Simply turn this knob to raise and lower the volume.

In Conclusion

Another method of lowering the volume will always be just using the volume slider in your phone or device or within the app you are using, but where is the fun in that? It is much more fun to tap an almost non-existent button on the side of your head, say a few voice commands like you are a starship captain, and have your device step to your every command. This is the future.

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