AirPods Pro: Tips and tricks for Apple’s in-ears

The AirPods from Apple are among the best-known true wireless headphones on the market, which is due to the great sound and, last but not least, the iconic design. With the AirPods Pro, the manufacturer has been offering an in-ears set with active noise cancellation for some time. But how do you operate these things, how do I find out the battery level and how do I change the noise-canceling mode? COMPUTER BILD has summarized ten important tips for you.

The small LED on the charging case of the AirPods Pro can light up red, green and white and thus indicates the charging status. Opening the lid lights up the LED. It goes out again after a short time. Those who are familiar can quickly read useful information. This is what the color signals mean in detail:

AirPods in a case
Green: headphones charged and ready to use
Red: headphones not yet fully charged

AirPods not in the case
Green: The box still has enough energy to charge the headphones at least once.
Red: The box does not have enough energy – recharge it.

Other
White: The headphones are in pairing mode and can be connected to a smartphone – including an Android mobile phone.
Flashing red: An error has occurred.

Would you like to know how much juice the headphones and charging case have? There are different approaches to this:

• Open the case and hold it near the iPhone. A pop-up shows that Battery level of charging case and headphones on.
• If you take a pair of headphones out of the case, the iPhone will display the Charge level of the plugs separately.
• If the headphones are in use, swipe to the right on the home screen until you get to the widgets. There you can read the battery status under “Battery”.

The AirPods Pro are the first Apple in-ears that are “protected from sweat and water” – according to the manufacturer. However, the plugs are only IPX4 certified. This means that they can splash water, for example when jogging. It is better to avoid showering with the AirPods, the headphones certainly won’t survive a dive either.

You can find individual setting options in the headphones’ Bluetooth menu. On the iPhone, tap Settings, Bluetooth and the blue i next to your AirPods.

• Set between which two noise-canceling modes the AirPods should switch when you press the button on the headphones, for example from noise canceling to transparency mode and back. All three modes cannot be switched through on the headphones.
• Change the Key assignment, i.e. Siri on the left and the noise-canceling control on the right.
• Turn the Ear recognition so that the AirPods connect automatically when inserted in the ear and the music stops when removed.
• It is best to leave the microphone selection on automatic if you only have a plug in your ear.

Apple delivers a test for the ear tips with the AirPods. The manufacturer wants to ensure that you fit the correct size of the rubber eartips and thus get the best possible sound. And it’s that simple: Put the headphones with the standard fitted adapters in your ear. Switch to the Bluetooth menu (see tip 4) and tap on “Fit test for ear tips“.

You can find out how to control the noise control via the headphones in the next tip. But it is also very easy to do on a smartphone. Swipe up from the bottom of the iPhone to open the Control Center. Press down a little harder (ForceTouch) on the volume control, then select the mode you want.

Apple has revised the music control with the AirPods Pro. By pressing the button on the AirPods several times, you can jump back a track, for example.

• Press once: Start / stop the music
• Press twice: Skip title
• Press three times: Jump back track
• Keep pressed down: Change noise canceling mode

Less is more: with one Microfiber cloth the headphones and the case can be cleaned quickly. However, you should be careful with water. It is best to clean the fine grids on the AirPods at regular intervals with a cotton swab or be careful with one fine brush.

Around music for two to listen, you no longer have to hand in a stopper. If the listener also has AirPods, just connect them to your iPhone. On Apple Music, tap the AirPlay iconto select the second AirPods. Cool: everyone has their own volume control.

Apple’s smart watch too Apple watch helps in everyday life: You can find out the charge status of the AirPods by tapping the battery indicator in the watch’s control center. To change the noise-canceling mode, tap the AirPlay icon in Apple’s music app.