Electronics

How to Use Airpods Like a Pro: A Complete Guide

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Are you trying to figure out how to use airpods and are coming up short? Read this article to learn everything you need to know about using airpods.

AirPods are one of the coolest developments from Apple in recent years. Apple is such an innovator that their list of amazing inventions just goes on and on, but if you are someone who likes listening to music, podcasts, television, phone calls or anything else privately and wire-free, AirPods are awesome.

If you have purchased AirPods, you probably want to know everything about them. How do they work? How should you take care of them? How does one connect them to other devices? How can you stop yourself from losing them?

Don’t worry, learning how to use AirPods is easy. As with all other Apple products, AirPods are pretty intuitive. However, since they don’t come with any real instructions, this post ought to help you get started with confidence.

AirPods: An Amazing Invention

Apple has changed the world with new technology so many times over that the introduction of AirPods was not at all surprising. The brand’s headphone development timeline is often eclipsed by those of the Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, but it too is interesting.

Apple’s first earbuds came packaged with the first-ever iPod in 2001. These tiny headphones sounded great but didn’t quite fit in anyone’s ear properly. When the first iPhone came on the market in 2007, the improvements were obvious; these new headphones were a better fit than the older ones, sounded better, and included a microphone.

Always trying to one-up themselves, Apple introduced the AirPod’s predecessor, EarPods, in 2012. They were included with the then-new iPhone 5 and featured the recognizable shape with which we are familiar today. Since then, there have been several updates to the company’s last wired headphones, but no real major changes have been implemented.

Finally, AirPods appeared on the scene in December of 2016, and since then there have been two updates. The second-generation AirPods were released in March of 2019, and the new AirPods Pro came out in October of that same year. Both of the newest versions have similar features such as the ability to chat with Siri, long battery life, and a very cool charging case.

AirPods are completely wireless and self-contained. Although they are tiny, they include within them a speaker, a microphone, sensors, a wireless chip, and a battery all inside of them. They fit into the listener’s ear and provide hours of sound delivered more or less directly into his or her brain.

Charging AirPods

AirPods come with a charger, of course. The charging case is available in both wired and wireless versions and is the safest place to keep your AirPods when they are not in use. However, you can charge the case with your AirPods inside or not; either way, it will charge and will provide a charge for your AirPods when you need it.

Because the case holds multiple charges, you can recharge your AirPods numerous times without needing to recharge the case. According to Apple, you can get up to twenty-four hours of charge from the case.

How to Check AirPod Charge Levels

Depending on which version of AirPods you have and what you are doing with them, they will hold a charge for between three and five hours before they need to return to the case for more charging. When the battery is low, you will hear a tone in one or both ears. You will hear the tone again just before they turn off due to a lack of battery power.

You can check the amount of battery in your AirPods by looking at the indicator on your charging case. Alternately, you can see the amount of charge your AirPods have at any time on the screen of any iOS device to which they are connected through Bluetooth.

How to Use AirPods

AirPods are one-size-fits-all which is great for some people but is not really great for others. To help you put them in, they are labeled with an L and an R for left and right. Being aware of this will be very helpful.

However, if they don’t seem to fit your ears the right way, there are some tricks you can try to make them stay in there better. Try a few different ideas for the best results.

Pairing AirPods With an iPhone or iPad

Because AirPods were designed to be used with the iPhone, pairing your AirPods with your iPhone is as easy as pie. All you need to do is put your AirPods in their charging case with the lid closed, and put the case next to your phone. Unlock your phone as normal, and you will soon see an option to connect. Tap connect, then done, and you are all set.

Pairing AirPods With a Mac Computer

If you’re wondering how to connect AirPods to Mac, well, that’s simple too. Put your AirPods in their charging case, then open the lid. Press the pairing button on the back until the case starts blinking white. On your computer, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth. Your Mac will recognize the AirPods; once it does, click “Pair” and you’re ready to go.

Pairing AirPods With an Apple Watch

Pairing your AirPods with your Apple Watch is the exact same process. While your AirPods are in their case with the lid open, press the pairing button on the case. On your Apple Watch, tap Settings and then Bluetooth. You’ll soon see your AirPods on the list, so select them and then they are paired.

Pairing AirPods With Apple TV

If you want to listen to the television privately through your AirPods, the steps are more of the same. Keep your AirPods in the case, open the case, and press the pairing button. On your Apple TV, open the Settings menu, click Remotes and Devices, and then Bluetooth. Choose your AirPods from the list.

Using Siri With AirPods

You can use Siri with your AirPods, too. The second-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro both will respond to the standard “Hey Siri” greeting to get the app’s attention. Then, you can adjust your volume or music playback verbally or even make phone calls. The volume of whatever you’re listening to will lower to indicate that Siri is ready for your command.

If you are listening to music or a podcast or some other audio, you can use voice commands like “play,” “pause music,” “skip back,” “skip forward,” “play my Favorites playlist,” or “lower/raise volume by x percent.” 

Even better, if you have iOS 13.2 installed on your phone or iPad, Siri can even read your text messages to you if you ask her to, as long as you have everything set up right to enjoy this feature. You can reply by speaking.

Unpairing AirPods From Apple Devices

There may come a time when you wish to disconnect your AirPods from a device with which you paired it, and this, too, is easy. On all Apple products, simply go to the Bluetooth menu, find your AirPods, and tap Remove or Forget This Device.

Pairing AirPods With an Android Phone

What some people don’t know about AirPods is that they are not only for Apple devices. You can connect them to any device that has Bluetooth capability and they will work just fine.

Pairing with a non-Apple device is the same procedure as pairing with an Apple product. Put your AirPods in their case with the lid open. Press the pairing button on the back of the case. Open the Bluetooth settings menu on your Android phone or other device and look for your AirPods. Connect them just like you would connect any other Bluetooth speaker.

Making and Receiving Phone Calls With AirPods

If someone calls you while you are wearing your AirPods, you can answer the call by tapping the stem of the AirPod twice. To hang up or to switch to another call, double-tap it again. 

Because you might not have your iPhone in your hand when the call comes through, you can set up your AirPods to announce the caller to you so you can decide whether or not you want to answer. Go to Settings > Phone to set this up and choose one of the following options. If you choose “Always,” your phone will always announce the caller. If you choose “Headphones & Car” the caller will be announced if you are driving or if you are wearing your AirPods. “Headphones Only” will tell you the caller only if you are wearing headphones at the time of the call. 

Using AirPods as a Hearing Aid

Did you know that you can use your AirPods as hearing aids? If you are running iOS 12 or higher, this is easy with a little setup. On your iPhone go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and tap the green plus symbol next to the Hearing option. When you need the hearing aid assistance, put in your AirPods and open Control Center on your phone and choose Live Listen.  Turn off this feature the same way.

How Not to Lose Your AirPods

The best way to keep track of your AirPods is to keep them in their charging case any time you are not using them. You should also have a designated place for the case so you don’t have to go through everything every time you want to find them. AirPods and their case are tiny, so taking steps to keep them in the same spot all the time will save you from many worries and headaches.

Happy Listening

Now that you know how to use AirPods, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start using them. Fire up a new podcast, listen to some of your favorite songs, watch a movie, or call up some friends to make plans.

This technology is amazing. You might as well enjoy it! 

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Maudie Banta is a fashion and lifestyle blogger in Columbus. She is building her brand by sharing her philosophy on looking good while saving money and closet space. She has worked for various magazines in Los Angeles and Ohio styling and writing and is an associate writer for IL Moda PR. Follow her on Instagram: @MaudieLloyd or Twitter, or see her website for more information

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