You most likely use your AirPods to listen to music for the ultimate wireless experience, right? But do you sometimes want to move on to your favorite song and not listen to the tracks before it? Well, this guide will help you do exactly that. Learn how to skip songs with AirPods easily without the need to do it through your device.
We’ll explore all the different methods of how to use the audio controls on your Apple earbuds, including how to pause and skip songs, regardless of what model AirPods you own.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Some people are unaware they can skip songs with their AirPods and not via the device (iPhone, Mac, etc.).
- It’s possible to use the audio controls of the AirPods to pause, playback, or skip songs, irrespective of the model you own.
- Use the Settings on a connected iOS device to set the double-tap functionality and skip songs on the first-generation AirPods. You can use the force sensor on AirPods Pro to skip songs. Use the digital crown on AirPods Max to skip the songs.
Can You Skip and Stop Songs Only Using Your AirPods?
Yes, you can skip/stop songs with your AirPods in different ways, depending on your specific AirPods model—just double-tap on the side of either AirPod. Although the double tap functionality is set to skip songs by default, you can easily customize it to complete other tasks for you. Pause, return to the previous song, or activate Siri via your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac settings.
This Is How To Skip Songs With Airpods (Summary)
Skip Songs With AirPods 1st and 2nd Generation:
- Double-Tap: By default, double-tapping one of the AirPods while they’re in your ears will skip the song. You can customize this action through your iPhone settings.
- To customize, go to
Settings
>Bluetooth
on your iPhone. - Tap the
i
icon next to your AirPods. - Under “Double-Tap on AirPod,” you can select what function you’d like to assign to the double-tap gesture (such as play/pause, skip forward, or skip back).
- To customize, go to
Skip Songs With AirPods Pro:
- Press and Hold: On AirPods Pro, you can configure a “Press and Hold” function to skip tracks.
- To customize, go to
Settings
>Bluetooth
on your iPhone. - Tap the
i
icon next to your AirPods Pro. - Under “Press and Hold AirPods,” you can customize the function for each earbud.
- To customize, go to
- Double Press: By default, pressing the force sensor on the stem of the AirPod twice quickly will skip the song.
Skip Songs With AirPods Max:
- Press the Digital Crown: On AirPods Max, you can double-press the Digital Crown to skip the song.
Customization:
You can customize the controls for AirPods through an iPhone or iPad, allowing you to specify what action you’d like to associate with different gestures.
Here’s how you can customize these settings:
- Open the
Settings
app on your iPhone or iPad. - Go to
Bluetooth
. - Next to your AirPods in the list, tap the
i
icon. - Here you can customize the controls for each of your AirPods.
Please note that the available features and customization options may vary depending on the firmware version of your AirPods and your iOS version. It would be best to consult Apple’s official support documentation for the most current information.
How to Skip Songs With AirPods Full Step-by-Step Guide
Skipping songs is possible with AirPods, and it’s pretty easy too. Follow the step-by-step guide I have shared below.
- Go to the Settings of your connected iPhone or iPad and open the Bluetooth tab.
- Press the “I” icon right in front of the AirPods, and the new menu will appear.
- Right below the “double-tap on AirPod,” you will be able to choose between left or right AirPods and change the double-tap settings.
Image by LifeWire
- Now, choose “next track.” This will make the “next track” a default function whenever you touch and double-tap the stem, so you can easily play the next song.
Voila! You’ve reached the next song in the queue. Also, there is an option to ask Siri to make this a default setting, so try that easy trick, too.
Related: How to Turn On Noise Canceling on AirPods
How to Skip Songs With AirPods Pro
Image by Apple
To skip songs with AirPods Pro, use the force sensor. This sensor is located on the indented part of your AirPods’ stems.
These sensors are reactive to pressure. There is no button. However, you can skip songs with two touches. In the section below, I have shared the detailed steps for you.
- If you want to skip the songs forward, press the sensor twice. You must press the stem gently between two fingers and squeeze the sensor area twice to skip the song.
- If you want to fast-forward through the song you are currently playing, you need to hold the sensor on the second press.
This method uses the force sensor on the stem to skip the song. Also, ensure the sensor area is properly cleaned to register your touch.
How to Skip Songs With AirPods Max
Image by Soundguys
If you didn’t shy away from spending hundreds of dollars and purchased the AirPods Max, this section is for you. This model has a change of design, which is why you cannot use the double-tap method to skip the songs. So, if you want to change or skip the song, follow the steps below.
- If you want to skip to the next song, locate the digital crown on the right earcup’s top and press it two times.
- If you want to return to the previous song, press the digital crown three times.
However, if you can’t skip songs using the methods above, you should update the firmware or check the charging performance of your AirPods.
Low battery can cause various performance issues, so keep the charging case handy, and your AirPods always juiced up!
Related: Why Do My AirPods Die So Fast? Reasons And Solutions
How to Skip Songs With AirPods: FAQs
Q. How to fix the AirPods Pro skip song not working?
A. In most cases, it happens when the firmware of your AirPods Pro is corrupt or outdated. That’s because firmware issues can lead to the malfunctioning of force sensor controls. In addition to this, make sure that the AirPods are fully charged to make sure they can register the actions.
Q. How to turn off AirPods?
A. Since there is no power button on AirPods, people have difficulty understanding how to turn them off. To turn off your AirPods, take them out of your ears, put them in the charging case, and close the lid. It’s that simple.
Q. How do I customize my AirPods to skip a song?
A. To change the settings, wear the AirPods and go to the settings. From the settings, open the Bluetooth tab, click on AirPods, and click on right or left. After that, you can choose the action. You can also connect the AirPods to your iPhone and ask Siri to change or skip the song.
Q. How do I turn on the force sensor AirPods?
A. You have to open the accessibility tab from the settings of your iPad or iPhone. From the accessibility tab, choose AirPods and select how many taps will do which action. In addition, you can customize how quickly you’ve to press the sensor or stem before the action is taken. This method works on iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone.
Q. Why are my AirPods not skipping songs when I double-tap them?
A. There are chances that you haven’t turned on the double-tap feature. This feature is activated after you connect it to the iOS device that you are using, such as iPad or iPhone. Once they are connected, you have to open the Bluetooth settings to turn it on. As a result, the double-tap feature will be enabled. In addition, keep in mind that the double-tap method only works on the AirPods first-generation model.
Related: How to Find Lost Airpods that are Offline? Here Are Your Options
Conclusion
Tapping your AirPods to change or skip songs is a tiny trick with big perks.
Picture this: you’re rocking your playlist during a jog, but a “meh” song plays—no need to dig your phone out. Just tap your AirPods, and boom – next track. It’s like your personal DJ.
As time is money, skipping the phone shuffle means you save crucial seconds, stay focused, and keep the groove.
In a nutshell, this sneaky tap feature keeps you in charge of your tunes without any disruptions. It’s a time-saver and rhythm-keeper, all in one.
Get tapping and stay in your musical flow!
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