iOS 11 Lets AirPods Users Change Tracks With a Double Tap - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

iOS 11 Lets AirPods Users Change Tracks With a Double Tap

Owners of AirPods will soon be able to skip forwards and backwards between tracks with a simple double tap of either earpiece, thanks to an additional setting Apple is providing in iOS 11.

Currently, AirPods users can only change tracks from the buds by invoking Siri with a double tap and vocally commanding the virtual assistant to do so, an action some people find cumbersome or simply embarrassing to have to perform in public.

Unfortunately the only available alternative to iOS 10 users is to take out their iPhone and perform the track change manually by tapping the lock screen.

Screen Shot 1
However, as demonstrated by YouTuber Appsolutely Tech, in iOS 11 it's possible to customize the Bluetooth settings on the AirPods so that a double tap on one earpiece skips to the next track, with the same action on the other earpiece returning to the previous track.

The Next/Previous track options join the existing settings found on the iOS Bluetooth 'info' screen that let users double tap to activate Siri, play/pause the track, or turn off the AirPods.

(Thanks, Jonathan!)

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Caution)
Related Forums: AirPods, iOS 11

Popular Stories

airpods eq

Apple to Bring Custom EQ to AirPods

Monday June 8, 2026 10:29 am PDT by
Apple today announced that AirPods will gain a custom EQ (equalizer) feature, allowing users to further personalize how their AirPods sound. The new capability is part of Apple's next-generation software platform updates, which the company unveiled today. Custom EQ lets listeners adjust audio output to match their personal preferences, going beyond the fixed audio profiles AirPods have...
airpods pro 3 orange

iOS 27 Introduces Overhauled AirPods Settings Menu

Tuesday June 9, 2026 5:45 am PDT by
When AirPods owners connect to their iPhone running iOS 27, they'll see a completely revamped settings menu for their earbuds that does a better job at organizing all of the feature options that Apple has added over the last few years. In the first iOS 27 developer beta, released on Monday, the new settings menu can be accessed in the same way as the old one – i.e. by appearing only when...
AirPods Pro Beta Firmware 2

Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:31 am PDT by
Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 9A5292e. In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface and support for custom EQ. AirPods are also compatible with the new Siri AI. With iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, ...

Top Rated Comments

Eliottjames Avatar
118 months ago
Just discovered an interesting tidbit with this. Yesterday I tried out the new AirPods behaviour, setting the right to next track and the left to Siri. When I used my AirPods with my primary device running iOS 10 today, they had retained this behaviour! There was no option for separate left and right controls in the AirPods settings on my iOS 10 device but they still retained their iOS 11 behaviour. That's one iOS 11 feature that we can enjoy now I suppose (providing that you're running the beta on another device...).
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
118 months ago
Great. And with iOS 12 we shall expect to control the volume.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Game 161 Avatar
118 months ago
This isn't a game changer....Bragi has been doing this for some time now......smh....you apple fanboys are lost....
This is macrumours so maybe you are lost too?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ma2k5 Avatar
118 months ago
That is good news, a much requested feature.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
118 months ago
Also:

LONG TAP: lowers volume
DOUBLE TAP+HOLD: raises volume
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
colmaclean Avatar
118 months ago
I guess they're waiting until iOS 12 for triple-tap.

Just think of the possibilities!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)