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

iOS 27 Beta Hints at New Apple Product Such as AirPods Ultra Feature

iOS 27 Beta Hints at New Apple Product Such as 'AirPods Ultra'

Friday July 3, 2026 8:44 am PDT by
The second iOS 27 developer beta seemingly hints at a new Apple product, according to code uncovered by app designer and developer Sam Henri Gold. The code mentions a product codenamed B790 that can relay "two images from cameras on either side of [a] user's head." Gold speculated that the code could be referring to Apple's rumored smart glasses, but a more likely possibility is AirPods with ...
AirPods Pro Beta Firmware 2

Apple Releases New AirPods Beta Firmware With iOS 27 Features

Tuesday July 7, 2026 11:19 am PDT by
Apple today released a third version of the beta firmware it is testing for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 9A5314b. In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, Apple is adding a new AirPods interface, a slider for Adaptive mode, and support for custom EQ, so the firmware...
AirPods Pro Second Generation 2 Pairing Feature 1

Apple Plans AirPods-Like Pairing for Meta's Glasses and Quest

Monday July 13, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
Apple is developing a new API that will let third-party accessories, including Meta's Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Quest headsets, automatically pair across a user's Apple devices the same way AirPods and the Apple Watch do today, according to Apple's EU Interoperability Request page. The plan responds to a request Meta filed in October 2025 under the EU's Digital Markets Act, asking Apple to...

Top Rated Comments

Eliottjames Avatar
119 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)
119 months ago
Great. And with iOS 12 we shall expect to control the volume.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Game 161 Avatar
119 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
119 months ago
That is good news, a much requested feature.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
119 months ago
Also:

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

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

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors