How to Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection on AirPods and AirPods Pro

Apple's AirPods and AirPods 2 include a feature called Automatic Ear Detection that allows the audio routed from a connected device to seamlessly switch to the AirPods the moment you put them in your ears.

This means the AirPods can automatically pause the audio track when you remove them, and resume playback when you put them back in again, ensuring you won't miss a thing.

The feature is enabled by default, but if you want to you can manually disable it once you've connected the AirPods to an iPhone or iPad. Just note that once you do, you'll have to manually play/pause audio routing to the AirPods.

How to Turn off Automatic Ear Detection

1. On your iPhone or ‌iPad‌, launch the Setings app.
2. Tap the name of your connected AirPods, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the circled "i" icon next to your connected AirPods.
   
   

3. Scroll down and toggle off the switch next to Automatic Ear Detection.