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How to Skip Songs and Tracks Using AirPods Headphones

Introduction

AirPods are Apple’s popular wireless headphones that allow you to listen to audio from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, or Apple TV without any wires getting in the way. All models of AirPods, including AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, have built-in controls that allow you to easily pause, play, and skip tracks without needing to touch your device.

AirPods Pro and AirPods (3rd Generation)

AirPods Pro (all generations) and AirPods (3rd generation) have a force sensor built into the stem of each earbud.

Skip Tracks

  • To skip to the next track, quickly double-press the force sensor.
  • To go back to the previous track, quickly triple-press the force sensor.

You can use either the left or right AirPod to skip tracks. The force sensor is located in the indented section of the AirPods stem.

AirPods (1st and 2nd Generation)

AirPods (1st generation) and AirPods (2nd generation) allow you to double-tap either earbud to skip tracks.

Change Skip Settings

By default, double-tapping will skip to the next track. However, you can customize this setting:

  1. Wear your AirPods and connect them to your iPhone or iPad
  2. Open the Settings app
  3. Tap Bluetooth
  4. Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods
  5. Under Double-Tap on Left or Right AirPod, select Next Track or another action

AirPods Max

AirPods Max uses the Digital Crown to control playback.

Skip Tracks

  • To skip to the next track, quickly double-click the Digital Crown.
  • To go back to the previous track, quickly triple-click the Digital Crown.

Tips

  • Check that your AirPods firmware is up to date for optimal performance.
  • Disable Automatic Ear Detection if you don’t want audio to automatically pause when removing an AirPod.
  • Use Siri to control music playback using your voice. Just say “Hey Siri” then give a command like “skip track”.
  • Monitor audio levels using your paired iPhone or iPad to avoid damage to your hearing.

Troubleshooting

If your AirPods aren’t skipping tracks properly:

  • Check that the AirPods are paired and connected to your device
  • Try re-pairing your AirPods with your device
  • Check for obstruction, damage, or debris on the sensors
  • Reset your AirPods to factory settings

If issues persist, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Knowing the touch and tap controls for your AirPods models allows you to easily manage music playback on the go. Whether you have the original AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, you can quickly skip forward or back to the track you want to hear without needing to grab your iPhone. So the next time you want to skip a song, just double-tap or triple-tap your AirPods and keep listening wirelessly.

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