Get the fourth-gen earbuds paired, fitted, and tuned fast with clear steps for pairing, gestures, modes, calls, and fixes.
What You Get Out Of The Box
The earbuds arrive in a small case with a USB-C cable. Remove the film, open the lid, and the status light wakes. A white pulse means ready; amber means active charging.
There are two options this year. One is an open-ear design. The other adds active noise blocking with microphones and the H2 chip. Both share fast pairing, Siri access, and Spatial Audio with head tracking.
Feature Map For Each Model
| Feature | Standard | ANC Model |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Control | No | Yes |
| Adaptive Audio & Conversation Awareness | Adaptive only | Adaptive + noise control |
| Personalized Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| Case Pairing Gesture | Double-tap front | Double-tap front |
| Water Resistance | Sweat/splash | Sweat/splash |
| Find My Support | Earbuds | Earbuds + precise case |
Using The Fourth-Gen AirPods: Step-By-Step
First Charge
Drop both buds in the case for ten minutes. A quick top-up prevents pairing hiccups. Charge by cable or a Qi pad if you like. Green means the case has power; amber means it needs more.
Fast Pair With iPhone Or iPad
Hold the open case near an unlocked device on the Home screen. A setup card appears. Tap Connect and follow prompts. If nothing shows, double-tap the front of the case until the light flashes white, then try again.
Pair With Mac
Open the case, then on Mac go to System Settings > Bluetooth. Double-tap the case front if the name doesn’t appear, then select it. The volume icon reveals a tile for modes and head tracking.
Pair With Android Or Other Devices
Open the case, enable Bluetooth on the device, then pick the buds from the scan list. If they don’t appear, use the case double-tap to start pairing. Core controls still work.
Fit, Comfort, And Seal
Place each bud with a gentle twist. Rotate until voices sound natural and bass feels tight. On the noise-blocking model, run the fit check in Bluetooth settings.
During workouts, rotate slightly toward the cheekbone for grip. Wipe the tips and nozzle mesh after sessions. Lint and dust muffle highs and can trip microphones.
Core Gestures You’ll Use Every Day
Press Controls
Press once to play or pause. Press twice to skip forward. Press three times to skip back. Press and hold to cycle modes on the noise-blocking model, or to call Siri on the standard model.
Volume Swipe
Swipe up on the stem to raise volume; swipe down to reduce. A soft tone confirms each step. Short swipes allow fine tuning.
Head Gestures And Announce
Turn on Announce Calls and Announce Notifications to hear caller names or message previews. On recent models, a nod can accept and a head shake can decline calls.
Listening Modes And When To Use Them
The noise-blocking model offers three modes. Noise Control quiets steady droning like bus engines. Transparency lets outside sound in so you can hear your name or an airport gate change. Adaptive blends both and softens sudden blasts while keeping speech clear.
Conversation Awareness lowers volume and shifts to pass-through when you start talking, then fades back when you stop.
Spatial Audio And Personalized Sound
Personalized Spatial Audio uses ear and head measurements to create a stable stage. In Settings, scan your ears with the front camera under the AirPods card. Movies with Dolby Atmos feel wider and instrument placement is easier to track.
Calls, Mic Options, And Voice
During a call, the microphones steer toward your voice and dampen street noise. For windy days, cup a hand to block gusts so the algorithm adapts. You can switch mics to left or right only if one side fits better for long talks.
“Hey Siri” handles timers, messages, and music tasks. For privacy, press and hold as a push-to-talk trigger instead of voice wake.
Battery Checks And Smart Charging
Open the case near your phone to view charge levels. You can also add the Batteries widget. Low Power mode stretches life by trimming loudness and tilting ANC to a thriftier profile on the model that supports it.
To preserve health, avoid running down to zero. A quick top-off keeps cycles low. If the case beeps or the light blinks amber after drops, reseat the buds, clean the contacts, and try a different cable or pad.
Audio Sharing And Multipoint Tips
Two sets of compatible earbuds can share the same iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV stream. Start playback, tap the AirPlay icon, then Add Another Pair. For laptop meetings, keep your phone nearby so handoff works when a call comes in.
Find My And Security Alerts
Open Find My to see each bud on a map. Turn on separation alerts so your phone pings you if you leave them behind. With the noise-blocking version, the case supports precise tracking with on-screen guidance.
Care, Cleaning, And Safety
Use a dry cloth on the case. For the mesh and tips, a dry brush works best. Skip sprays and solvents. Keep them out of saunas and steam rooms.
Quick Settings You Should Tweak
In Bluetooth settings, tap the “i” next to the name. Rename the buds, choose double-tap actions, and set press-and-hold. On the noise-blocking model, choose which modes a long press cycles through.
Turn on Ear Detection so playback pauses when you pull a bud out of your ear. Turn on Optimize Battery Charging if you work at a desk; the phone learns your routine and holds near eighty percent before a commute starts.
Reference Links For Deeper Setup
Apple’s guides update with each release. See the official pages for pairing and control tips: Pair AirPods with iPhone and Controls And Gestures.
Troubleshooting That Fixes Most Oddities
Audio Sounds Thin Or Echoey
Clean the mesh, reseat the fit, and try a short twist toward the jawline. In settings, toggle Spatial Audio off and on once. On the noise-blocking model, cycle modes once to reset the path.
Only One Side Plays
Place both buds in the case for twenty seconds, then pull them out together. If it persists, forget the device in Bluetooth, use the case double-tap, and link again.
Random Disconnects
Charge the case, update your phone, and move away from crowded 2.4 GHz zones near routers and microwaves. A short cable charge can stabilize the radio.
People Can’t Hear You
Wipe the mic ports and the stem. Switch the active mic to the quieter ear. If wind is fierce, switch to Transparency and shield the side facing the breeze.
Settings Map: Where To Change Things
| Task | Menu Path | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Rename Buds | Settings > Bluetooth > “i” | Use a short, unique name |
| Gesture Mapping | Settings > Bluetooth > “i” | Map hold to modes or Siri |
| Spatial Audio Scan | Settings > AirPods card | Run once in bright light |
| Adaptive Audio Tuning | Control Center > Volume tile | Press and hold to adjust |
| Announce Calls | Settings > Phone > Announce | Set to Headphones only |
| Find My Alerts | Find My > Devices | Enable separation alerts |
Pro Tips For Daily Use
- Keep the case in a front pocket to improve signal in busy streets.
- Use one bud for podcasts to stretch battery life during chores.
- Create a Focus mode that pauses auto-connect during work calls.
- Add the Batteries widget stack for quick checks.
When To Reset Or Get Service
If buttons feel laggy or the light won’t respond, place both buds in the case and keep the lid open. Double-tap the front until the light flashes amber, then white. Re-pair on your phone. If charging still fails after a cable swap and contact cleaning, contact Apple for service and bring the serial number from the lid.