Here’s how to turn off each ‘intelligent’ AirPods Pro 2 feature – 9to5Mac

I love my AirPods Pro 2, but I can’t say the same about all the smart features Apple has added over the years. If you want to use AirPods Pro as easily as possible, these features should be turned off.

Fun fact: you can read this backwards to make sure you using All the smart features of AirPods Pro 2.

How I use AirPods Pro 2

Personally, I prefer to use my AirPods Pro like it’s 2019. Apple has been steadily making the AirPods Pro smarter over the years, but not all of the new features work for me, even if they’re impressive.

I like my AirPods to pause when I take them out, switch between noise canceling and transparency mode, and respond to voice commands when I say “Siri.” That’s it.

There is one accessibility feature that I usually turn on. By default, AirPods Pro do not provide noise cancellation when using one AirPod. I like to enable this feature.

If using AirPods, go to Settings > [Your AirPods] > Accessibility > turn on noise cancellation with one AirPod.

This is useful when I prefer noise cancellation but only use one AirPod, such as when I’m lying in bed. Having an AirPod in your pillow-facing ear can sometimes cause discomfort.

Smart features that can be disabled

Some or all of these may be what you are looking for…proceed at your own risk.

• Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Security > Turn off Reduce Audio Volume.

Go down the list in Settings > [Your AirPods] from top to bottom… starting with turning off adaptive mode.

• PRESS AND HOLD AIRPODS: Left > Noise Control > check Transparency & Noise Reduction; uncheck Adaptive
• PRESS AND HOLD AIRPODS: Right > Noise Control > check Transparency & Noise Reduction; uncheck Adaptive

There are also two audio features that I would happily not use:

• AUDIO: Disable personalized audio.
• AUDIO: Disable conversation tracking

I also don’t use personalized spatial audio (or spatial audio for that matter).

There are also some new features:

• Head Gestures > Off
• Enable charging case sounds > turn off

Now that it has already been established that I am a capricious old man who prefers everything the same way territory, I turn off optimized battery charging. However, I leave Find My Network turned on.

Finally, the default has recently been changed to disable listening mode. In fact I leave this disabled despite old way being the opposite way. This is because I disabled this feature manually. I use either noise reduction or transparency mode. I think the “Off” mode listening” is only useful if you’re trying to maximize battery life, but AirPods Pro battery life isn’t something I struggle with myself.

Which AirPods Pro 2 launch method do you prefer? Share your preferences in the comments!

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