Your AirPods Pro can do a lot more than just play music. With the latest updates in iOS 26, Apple has quietly added a stack of new settings and features that give you way more control over your audio experience. From answering calls with a nod to keeping your car from hijacking your Bluetooth connection, there is a lot to uncover here.
I've dug through the menus to find the most useful changes. Some of these solve long-standing annoyances—like audio cutting out when you get in the car—while others, like the new camera remote feature, add capabilities you probably didn't know you had.
In this post, we'll walk through the best new settings, how to configure them, and a powerful Shortcut automation that changes your noise control mode automatically when you get home.
Battery health is huge for AirPods longevity. The new update brings the Optimized Charge Limit feature to AirPods Pro. By default, it might stop charging at 80% to preserve battery health. That's great for daily use, but not if you have a long flight ahead.
Pro tip: While you are in there, toggle on Charging Notifications. Since the case sizes vary between models, you might find yourself needing to charge more often than you expect. This alert saves you from dead headphones.
We've all been there. You're listening to a podcast on your AirPods, you start your car, and suddenly the audio cuts out because the phone connected to the car's Bluetooth. iOS 26 finally fixes this.
There is a new setting that keeps the audio playing in your headphones, even when other Bluetooth devices connect. It is a game changer if you have Bluetooth speakers around the house or drive often.
Now, when you hop in the car, your podcast stays in your ears where it belongs.
You probably use the stem squeeze to pause music, but there are two new ways to control your phone without touching it: Head Gestures and the Camera Remote.
You can now accept a call by nodding your head 'yes' or decline it by shaking your head 'no'. It feels futuristic, but there is a catch—it only works if you have Announce Notifications enabled.
This is perfect for group shots or selfies when you are holding the phone at a distance. You can set the stem press to act as a shutter button.
It works for video too—click to start recording, click again to stop.
iOS 26 introduces a few features that make the audio experience more intelligent, adapting to what you are doing and where you are.
Adaptive Audio is great, but sometimes it lets in too much noise—or not enough. There is now a slider to fix that.
In your AirPods settings under Adaptive Audio, you will find a customization slider. Drag it left to let in less noise (more quiet) or right to let in more sound. It helps dial in the feature for your specific environment.
Switching between Noise Cancellation and Transparency manually gets old. You can use the Shortcuts app to do it for you based on location or WiFi connection.
Here is a quick recipe: Create a Personal Automation in the Shortcuts app. Set the trigger to "When I join [Home WiFi Network]". Add the action Set Noise Control Mode and change it to Transparency. Now, whenever you walk in the door and your phone connects to WiFi, your AirPods effectively "open up" so you can hear your family.
That covers the heavy hitters for this update. Whether you are using the new head gestures or just enjoying uninterrupted audio in the car, these features make the AirPods Pro feel like a significantly smarter device.
Jump into your settings and toggle a few of these on. The "Keep Audio with Headphones" setting alone is worth the update.