Switch on sleep detection on your AirPods: here you will find the hidden function

Your AirPods have a handy new function with sleep detection! Curious where you find it? This way you switch on sleep detection.

Sleep detection at AirPods

Apple has added a number of new functions to the AirPods! With iOS 26, not only improvements come to the iPhone, the AirPods also get features. One of them is sleep detection, a part that we saw earlier at the Apple Watch. Have you fallen asleep while you are still wearing the AirPods? Then the earphones register the moment you went to sleep. The audio then pauses automatically with sleep detection.

Sleep detection ensures that your music does not continue to play in the AirPods all night. The same applies to podcasts, series or films, which are also automatically paused with the new function. This is not only better for your hearing, by pausing the audio, the AirPods also consume much less power. This prevents sleep detection that the battery of your AirPods is empty when you wake up again.

Switch on sleep detection on your AirPods: here you will find the hidden function

This is how you switch on sleep detection

Apple has brought sleep detection with iOS 26 to your AirPods. Have you not yet installed the update on your iPhone? Then do that first, you will find the update on your iPhone under ‘Settings> General> Software update’. After installing the new software version, all new functions automatically come to your AirPods. Curious about how you switch on sleep detection? You do that as follows:

  1. Remove the AirPods from the charging case;

  2. Go to ‘Settings’ on your iPhone;

  3. Tap ‘AirPods’ at the top of the settings;

  4. Scroll down;

  5. Put the switch behind ‘Pause media when you fall asleep’.

Do the AirPods not appear at the settings of your iPhone? In that case you can also find ears under ‘Settings> Bluetooth> my devices’. Tap the information symbol (i) behind the AirPods to enable sleep detection. Have you turned on the position? Then the audio in the ears is automatically paused as soon as you have fallen asleep. For that you no longer need a sleeping timer for that from iOS 26.

Turn on AirPods sleep detection

More functions for the AirPods

Sleep detection is a handy addition for the AirPods, which prevents the ears from continuing to play audio all night. This is especially useful when you are watching a series or movie, it is not played completely when you are sleeping. That way you know where you left the day after. Unfortunately, sleep detection does not come to all AirPods, only the AirPods 4 (with and without noise reduction), the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Pro 3 are expanded with the function.

In addition to sleep detection, these AirPods also receive a camera remote control, which makes it possible to take photos with your iPhone remotely. Are you enthusiastic about the new functions, but do your AirPods not have support for sleep detection? Then it’s time for new ears. The AirPods Pro 3 are currently Apple’s best and newest ears. View the lowest prices here, so that you never pay too much:

Apple Airpods Pro 3 Deals

Compare all Apple Airpods Pro 3 prices

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