Since iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, it has been possible to control the camera of your iPhone or iPad with your AirPods. After you open the camera app, the input from the AirPods will be recognized by the app.
By simply squeezing (tapping) the stem of the AirPods, you can take a photo or start a video recording, allowing you to operate the camera hands-free. Ideal if you want to be in the photo yourself, but don’t want to run back and forth.
Camera control features with AirPods
This camera function for AirPods is actually very simple. Once you open the Camera app, input from your AirPods will be recognized by the application. By squeezing the stem of your AirPods or pressing the Digital Crown of the AirPods Max, you then trigger the camera shutter. As a user, you have the option to manage this camera remote control for AirPods. You can choose to squeeze once or press and hold for a long time.
Set up camera remote control
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad
- Go to ‘Institutions‘
- Open the AirPods settings in the overview
- Tap ‘Camera remote control‘
You can then choose to disable the option, activate it after pressing once or by pressing and holding, whatever suits you best. Good to know, the camera remote control only works when the Apple or third-party Camera app is open.
Countdown and multiple photos
When you take a photo, the camera will automatically start a three-second countdown before recording. This is accompanied by a flash pattern (with the flash) so that everyone can clearly see that the photo is about to be taken and can prepare.
In addition, the camera does not just take one photo, but activates a burst mode in which ten photos are taken in succession. This allows you to manually select the best photo, while also automatically displaying the best shot from the sequence.
Studio quality microphone mode
The camera remote works not only for photos, but also for starting videos. You also benefit from this in Apple’s Camera app studio quality audio recordings when you have AirPods in. Interviewers, podcast makers, artists and other creators benefit from better sound quality for their recordings.
Voice isolation ensures that they can record smoothly anywhere, even if it is noisy. The combination of an H2 chip, beamforming microphones and computational audio makes voices sound better during calls and FaceTime, and in CallKit-enabled apps.
Studio-quality audio recording and improved call sound quality are available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and work with the Camera app, Dictaphone, dictation in Messages, video conferencing apps like Webex, and compatible camera apps from other developers.
Support camera control functions with AirPods
Unfortunately, this feature is not available to all AirPods users. Apple has chosen to make the studio-quality Camera Remote and Microphone mode exclusive to models with the H2 chip. This means you can use it to:
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirPods Pro 2 (both Lightning and USB-C versions)
- AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation
- AirPods 4
- AirPods Max 2nd generation