The AirPods get a handy function, because from iOS 26 you can take photos with the ears. That’s how it works!
Take Airpods photos
With the largest iOS update of the year, Apple usually brings not only new functions to the iPhone, but also to the AirPods. That is no different with iOS 26, because the AirPods will be expanded with several new features. One of them is taking photos, which is possible with the AirPods for the first time with iOS 26. In the new software version, the ears are expanded with a camera remote control.
This remote control makes it possible to take a photo on your iPhone or iPad via the AirPods. We already saw a similar function at the Apple Watch. The camera app of the smartwatch is linked to the iPhone camera. When you open it, you can place the iPhone at a distance and take a photo from your Apple Watch. With iOS 26 you no longer need Apple Watch for that, because the AirPods can also take photos.
This is how the new function works
After the release of iOS 26 you will find the new function at the AirPods settings on the iPhone or iPad. In the software version, the AirPods settings have been expanded with ‘camera control’. There you decide how the camera remote control of the ears works. You can take photos with the AirPods by pressing the stalk once or holding it down for longer. Do you not want to use the remote control? Then you can also switch off the feature in iOS 26.
To take photos with the AirPods you put in one (or two) ears and open the camera app on the iPhone or iPad. After you have put it in the right place, press the stalk of the AirPods. The iPhone or iPad then starts with countdown, so you still have enough time to be ready for the photo. Making a video goes in the same way, by pressing the stalk starts and you end the recording.
More about AirPods in iOS 26
From iOS 26 you no longer need Apple Watch to take photos with your iPhone from a distance. Unfortunately, the camera remote control does not come to all AirPods, only the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 work with the new feature. These ears get even more functions with iOS 26, so the audio quality of the microphones is greatly improved. According to Apple, the AirPods will soon make audio recordings of studio quality.
We still have to wait for iOS 26, because Apple only releases the update in September. The largest software updates of the year traditionally appear after the release of the new iPhones. That means that you can install iOS 26 only after the announcement of the iPhone 17 in September. That month you can use the AirPods to take photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad. Do you want to know if your iPhone has support for iOS 26? Then read here if you can update later!
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