The 8 Best AirPod Commands

Top hands-free Siri commands for your wireless Apple earbuds

A set of Apple AirPods lying next to an iPhone

Stephen Lam/Getty Images

by Brenna Miles
Brenna Miles is a technology writer with a B.A. in Business Management and HR Management. She's been writing about technology for 6+ years.
Updated September 05, 2019

The Apple AirPods are the perfect addition to your Apple devices. When used with Siri, they turn into hands-free, task completing powerhouses. We've compiled the best hands-free AirPod commands you can start using today. All you have to do to get started is say, "Hey Siri."

While Siri is available on all models of AirPods, this article is focusing on the hands-free "Hey Siri" capabilities (only available using 2nd generation AirPods). If you're using an iPhone for your commands, it must be an iPhone 6s or newer. Otherwise, your device will need to be plugged in to use "Hey Siri." If you're using "Hey Siri" on Mac, it must be an iMac Pro or a MacBook Pro or Air released in 2018 or later.

01
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"Hey Siri, what's the weather?"

Asking Siri for the weather using AirPod commands

One of the easiest ways to know what's going on outside is to ask Siri what the weather's like. Siri will read the day's forecast to you, complete with temperate highs and lows, all hands-free. Yet, on your screen, you'll be able to see an hour by hour forecast as well as the current temperature.

If you want to see more, you can click or tap on the weather window to expand it using the Weather app.

Your location services must be on to use this Siri command.

02
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"Hey Siri, play my music."

Playing all songs using an AirPod Siri command

With this simple command, Siri automatically starts playing your Apple Music list on shuffle mode for you to enjoy. As you're listening, you can also use specific music commands such as:

  • "Skip track."
  • "Pause." or "Play."
  • "Play artist."
  • "Play song."

This command is especially helpful when you're driving and want (and need) to find your favorite tunes hands-free.

Want to use Siri to control Spotify? You can use Siri Shortcuts to create shortcuts specifically for the Spotify app.

03
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"Hey Siri, how's the battery life of my AirPods?"

Using Siri with AirPods to check AirPod battery life

Your AirPods and the charging case both have their own battery life. When you're out and about, you can use this command to check the battery life of both. Siri will read the current battery life of your pods out loud, letting you know whether it's time to charge up.

The charging case holds approximately 24 hours of battery life. You can use your AirPods for up to five hours on one single charge. Short on time? Only 15 minutes of charge will give you up to three hours of listening time.

04
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"Hey Siri, call Mom."

Using Siri commands and AirPods to make a phone call

Siri is intuitive. When you ask her to call "Mom" or "Dad" or whomever for that matter, she'll respond. If you don't have a contact named "Mom" on your device, she'll ask you for the name of the contact you want to call. But, if you do have that contact already, she'll dial immediately.

Want to call via FaceTime? You can do that by asking Siri to "call Mom using FaceTime."

05
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"Hey Siri, remind me to get milk today."

Using AirPods and Siri to set a reminder

If you're anything like me, you may need Siri to remind you to grab your keys before you leave the house. The good news is, she can do it. All you have to do is ask Siri to remind you to do something and she'll save a note in your Reminders app.

You can even ask Siri to remind you at a later date. For example, if you want to create an easy shopping list for your weekly Target run, simply ask Siri to remind you to pick-up an item next Wednesday or whenever you plan to go.

Want Siri to remind you at a specific time? Simply ask Siri to set a reminder for the time you need it.

06
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"Hey Siri, set an alarm for an hour and a half."

Using Siri and AirPods to set an alarm

Whether you're cooking and need reminded to take a dish out of the oven, or simply want to take a quick afternoon nap, Siri can set alarms quickly with a hands-free command. Simply ask Siri to set an alarm for a certain time.

You can be as specific as "10:00 a.m." or as conversational as "an hour and a half."

Currently, Siri can't set alarms for more than one day ahead. Yet, she will ask you if you want to set a reminder instead.

07
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"Hey Siri, send a message to John."

Using Siri and AirPods to send a text message

You don't have to touch your device to send a quick text. Instead, simply ask Siri to do it for you. You can start by asking Siri to send a message to a recipient and she'll ask you what you want to say. Or, you can use a complete command such as, "Send a message to John saying I'm on my way."

If you want to review your message before you send it, you can check your device. Siri will show you a preview. She'll also read back what you want to say and ask if you're ready to send.

08
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"Hey Siri, what's my calendar look like on Tuesday?"

Using Siri commands with AirPods to check calendar

If you need to check your schedule before making appointments or saying yes to that party invitation, you can use Siri to check your Calendar. Ask Siri what your schedule looks like on any day, and she'll pull it right up.

You can even use Siri to remove appointments from your Calendar. For example, "Cancel my appointment on Wednesday." Siri will ask if you want to remove the appointment to ensure it's the correct one.

You can even update appointments using Siri. You can ask Siri to move the appointment or change the time.

Using these commands, you can make the most out of your AirPods. If you're having trouble with your AirPods not connecting properly, you can complete some quick AirPod troubleshooting using your device.