How to Skip Songs on AirPods

No matter what AirPod model you have, skipping songs is easy

By
Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski
Writer
  • University of Kansas
  • Avila University
Jordan Baranowski is a former Lifewire writer and educator with experience writing for SVG, The Nerd Stash, and Feast Magazine.
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Updated on April 10, 2022

What to Know

  • AirPods Pro or AirPods 3rd gen: Double-tap the force sensor to skip a song.
  • AirPods 1st or 2nd gen: Double-tap the right or left AirPod.
  • Change default: Settings > Bluetooth > select AirPods > tap right or left AirPod > associate another action.

This article explains how to skip songs with your AirPods as well as perform other simple functions on AirPods Pro, AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods (2nd generation), and AirPods (1st generation).

How to Skip Songs With AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd Generation)

It's straightforward and quick to skip songs, play and pause audio, skip ahead, and control the volume while wearing your AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation). You'll utilize a force sensor Apple built into the stem of these AirPods models.

  1. While wearing your AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation), note the built-in force sensor. There's a force sensor in both AirPods.

    AirPods Pro force sensor indicated on stem

    Apple

  2. Double-tap the force sensor to skip a song. This will take you to the next song on your playlist.

  3. To play a song or pause a song, tap the force sensor once. If you paused audio, tap the force sensor again to resume.

  4. To skip back to repeat a song, triple-tap the force sensor.

  5. On AirPods Pro only, to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, press and hold the force sensor. 

  6. To control your AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation) volume, use the volume slider in the app, or say, "Hey Siri, turn up the volume," or, "Hey Siri, turn down the volume."

How to Skip Songs With AirPods (1st and 2nd gen)

To skip songs with AirPods (1st generation or 2nd generation), you'll double-tap on the right or left AirPod. If, for some reason, double-tapping to skip songs isn't the default setting for your AirPods, set this action as your default through your connected iPhone's settings.

  1. Open Settings on your connected iPhone and tap Bluetooth.

  2. Select your AirPods by tapping the i icon.

  3. Under Double-Tap on AirPod, select your right or left AirPod to change its double-tap default settings.

    Bluetooth, Info button, Double-Tap on Airpod options in iOS Settings

  4. Select Next Track to make skipping a song the default double-tap action for that AirPod.

  5. Alternatively, select Siri to make the double-tap action alert Siri, select Play/Pause to make the double-tap action play or pause audio, or select Previous Track to make the double-tap action's default skipping back a song.

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