Control Spatial Audio and head tracking (2024)

You can learn more about Spatial Audio when you connect AirPods (3rd generation), AirPodsPro (all generations), or AirPodsMax to iPhone or iPad.

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.

2. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings , then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.

3. Tap Spatial Audio.

You can use your iPhone X or later to create a representation of your ear and head shape for Personalized Spatial Audio. Your Spatial Audio profile customizes audio to better match how you hear sound, and syncs across your Apple devices with iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, macOS 13, tvOS 16, or later, where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID.

To use Personalized Spatial Audio, do one of the following:

• Open the case lid with your AirPods inside, hold the case close to your iPhone, then follow the onscreen instructions.

• On your iPhone, go to Settings , then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Tap Personalized Spatial Audio, then tap Personalize Spatial Audio.

To learn more about how to set up Personalized Spatial Audio, see the Apple Support article Listen with Personalized Spatial Audio for AirPods and Beats.

To stop using Personalized Spatial Audio on all your devices, do one of the following:

• iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings , then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Tap Personalized Spatial Audio, then tap Stop Using Personalized Spatial Audio.

• Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Stop Using Personalized Spatial Audio.

• Apple TV: Press and hold on the Siri Remote, select AirPods, then select Personalized Spatial Audio.

To use Personalized Spatial Audio again, you can set it up on your iPhone.

You can control Spatial Audio and head tracking for each supported app in Control Center.

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.

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2. Open Control Center, touch and hold the volume control, then tap Spatial Audio at the lower right.

3. Tap one of the following:

   • Off: Turns off both Spatial Audio and head tracking.

   • Fixed: Turns on Spatial Audio without head tracking.

   • Head Tracked: Turns on both Spatial Audio and head tracking. The audio you’re listening to will sound like it’s coming from your iPhone or Mac.

   The settings you choose are saved and applied automatically the next time you use that app. For example, if you tap Fixed while listening to a song in theMusic app , the Fixed setting is automatically used the next time you play a song in that app.

Note: To disable head tracking for all apps on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility> AirPods, tap the name of your AirPods, then turn off Follow [device].

You can use Spatial Audio and head tracking to make supported shows, movies, and music sound like they’re coming from all around you (on Mac computers with Apple silicon and macOS 12.3 or later). You can turn Spatial Audio and head tracking on or off for each supported app.

Note: Spatial audio isn’t available for all apps or content.

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your Mac.

2. Click the AirPods icon in the menu bar.

   If the AirPods icon isn’t in the menu bar, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Control Center in the sidebar. Click the pop-up menu next to Sound on the right, then choose Always show in Menu Bar. (You may need to scroll down.)

3. Choose one of the following below Spatial Audio:

   • Off: Turns off both Spatial Audio and head tracking.

   • Fixed: Turns on Spatial Audio without head tracking.

   • Head Tracked: Turns on both Spatial Audio and head tracking. This allows the sound to follow the movement of your head.

You can customize the Spatial Audio settings for each supported app using Control Center on AppleTV 4K. You can also turn head tracking on or off for all apps. (tvOS15.1 or later required.)

Note: Spatial Audio isn’t available for all apps or content.

1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your AppleTV 4K.

2. Open Control Center, select your AirPods, then select Spatial Audio to turn it on or off.

   The settings you choose are saved and applied automatically the next time you use that app. For example, if you turn on Spatial Audio while using the AppleTV app with your AirPods, Spatial Audio automatically turns on the next time you use the that app with your AirPods.

Note: To disable dynamic head tracking for all apps on AppleTV 4K, double-click on the Siri Remote, select Settings > Accessibility > AirPods, then turn off Center Audio on TV.