What to Know
- Confirm that Siri is enabled in Settings.
- Check your network connection.
- Use the volume buttons on your iPhone if Siri will not work.
Apple has integrated Siri into AirPods seamlessly, so you can continue using your virtual assistant without pulling out your phone. When listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc., you can ask Siri to pause and play media, skip or go back, and adjust the volume of your AirPods. However, sometimes Siri volume control does not work the way it should.
Jump To:
- How to Adjust Volume on AirPods
- Why Won’t Siri Listen to You?
- Check Network Connection
- AirPods Volume Control without Siri
- Adjust Volume in Control Center
How to Adjust Volume on AirPods
First and second-generation AirPods have a touch-sensitive surface at the top of the stem. You can double-tap that part of your Airpods to perform a specific action, the default being pause and play. You can also set the double-tap action to skip forward, go back, or activate Siri. You cannot assign volume control to this action. The third-generation AirPods and first-generation AirPods Pro both have more controls due to the force sensor in the stem. However, neither of them allows for volume control.
If you have second-generation AirPods Pro, you can adjust the volume by swiping up or down on the stem. On AirPods Max, you can control the volume by turning the Digital Crown. However, if you want to adjust the volume on first, second, or third-generation AirPods or first-generation AirPods Pro, you will need to activate Siri and ask your virtual assistant to turn the volume up or down. With "Hey Siri" enabled, simply say, "Hey, Siri, volume up" or "Hey, Siri, volume down" while wearing your AirPods. To get the most out of your AirPods, be sure to sign up for our Tip of the Day newsletter.
Why Won’t Siri Listen to You?
If you are having trouble getting Siri to adjust the volume, there are a few solutions you can try to resolve the issue. The first thing to do is confirm that you have Siri enabled.
- Open the Settings app.
![Open the Settings app.]()
- Scroll down and tap Siri & Search.
![Scroll down and tap Siri & Search.]()
- Check that the top two toggles, Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri are green and switched on.
![Check that the top two toggles, Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri are green and switched on.]()
- If the toggles are gray, that means Siri is disabled. Tap one or both of them so that they turn green and enable Siri.
![If the toggles are gray, that means Siri is disabled. Tap one or both of them so that they turn green and enable Siri.]()
- If you do not want Siri constantly listening for the "Hey, Siri" phrase, you can leave that toggle off.
![If you do not want Siri to constantly listen for the Hey Siri phrase, you can leave that toggle off.]()
- If you choose to enable Listen for “Hey Siri,” you will need to speak the phrase into your phone a few times so that Siri can recognize your voice easier. Tap Continue to begin and follow the on-screen prompts to set up the feature.
![If you choose to enable Listen for “Hey Siri,” you will need to speak the phrase into your phone a few times so that Siri can recognize your voice easier. Tap Continue to begin and follow the on-screen prompts to set up the feature.]()
With Siri enabled, try asking your virtual assistant to turn the volume up or down. If Siri still refuses to adjust the volume, continue reading.
Check Network Connection
While Siri now works offline with the release of iOS 16, Siri works best when network conditions are good. So double-check that you are connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data and that your connection is strong. Also, if you are on iOS 15 or earlier, you will need an internet connection to use Siri, or you can update to the latest version of iOS.
AirPods Volume Control without Siri
If you would like to adjust your volume without using Siri, there are a few different ways to do that. First off, if you have second-generation AirPods Pro, you can simply swipe up or down on the stem to control the volume. Second, on AirPods Max, you can turn the volume up and down by simply turning the Digital Crown. However, if you have a different AirPods model, you will need to adjust the volume on your phone.
You can easily turn the volume up or down on your iPhone or iPad by pressing the volume buttons on the side of the device. If you want to turn the volume up or down quickly, you can also touch and drag the slider:
Note: The volume slider will only appear after you press the side volume buttons.
Adjust Volume in Control Center
You can also quickly adjust the volume of your AirPods in the Control Center if Siri is not working.
- Swipe down from the top right edge from anywhere to open the Control Center.
![Swipe down from the top right edge from anywhere to open the Control Center.]()
- The volume slider will show an AirPods icon if your AirPods are connected. You can slide the volume up or down on this screen.
![The volume slider will show an AirPods icon if your AirPods are connected. You can slide the volume up or down on this screen.]()
- Alternatively, you can tap and hold to pop out the volume slider.
![Alternatively, you can tap and hold to pop out the volume slider.]()
- Drag the slider up or down to fine-tune how loud you want the volume.
![Drag the slider up or down to fine-tune how loud you want the volume.]()
If you are having trouble using Siri for volume control with your AirPods, the solutions and alternatives above should help you. Once you have your virtual assistant working again, find out how to answer calls with Siri. However, if Siri is not listening to you or having trouble picking up your voice, there may be another underlying issue. In that case, you may want to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
