Have you recently bought a pair of AirPods Pro but are struggling to understand and use their touch controls? Are you trying to skip songs using Siri on AirPods Pro but are not sure how to give Siri the right commands? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.
The AirPods Pro have become a popular choice for their intuitive touch controls, wireless convenience, stellar sound quality and other advanced features. However, with more advancement comes a stronger need to ensure you understand how to use your AirPods Pro properly and get the desired results.
This post will discuss how to skip songs with AirPods Pro per our testing.
How to Skip a Song With AirPods Pro?
Whether you are using the AirPods Pro (1st generation) or AirPods Pro (2nd generation), here are some quick methods to skip songs on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and more.
Using the Touch Controls/Force Sensors on the AirPods’ Stem
| Please note that you’ll find Force sensors on the AirPods’ stem in the case of AirPods Pro (1st generation) and Touch controls in the case of AirPods Pro (2nd generation). |
- To skip a song forward, double-press the Force sensor/Touch control on the AirPods’ stem.
- To skip a song backward, triple-press the Force sensor/Touch control on the AirPods’ stem.
Using Siri
You can also use Siri to skip songs with AirPods Pro. However, ensure Siri is set up and active.
| Please note that the default settings of the Touch controls on AirPods Pro (2nd generation) allow Siri activation. However, you may need to manually set up Siri activation on your AirPods Pro (1st generation). |
To skip a song using Siri, simply say “Hey Siri, skip this song.” Yes, it’s that sample. Avoid complicating the command to ensure Siri performs the action precisely.
How to Set Up Siri Activation on AirPods Pro (1st Generation)?
Follow the steps below to set up your AirPods Pro to activate Siri on pressing and holding the force sensor:
- Wear your AirPods Pro and ensure they are connected to your device.
- Open “Settings,” on your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, and tap your AirPods’ name.
- Pick “Left” or “Right.”
- Click “Siri.”
Why Am I Facing an Issue While Skipping Songs on AirPods Pro?
Here are five reasons why you are encountering an error while skipping songs on AirPods Pro using the methods highlighted above:
1. Dirt/Debris Blocking the AirPods’ Force Sensors or Touch Controls
Dirt, debris or ear wax trapped inside your AirPods Pro can block the Force sensors or Touch controls, rendering them ineffective.
How to Fix?
Use a clean, dry and lint-free cloth to clean your AirPods Pro and get rid of the dirt, debris and wax stuck inside them.
Do not use liquid or sharp objects to clean your AirPods Pro.
Read our full guide on how to clean headphones and AirPods for more details.
2. Incorrect or Altered Force Sensor/Touch Control Settings
In case you didn’t know, you can alter the settings of the Force sensors or Touch controls on your AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) respectively, to modify their speed, hold duration and volume controls.
If these settings are altered or not set up properly, the Force sensors or Touch controls may not function as required and you may not be able to use them to skip songs.
How to Fix?
Check the settings of your AirPods’ sensors and controls, and fix them as required.
How to Check the Setting of Your AirPods’ Force sensors/Touch controls on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch?
- Open “Setting,” followed by “Accessibility,” and “AirPods.”
- Choose your AirPods.
- Then check and modify the following settings as required: Press Speed, Press and Hold Duration, and Volume Control for AirPods Pro (2nd generation).
How to Check the Setting of Your AirPods’ Force sensors/Touch controls on Mac?
- Open the “Apple Menu.”
- Click “System Settings,” followed by “Accessibility in the sidebar and “Audio” on the right after scrolling down a little.
- Click “i” next to your AirPods Pro.
- Then check and modify the following settings as required: Press Speed and Press and Hold Duration.
3. Low Battery
If your AirPods Pro are not charged properly, you may face issues when using the Force sensors or Touch controls.
If you are unable to skip songs with your AirPods due to low battery, you may also notice the status light of your AirPods case blinking red or orange.
How to Fix?
To ensure the Force sensors or Touch controls on your AirPods Pro are working properly, allow them to charge and don’t remove them from their charging case until they are fully charged.
When you see a green light on the AirPods Pro charging case, you can rest assured they are fully charged (don’t get confused with your AirPods flashing green; that’s a different problem!).
4. Outdated Firmware
If the firmware of your AirPods Pro is outdated, you may not be able to skip songs using the Force sensors or Touch controls. An outdated firmware can also lead to other AirPods-related issues, such as quieter AirPods, frequent disconnection between your AirPods Pro and audio device, and so on.
Even though your AirPods’ firmware is updated automatically while they are charging or within your Apple device’s Bluetooth range, you may have to update it manually if you are facing issues with your AirPods’ sensors or controls.
How to Fix?
Ensure your AirPods’ firmware is up to date.
The most recent firmware versions for AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are 5B59 and 5B58 respectively.
Before you check the firmware version of your AirPods Pro earbuds on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, ensure the devices have the latest iOS or MacOS versions.
How to Check the Firmware Version of Your AirPods Pro on iPhone?
- Open “Bluetooth,” followed by “Settings” on your iPhone or iPad.
- Click the “i” next to the name of your AirPods Pro.
- Scroll down to find the “About” section where you can determine the firmware version of your AirPods Pro.
How to Check the Firmware Version of Your AirPods Pro on Mac?
- Press and hold your Mac’s “Option” key while clicking Apple Menu. Click “System Information.”
- Click the “i” next to the name of your AirPods Pro.
- Click Bluetooth to determine the firmware version of your AirPods Pro.
How to Update the Firmware Version of Your AirPods Pro on iPhone?
- Place your AirPods Pro earbuds inside their charging case.
- Connect the charging case to the power socket using the lightning to USB cable or wireless charger.
- Check if your iPhone has a stable internet connection.
- Move your iPhone close to the charging case of your AirPods Pro.
Any pending updates will automatically install and get applied on your AirPods Pro.
How to Update the Firmware Version of Your AirPods Pro on Mac?
- Place your AirPods Pro earbuds inside their charging case.
- Connect the charging case to your Mac using the USB-C to lightning cable.
Any pending updates will automatically install and get applied on your AirPods Pro.
5. Siri Not Working
If you are trying to skip songs with your AirPods Pro using Siri and facing an issue, there could be a problem with Siri’s functionalities. Here’s a quick list of reasons why Siri is not working properly with your AirPods:
- The Siri feature is not allowed in your country.
- Your device’s iOS is not updated (we faced this issue first hand while using Siri with AirPods Pro connected to a device using iOS 14).
- You don’t have internet access.
How to Fix?
If you are more comfortable with using the Siri functionality than the Force sensors/Touch controls to skip songs with AirPods Pro, but Siri’s acting haywire, here’s what you can do to fix the issue:
- Check if the Siri feature is allowed in your country. Remember, Siri is not available for all languages and regions.
- Update your iOS device to the latest version. You need to run the latest software version on your iOS device to ensure Siri is working properly.
| Apple Device | Latest Software Version |
| iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch | iOS or iPadOS 16.3.1 |
| Mac | MacOS 13.2.1 |
| Apple TV | tvOS 16.3.2 |
| Apple Watch | watchOS 9.3.1 |
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection to use “Hey Siri” with your AirPods Pro.
Final Words
Now you can skip songs with your AirPods Pro like a PRO!
We also hope you are able to fix any problem you may face while skipping songs with your AirPods Pro.
If you have tried all the hacks discussed in our post but are still unable to use the Force sensors/Touch controls or Siri on your AirPods Pro, we recommend contacting Apple Support. There’s also a slight chance that you may have bought fake AirPods Pro (unfortunately).
In such cases, we highly recommend discussing the issue with the Apple experts if you are unable to resolve it at your end. Sometimes, DIY troubleshooting and repair can lead to further damage.
