AirPods Settings Get a Major Overhaul in iOS 27, but Still No Standalone App
As one of Apple’s most popular products and a key iPhone accessory, AirPods have never had a dedicated iOS app. Users must dive into the Settings menu while the earbuds are connected, a design choice that has drawn increasing criticism as Apple has added more complex features like head gestures, hearing health tools, and Adaptive Audio. Instead of creating a standalone AirPods app, Apple is taking a different approach.
A New Home for Your Earbuds Settings
According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning a significant redesign of the AirPods settings menu within iOS 27. The company is said to be “revamping the AirPods settings menu to be more functional, better organized, and more streamlined”. The move appears to be a direct response to user feedback about the difficulty of managing the growing number of AirPods features, which have been “bolted on” to an interface dating back to the original model.
The revamp is expected to roll out across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, though a dedicated companion app like those for the Apple Watch or Vision Pro is not expected at this time.
Why a Standalone App Would Be Better
Gurman notes that a dedicated app would not be unprecedented. With iOS 18, Apple successfully migrated its password manager from a hidden Settings menu to a standalone Passwords app. Similarly, third-party wireless earbuds often include companion apps that make firmware updates and customization more accessible.
The need for a more permanent solution is evident in several use cases. For instance, AirPods Pro users cannot access or manage their hearing test results without actively wearing the earbuds, and there is no manual update option for firmware, which occurs automatically while the case is closed.
What’s Next
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 at its WWDC 2026 conference on June 8, where further details on the AirPods settings revamp and other features like Siri improvements and AI image generation are likely to be shared.
While the rumored redesign promises a more organized user experience, users hoping for an app-like interface may need to wait for future iOS releases, where a standalone app could still be a possibility.
