Apple is reportedly preparing to overhaul one of the iPhone’s most cluttered menus: the AirPods settings screen.
Over the years, the AirPods settings screen has grown more cluttered with every new feature Apple introduces to the popular earbuds. That could change with iOS 27, which could come with a completely revamped layout for the AirPods settings.
A redesigned AirPods settings screen is long overdue
If you use AirPods, you already know the problem. Apple continuously stuffs more and more features into the same menu that debuted with the original AirPods back in 2016. Hearing aid mode, head gestures, spatial audio, conversation awareness — each feature comes with its own toggle or submenu. The result is a messy, toggle-filled screen that can be overwhelming even for experienced users.
Every time you connect your AirPods to your iPhone, the earbuds automatically appear at the top of the Settings app. For some people, it’s one of the most-used menus on the device. Yet Apple has yet to give the design overhaul it deserves.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in the Sunday edition of his Power On newsletter that iOS 27 will introduce a “more functional, better organized, and more streamlined” experience, making it easier for iPhone users to toggle AirPods features on and off. The redesign should make its way to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, too.
We likely won’t see a dedicated AirPods app
The Apple Watch and the Vision Pro benefit from dedicated companion apps, but Apple reportedly wants to keep the AirPods settings in the Settings app, at least for the time being. Gurman says Apple has heard user requests for a standalone AirPods app, but one isn’t coming this year.
With impressive hardware and software advances, Apple has turned the AirPods into more than just a pair of wireless earphones. Some models double up as hearing aids and can perform real-time translation.
For the increasingly complicated earbuds, a dedicated app makes lots of sense. And yet, for reasons unknown, Apple continues to limit AirPods settings to a submenu in the Settings app.
The AirPods settings revamp is one of the many iOS 27 features Apple should announce at the WWDC26 keynote on June 8. A smarter Siri, a more powerful Shortcuts app, and a customizable Camera app are also said to be underway.
- See also: What to expect from iOS 27 at WWDC26
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
