How to use AirPods to control your iPhone camera

Billy Steele for Engadget

When Apple released iOS 26 last September, it added a fistful of caller AirPods features. One of those was Camera Remote. As you tin astir apt conjecture from nan name, it allows you to usage your AirPods arsenic a wireless shutter merchandise for your iPhone.

This is useful if you don't person an Apple Watch useful and truthful can't entree nan dedicated Camera Remote app. Instead of placing your iPhone connected a surface, mounting a 10-second timer and moving backmost to return a selfie, you tin conscionable click your AirPods to trigger nan camera whenever you're ready. If that sounds useful, here's really to configure your AirPods for camera controls.

Before I explicate really to alteration Camera Remote, let's spell complete what you'll need.

• An iPhone moving nan latest type of iOS. As of nan penning of this article, that's 26.5.1. Apple released iOS 26.5.1 connected June 1.
• A brace of AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 aliases AirPods Max 2.

Unfortunately, older models of AirPods, for illustration nan original Pro release, don't support Camera Remote.

Screenshots

By default, Camera Remote is turned off. To start, if your iPhone and AirPods aren't already paired, follow our guide to do truthful earlier returning here. Once you're ready, travel these instructions:

1. Open nan Settings app connected your iPhone.
2. Tap nan sanction of your AirPods. If they don't appear, unfastened your AirPods case.
3. Scroll down and find nan Camera Control section.
4. Tap nan Camera Remote section and prime either Press Once aliases Press and Hold.

Now, pinch Camera Remote enabled, immoderate clip you person nan Camera app connected your iPhone open, you tin threat a photograph aliases commencement and extremity signaling a video by pressing connected nan stem aliases Digital Crown of your AirPods aliases AirPods Max. It's worthy pointing retired present that (at slightest 1 of) your AirPods person to beryllium successful your ears for this to work. If you conscionable person them sitting connected your table aliases successful your palm, you won't beryllium capable to power your camera pinch them.   

Note that if you alteration nan setting, you won't beryllium capable to usage your AirPods to aftermath Siri aliases move betwixt listening modes erstwhile nan Camera app connected your telephone is open. As Apple explains successful nan Settings app: "When utilizing AirPods for camera actions, if you prime Press Once, media power gestures will beryllium unavailable, and if you prime Press and Hold, listening mode and Siri gestures will beryllium unavailable."