With iOS 26, Apple has finally addressed a long-standing annoyance for AirPods users: the auto-switching audio feature that sends sound to your car speakers as soon as your AirPods connect. This feature, which often led to unexpected audio blasts when you hadn’t even entered your car, has been a common complaint.
Thankfully, Apple has listened to users and introduced a solution that allows you to keep the audio in your AirPods until you’re ready to switch to your car’s system.
While the update brings various improvements, this one change is significant for users who prefer more control over their listening experience. With the new setting, your AirPods will no longer automatically switch the audio to your car or speakers just because they are connected. Instead, you’ll need to enable a simple option in the settings that keeps audio playing through your headphones, even when other playback devices are available.
To activate this feature, go to the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap on General, scroll down to the AirPlay and Continuity section, and select the option that says ‘Keep Audio in Headphones.’ It’s a small adjustment, but one that will make a big difference in user experience, especially for those who don’t want their music or podcasts blasting out when they haven’t yet hopped into their car.
Apple has also made improvements to the auto-switching logic, utilizing AI to better understand user preferences. While some quirks may remain-such as macOS sometimes showing a connection error despite the lack of an active connection-it’s clear that Apple is working hard to enhance the overall user experience with this update.