AirPods Pause Automatically When You Fall Asleep in iOS 26

With iOS 26, Apple packed in a bunch of exciting new tricks for AirPods. One of the standout features among the new additions is the “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” feature that kicks in as soon as your AirPods figure out you’ve nodded off. This is particularly handy for those who often fall asleep while listening to their favorite podcast or relaxing playlist.

Keep reading to learn what the “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” feature is and how to enable it on your AirPods or Beats right now.

What Is the “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” Feature?

The Pause Media When Falling Asleep feature is a sort of automatic sleep detection feature. When enabled, this feature gives your AirPods the ability to stop the audio playback automatically as soon as the AirPods realize you’ve nodded off. This smart feature helps preserve both battery and your place in whatever you’re listening to, improving the quality of your sleep and listening experience.

The feature is currently in beta testing and is available for AirPods (4th generation), AirPods Pro (2nd generation), and supported Beats headphones and earbuds.

Why Let AirPods Pause Automatically While Sleeping?

While it’s a proven fact that listening to something soothing can help drift off, letting your AirPods play through the entire night isn’t ideal. Thus, automatically pausing the playback when you fall asleep ensures you get the benefits of bedtime audio without the downsides.

• Protects your ears: Continuous audio exposure for hours can cause ear fatigue and disrupt your natural sleep cycle.
• Saves battery life: Both your AirPods and iPhone last longer when they aren’t running needlessly overnight.
• Keeps playback organized: You won’t lose track of where you stopped in a podcast or audiobook.
• Improves sleep quality: Once you’re asleep, silence helps your brain rest better without unnecessary stimulation.

How to Enable “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” on AirPods

The “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” feature is a part of iOS 26 suite, which is currently in beta with no official release date. Therefore, you must install beta updates on both your iPhone and AirPods if you want to experience the feature right away.

Step 1: Install Beta Firmware on AirPods

To install beta firmware on your AirPods, you must first install iOS 26 beta on the iPhone you are using with them. Once done, you’re required to grant Apple permission to install the beta updates on your AirPods or Beats earbuds. Here’s how:

1. Install iOS 26 beta on the connected iPhone.
2. Once the installation is complete, reconnect the AirPods to your iPhone.
3. Now, open Settings and tap [Your Name] AirPods under your Apple Account banner.
4. Here, locate and tap AirPods Beta Updates.
5. Next, toggle on AirPods Beta Updates.

Once done, simply put your AirPods back in the case and keep the case within Bluetooth range of your iPhone. The beta update will install automatically.

Step 2: Turn On Pause Media When Falling Asleep

Now that you’ve installed iOS 26 beta on your iPhone and the corresponding beta update on your AirPods, you can experience all the new AirPods features, including the Pause Media When Falling Asleep feature.

However, unlike other features that you can use right away, the Pause Media When Falling Asleep feature isn’t enabled by default. Therefore, you must turn it on manually.

Here’s how you can do so:

1. Connect your AirPods (4th-generation AirPods or 2nd-generation AirPods Pro) to your iPhone.
2. Open Settings → [Your Name] AirPods.
3. Next, scroll down and toggle on Pause Media When Falling Asleep.

And that’s it; now, every time you fall asleep while listening to something through your AirPods, the audio playback will automatically pause.

Should You Install the Beta Firmware?

Installing beta firmware always carries some risks, as beta updates are known for carrying notorious bugs that can sometimes wreak havoc in the system. You could run into connection issues, battery drain, or audio glitches. Therefore, neither Apple nor iGeeksBlog recommends installing beta firmware on your primary or mission-critical devices.

However, if you’re adamant about experiencing the new features before the stable release, we recommend going for the public beta instead of the developer beta.

In short, the beta firmware is best for enthusiasts who don’t mind occasional hiccups. If you prefer a smoother experience, wait until iOS 26 and the stable AirPods firmware are officially available.

Goodnight, AirPods…

Instead of relying on sleep timers available in most music streaming apps, iOS 26’s new Pause Media When Falling Asleep feature offers a smart way to let go of your audio as you drift off. It conserves battery and helps you rest without distractions by allowing you to enjoy bedtime audio worry-free.

Feel free to reach out to us in the comments if you need further assistance.

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