If you’ve ever found yourself annoyed by your AirPods audibly reading out your incoming text messages, we’ve got just the solution for you. With our guide on how to disable text reading on AirPods, you’ll be able to put an end to those awkward moments when your earbuds unexpectedly announce the contents of your personal messages. Find out how to regain control over your AirPods and enjoy a more private texting experience.
How to Disable Text Reading on AirPods
1. Turn off Announce Messages with Siri
One of the main reasons why your AirPods may be reading out your text messages is because of the “Announce Messages with Siri” feature. This feature allows Siri to read out your incoming messages through your AirPods automatically. To disable this feature, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on “Notifications.”
- Next, scroll down and select “Announce Messages.”
- Toggle off the “Announce Messages with Siri” option.
Once you’ve disabled this feature, Siri will no longer read out your messages through your AirPods.
2. Disable Siri Completely
If you want to completely disable Siri on your AirPods, you can do so by turning off Siri altogether. Disabling Siri will prevent it from interacting with your AirPods and reading out your text messages. Here’s how to disable Siri:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on “Siri & Search.”
- Toggle off the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” and “Press Side Button for Siri” options.
By disabling Siri, you can ensure that your AirPods won’t read your text messages aloud.
3. Disconnect AirPods from Siri
Another way to prevent your AirPods from reading texts is by disconnecting them from Siri. This means that your AirPods won’t be automatically associated with Siri, and thus won’t read out your messages. Here’s how to disconnect your AirPods from Siri:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on “Bluetooth.”
- Locate your AirPods in the list of connected devices and tap on the “i” icon next to them.
- Tap on “Forget This Device” and confirm your selection.
By disconnecting your AirPods from Siri, you can ensure that your messages won’t be read out through your AirPods.
4. Enable Silent Mode
Enabling silent mode on your iPhone or iPad can help prevent your AirPods from reading out your text messages. When your device is in silent mode, it won’t play any notification sounds or voice prompts, including message announcements through your AirPods. Here’s how to enable silent mode:
- Toggle the switch on the side of your iPhone or iPad to put it in silent mode.
- Alternatively, you can swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to access the Control Center and tap on the “Bell” icon to enable silent mode.
By enabling silent mode, you can enjoy a quiet listening experience on your AirPods without any text message interruptions.
5. Turn off Notifications for Messages
Disabling notifications for messages will prevent your AirPods from announcing any incoming messages. This means that even if Siri is active or connected to your AirPods, it won’t read out your text messages. Here’s how to turn off notifications for messages:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on “Notifications.”
- Locate and select “Messages.”
- Toggle off the “Allow Notifications” option.
By disabling notifications for messages, you can avoid any unwanted interruptions while using your AirPods.
6. Customize Reading Options for Messages
If you still want to use the message notifications feature but prefer not to have them read aloud through your AirPods, you can customize the reading options for messages. This allows you to choose when and how your messages are read out. Here’s how to customize the reading options:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
- Select “Spoken Content.”
- Tap on “Voices” and choose “Default” or any other voice option besides “Default (enhanced).”
- Toggle on or off the “Speak Screen” option depending on your preference.
By customizing the reading options for messages, you can tailor the notifications to your liking and avoid any unexpected message readings through your AirPods.
7. Turn off Voiceover
If Voiceover is enabled on your iPhone or iPad, it can cause your AirPods to read out your text messages. Voiceover is an accessibility feature that provides spoken feedback and describes what’s happening on your device screen. To turn off Voiceover and prevent your AirPods from reading texts, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on “Accessibility.”
- Select “Voiceover.”
- Toggle off the “Voiceover” option.
By turning off Voiceover, you can ensure that your AirPods won’t read your messages aloud.
8. Disable Voice Control
Voice Control is another feature that might be causing your AirPods to read out your text messages. Voice Control allows you to control your device hands-free using voice commands. However, if your AirPods are connected to Voice Control, it can result in the reading out of messages. Here’s how to disable Voice Control:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on “Accessibility.”
- Select “Voice Control.”
- Toggle off the “Voice Control” option.
By disabling Voice Control, you can prevent your messages from being read aloud through your AirPods.
9. Use AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode
If you’re using AirPods Pro, utilizing the Transparency Mode can be a helpful solution. This mode allows you to mix the audio from your surroundings with what you’re listening to, creating a more natural listening experience. By enabling Transparency Mode, you can stay aware of your environment and prevent your AirPods from reading out your text messages. Here’s how to use AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode:
- Put on your AirPods Pro.
- Open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen.
- Press and hold the volume slider.
- Tap on the “Transparency Mode” button to enable it.
By using AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode, you can enjoy a balanced audio experience without having your text messages read aloud.
10. Update AirPods Firmware
If you’re experiencing issues with your AirPods reading out your text messages, it’s important to ensure that you have the latest firmware update. Apple periodically releases firmware updates for AirPods, addressing various bugs and performance improvements. To update your AirPods firmware, follow these steps:
- Ensure that your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad.
- Place your AirPods in their charging case and keep them near your device.
- Connect your device to Wi-Fi and ensure it has sufficient battery.
- When a firmware update is available, your device should automatically download and install it.
By keeping your AirPods firmware up to date, you can potentially resolve any issues related to text message readings.