How to Customize Your AirPods Sound with the New EQ in iOS 27

AirPods have always sounded great out of the box to me, but until now Apple hasn’t really given us much control over how they sound. That changes with iOS 27.

Apple has added a new Custom EQ for supported AirPods, letting you adjust the low, mid and high frequencies yourself. So if you want more bass, clearer vocals or a little more treble, you can finally change it directly from your AirPods settings.

Here’s how it works.

Before you start: you need the AirPods beta firmware

If you’re currently using the iOS 27 beta, there’s one important thing to know. Installing iOS 27 on your iPhone is not enough to get the new Custom EQ. Your AirPods also need to be running the latest beta firmware.

If you don’t update your AirPods firmware first, the Equalizer option may simply not appear in Settings.

How to enable AirPods beta firmware

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone.

2. Open Settings.

3. Tap your AirPods name at the top of Settings.

4. Scroll down and tap AirPods Beta Updates.

5. Turn Beta Updates on.

6. Put your AirPods back in their charging case.

7. Connect the case to power and keep it close to your iPhone.

The firmware update installs automatically in the background, so there isn’t a button you can tap to install it immediately.

Good to know: Apple warns that once beta firmware has been installed on your AirPods, you can’t simply downgrade them back to the previous firmware. They will stay on beta software until a newer public firmware version becomes available.

Which AirPods support Custom EQ?

The new Custom EQ requires AirPods with Apple's H2 chip.

It currently works with:

• AirPods Pro 2

• AirPods Pro 3

• AirPods 4

• AirPods 4 with ANC (Active Noise Canceling)

• AirPods Max 2

Older AirPods models don't support the new Custom EQ.

How to customize your AirPods EQ in iOS 27

Once your AirPods have the correct firmware, changing the sound is very easy.

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone.

2. Open Settings.

3. Tap your AirPods name at the top of the screen.

4. Tap Audio & Routing.

5. Tap Equalizer.

6. Select Custom.

7. You’ll now see controls for Low, Mid and High.

8. Move each control up or down until the sound is how you like it.

That's it. Your AirPods now use your custom sound profile.

What do Low, Mid and High actually change?

You definitely don't need to be an audio expert to use this. The three controls simply change different parts of the sound.

Low = bass
This controls the deeper sounds in your music. Move it up if you want stronger bass and more punch.

Mid = vocals and instruments
A lot of voices, guitars and other instruments sit in the middle frequencies. Increasing this can make vocals stand out more.

High = treble and detail
This controls the brighter parts of the sound. Increasing it can make music sound a little clearer and bring out more detail.

A good way to test it is to play a song you know really well while adjusting the settings. You can hear the changes as you move between Low, Mid and High.

Want more bass?

If you like a stronger bass sound, start by moving Low slightly higher. You don't necessarily need to push it all the way up. Make a small adjustment first and listen to the difference.

You can then adjust Mid and High until the overall sound feels balanced.

Want clearer vocals?

Try increasing Mid slightly. This can make vocals and certain instruments sound more present without adding extra bass.

This could be especially useful when listening to podcasts, acoustic music or songs where you want the voice to stand out.

Want a brighter sound?

Increase High a little. This can add more detail and make things like cymbals and higher-frequency sounds stand out more.

Again, small changes are usually enough.

Recommended vs. Custom

Inside the Equalizer settings, you'll also see Apple's Recommended option.

• Recommended uses Apple's standard sound profile.

• Custom lets you adjust the Low, Mid and High frequencies yourself.

So if you start changing things and decide you preferred the original AirPods sound, you can simply switch back to Recommended.

You can also use Reset to return the Custom EQ controls to their starting position.

This is different from the Apple Music EQ

You might already know that iOS has had an EQ option inside the Apple Music settings for years.

But this new iOS 27 feature is different. The Apple Music EQ only changes how music sounds inside Apple Music.

The new AirPods Custom EQ is connected to your AirPods themselves, so your chosen sound profile applies to the audio you play through them, rather than only Apple Music.

That makes this new setting much more useful.

One of the best AirPods additions in iOS 27

I really like this addition because it's something AirPods users have been asking for for a long time.

Apple's standard tuning is still there if you like it, but now you're no longer stuck with just one sound.

1. Want more bass? Turn up Low.

2. Want vocals to stand out more? Adjust Mid.

3. Want a little more detail? Increase High.

It’s simple, easy to experiment with and gives you much more control over how your AirPods sound.

Just remember: if you're running the iOS 27 beta and you don't see Custom EQ yet, check that AirPods Beta Updates is enabled first.

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