iOS 26 Introduces a Thoughtful New Feature for AirPods 

Published: Jul 02, 2025, 3:50 AM 

iOS 26, currently in developer beta, is a significant update that brings a fresh design and a host of useful features. Among the standout changes are several small quality-of-life enhancements that may seem minor but significantly improve the overall experience with Apple devices.

One notable addition is a new feature for AirPods and potentially Beats headphones called "Pause Media When Falling Asleep." This option is designed to automatically turn off your earbuds when you drift off, a feature I'm eager to use since I listen to podcasts every night as I fall asleep.

This feature was introduced during Apple's WWDC 2025 conference, primarily as an AirPods enhancement. However, insights from MacRumors contributor Steve Moser suggest it may also be available for Beats headphones.

The "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" feature will save your place in an audiobook or podcast, eliminating the hassle of searching for where you left off. Additionally, it can help preserve battery life by preventing your earbuds from running all night.

Reports indicate that this option will be enabled by default in iOS 26. You can activate it by connecting your headphones to your iPhone and selecting them in the Settings app. However, Apple has yet to clarify how AirPods or Beats will detect when you’ve fallen asleep.

While Apple Watches use accelerometers and other sensors for sleep detection, AirPods also have accelerometers that help with features like music pausing when you remove an AirPod and dynamic head tracking for spatial audio. It’s likely that Apple will employ the accelerometer for sleep detection as well.

To use this feature, you will need iOS 26 and the updated firmware currently in beta testing for AirPods. The public beta is expected to launch this month, with a stable release planned for the fall, coinciding with the iPhone 17 series.

Personally, I’m excited about this feature. As someone who listens to podcasts while falling asleep, it can be frustrating to find my place the next day. This feature will undoubtedly become part of my nightly routine.