Airpods double-tap doesn't work properly: returning.

[jimthing]

As per title.

I can't stand having to:

1) double tap loads of times, if I'm very lucky it'll work, mostly it doesn't.

2) when double tapping it makes my eardrum feel like someone had banged the side of my ear. Repeatly doing this increases my tinnitus for the day.

3) volume control via Siri is too painful: double tap several times (see point 1!), audio pauses, ask it to lower volume, it gets it wrong. Repeat until right...60 seconds later, if I'm lucky.

All these are deal breakers for me, I've already had enough of the things after significant testing over last couple of days, to come to the conclusion that they'd drive me mad.

Bye bye Airpods, hello £160 again. Annoying, but that's the way it is.

PS. Yes, sound/fit were fine, tap is what I'm on about in this thread please. So don't come on THIS particular thread talking about anything but the tap issue. Thanks.

 

[moxxham]

This will be a bit of a stupid question, but how hard to do tap them? I've found that you actually need to tap them pretty firmly for it to register. Firmer than you may think!

 

[jimthing]

This will be a bit of a stupid question, but how hard to do tap them? I've found that you actually need to tap them pretty firmly for it to register. Firmer than you may think!

Tried both gently all the way to banging the things: all unreliable.
And yes, it's the banging end of the scale when they like to (occasionally) work. Meaning I'm constantly having to bang my ear area hard, irritating my eardrums, making my ears ring more than usual.

Thanks anyway.

 

[44267547]

Tried both gently all the way to banging the things: all unreliable.
And yes, it's the banging end of the scale when they like to (occasionally) work. Meaning I'm constantly having to bang my ear area hard, irritating my eardrums, making my ears ring more than usual.

Thanks anyway.

Some have said the tapping is fairly gentle to provoke a response from Siri. If they improve on the EarPods in the future, I would like to see some form in line controls. Or a single tap, double tap, etc.

 

[andysw9]

As per title.



3) volume control via Siri is too painful: double tap several times (see point 1!), audio pauses, ask it to lower volume, it gets it wrong. Repeat until right...60 seconds later, if I'm lucky.
.

Or say 'set volume to 50%' or whatever you want. It doesn't need to be done in increments.

 

[jimthing]

Or say 'set volume to 50%' or whatever you want. It doesn't need to be done in increments.

Sure, but getting it just right for comfort is still too fiddly using voice with Siri to make regular usage not annoying.

Shame, as I like the no wires thing and quick pairing, but will have to return and try something else.

Anyone else actually agree with tap &/or volume control being too annoying, or am I just a weirdo, given everyone else seems to luuuurve the things, lol!?

 

[Mr.C]

I haven't use the tap functionality yet and pretty much using my phone or watch to be honest and I'm fine with that.

 

[The Game 161]

what side do you tap? right?

I've noticed it has more response when on the right than left.

 

[jimthing]

Tried both sides, similar results.

Should have used a proper touch thing rather than accelerometer. But then that'd open another can of worms, no doubt.

Surely someone else hates these things for the tap/volume control issues, or it's just me then. Haha.

 

[Phil A.]

Tried both sides, similar results.

Should have used a proper touch thing rather than accelerometer. But then that'd open another can of worms, no doubt.

Surely someone else hates these things for the tap/volume control issues, or it's just me then. Haha.

I'm not getting mine until Christmas day, but I am not looking forward to the clunky control method - I think I'll just use my phone or watch to control them rather than bashing myself around the head

 

[The Game 161]

Tried both sides, similar results.

Should have used a proper touch thing rather than accelerometer. But then that'd open another can of worms, no doubt.

Surely someone else hates these things for the tap/volume control issues, or it's just me then. Haha.

Yeah i think it would annoy me if i didn't have the apple watch. i havn't had issues with siri working just the response time isn't exactly as quick as it should be.

 

[Phone Junky]

The only reason I even considered getting the AirPods is that i already have an Apple Watch to control volume, start/stop, track. I wouldn't consider using Siri as an alternative.

 

[hubieonekanubie]

Tap works great for me. It's just a light double tap. They're not touch sensitive, they have accelerometers in them so they need to have some slight movement to activate the function.

 

[eagleglen]

Double tap is working fine for me too. I saw a YouTuber complain about the same issue before I got mine, so I've been paying attention. Light taps is all it takes, barely moving the airpod. If you otherwise really like them, get another pair before returning them so quickly.

 

[Macalway]

Didn't expect to use that anyway. So it doesn't work? (I have them, BTW)

I'm not a Siri fan so I don't care. Maybe they will change it. I mean really: "Siri, lower volume". I don't think so.

I like them. I used the wired ones for everything, now I have an option.

 

[AppleRobert]

I'd say a very large percentage of folks aren't going to double tap Siri.

I know that is a function and understand people would want that but it isn't my plan. If you have your iPhone, you just hey Siri is my thinking and off you go.

 

[NT1440]

I switched double tap to play/pause. Everything else I can do without looking (volume control is simply my squeezing my pocket to hit the volume button on my phone, or using my watch).

 

[hubieonekanubie]

I'd say a very large percentage of folks aren't going to double tap Siri.

I know that is a function and understand people would want that but it isn't my plan. If you have your iPhone, you just hey Siri is my thinking and off you go.

I've used it in several instances. My phone was in a different room and I used them to turn on my Phillips hue lights in the other room, worked great. I've also used it several times to read me a text message while driving. I will admit when I'm going to bed, I just say "hey Siri" "turn off the bedroom lights" and all is good. I guess it will be used on an as needed basis just like using Siri on an Apple Watch and the phone, I look at it as another option that wasn't here before.

 

[jimthing]

People say they won't use Siri, but it's the only way to control the pods without the device, so is a very essential part of the pods. Sure you could access the device in your pocket for control, but it kind of defeats the point of the pods functionality it's supposed to offer.

Maybe I have duffers, but I doubt that.

 

[Sheza]

Apple Watch is definitely the best way to control music playback and volume...

 

[kristiguin]

I tried out Siri for volume control yesterday while I was cleaning house (up while vacuuming, down again afterwards, etc.) and thought it worked great. FYI, I've honestly avoided using Siri in the past.

 

[CharlesShaw]

In case this helps someone, the speed of the two taps matters. If you tap a little too slowly it won't register. Similar to the issue I initially had triggering Apple Pay on the Watch.

 

[the future]

I really like the AirPods and almost exclusively use the Apple Watch for controls so it didn't really bother me, but I couldn't get "double tap for Siri" to work at all … until I remembered that I had at some point last year deactivated Siri for when the phone is locked. I reactivated that function and now the double tap works just fine. Maybe the OP has the same problem?

 

[jimthing]

In case this helps someone, the speed of the two taps matters. If you tap a little too slowly it won't register. Similar to the issue I initially had triggering Apple Pay on the Watch.

As said, tried all kinds of variations, yet no level/type of touching is consistent. Making them the most annoying things ever.

I really like the AirPods and almost exclusively use the Apple Watch for controls so it didn't really bother me, but I couldn't get "double tap for Siri" to work at all … until I remembered that I had at some point last year deactivated Siri for when the phone is locked. I reactivated that function and now the double tap works just fine. Maybe the OP has the same problem?

Nope, I get it to work sometimes, so it's not that.

 

[Ma2k5]

I think it is something to do with allowing Siri to be accessed while phone is locked setting. Maybe check that setting OP.