Alex Ruben
How To Adjust Bass on AirPods Using Your iPhone: The Complete Guide
So, you’ve noticed that your AirPods sound a bit flat or lacking punch — especially in the bass department. Turns out, your iPhone has some hidden tricks that can tweak the audio, making things sound richer or more neutral, depending on your mood. Honestly, it’s surprisingly easy, but not everyone knows about the EQ settings buried in the music options. The goal here is to fine-tune those bass levels so the music hits just right—without needing any third-party apps or complicated setups. Once you get it right, your AirPods will sound a whole lot better, especially if you’re into bass-heavy tunes or just want that audio to feel more alive.
How to Fix Bass Levels on Your AirPods Using Your iPhone
Accessing the Equalizer Settings
This part is kind of weird, but the EQ (equalizer) settings are located inside the Music section of your iPhone Settings. So, unlock your phone, hit Settings, then scroll down to find Music. Why it’s buried here, I dunno, but it’s where Apple decided to put it. Once there, tap on EQ. This is where all the magic happens—or at least, where you can control the sound profile.
Choosing the Right Preset for Bass
In the EQ menu, you’ll see a list of presets. These are basically baked-in settings that boost or cut specific frequencies. If you want more bass, select options like Bass Booster. On the flip side, if you want to cut the bass slightly or neutralize it, try Flat or Treble Booster. Fair warning — the presets aren’t super granular, but they do help a lot. Sometimes, switching between these presets on different setups or apps can be inconsistent, so consider this more as a quick fix than a perfect tweak. On some machines, these presets might fail the first time, and then suddenly work after a restart or re-connection — kinda weird, but hey, that’s Apple for you.
Testing and Fine-Tuning
Once you pick a preset, connect your AirPods and play some music. Not sure why it works, but you gotta test it out and see if the bass feels just right. If it still isn’t quite there, go back and switch presets, or toggle the EQ on and off. Sometimes, the changes only fully take effect after disconnecting and reconnecting the AirPods, or even restarting the iPhone. That little dance seems to fix the weird latency or audio hiccups more often than not. Keep fiddling until it sounds good enough — because, honestly, that’s what matters most.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Make sure your AirPods are fully charged and connected properly—sometimes, a simple reconnect or reset clears up weird sound issues.
- If the EQ preset doesn’t seem to stick, check your iOS version. Apple updates these settings sometimes, and older versions might have bugs or missing features.
- For the best experience, keep your phone software up to date — I’ve seen weird audio bugs that only get fixed with the latest updates.
- Also, if you’re using a third-party music app, check if it has its own equalizer settings — those can override or conflict with iPhone’s built-in EQ.
Conclusion
Getting the bass dialed in on your AirPods through your iPhone’s EQ settings isn’t rocket science, but it’s not totally straightforward either. It’s kind of a quick workaround for better sound without diving into third-party apps or complicated hardware adjustments. Honestly, once you find that sweet spot, everything sounds way more full and lively. Just remember: settings might not stick perfectly across all apps or devices, so a little patience goes a long way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adjust bass levels for other headphones the same way?
Yep, the EQ settings in Music apply to any headphones or speakers that play audio via your iPhone. So if you swap out your AirPods for, say, Beats or wired cans, those presets still matter.
What if the EQ option isn’t there?
If your EQ doesn’t show up, make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS. Sometimes, Apple sneaks features behind updates, and older software can hide or disable some options. Also, check that the Music app isn’t disabled or restricted in any way.
Are there third-party apps for more customization?
Absolutely. Some apps from the App Store give way more control — think of them as supercharged EQs. But be aware they might not work perfectly with AirPods, and some require routing audio through the app, which can introduce latency or quality loss.