Presented at WWDC 2025 in June, iOS 26 has been in testing since then via several Apple beta versions made available to developers and the general public. We were able to try the liquid glass design and the new software includes Apple cooked in iOS 26 entirely before the wider iOS 26 version next month, but there is a hidden feature in iOS 26 that most people could ignore: you can transform your airpods into camera remote controls.
If the feature seems familiar, it is because you can already use the Apple Watch as a camera remote control for these photo sessions where to press the usual iPhone camera buttons is not practical. Taking group photos with the iPhone placed on a tripod is an example. If you want everyone on the image, including the owner of the iPhone, you need a timer for the camera shutter or a remote control. The Apple Watch works very well for this purpose. Bluetooth accessories like selfie sticks can offer similar features, with integrated camera shutters. Content creators recording videos for social media may also require management of hands -free cameras control.
The iOS 26 update will transform the compatible airpods into camera remote controls, and the function could make even more sense than using an Apple watch or a selfie stick to take a photo. After all, AirPods are the best -selling Apple products, with many iPhone users with a pair.
How to transform your airpods into iphone camera remote controls
As MacRumors explainsYou don’t have to wait for Apple to publish the last iOS 26 construction next month to take advantage of the functionality. You can use airpods as a camera remote controls if you have installed iOS 26 installed on your iPhone as long as you have compatible airpods. Only AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 will work as a camera remote controls in iOS 26.
Before using airpods for hands -free photography, you will need to install beta software. Follow these steps to do so:
- Connect the airpods to the iPhone
- Access the Settings application
- Press the name of your airpods
- Press the AirPods Beta updates menu
- Light the AirPods Beta Updates parameter
The AirPods will receive an update from the firmware which then allows you to activate the remote function of the camera. Here is what you need to do:
- Connect the airpods to the iPhone
- Access the Settings application
- Press the name of your airpods
- Press the camera remote control menu in the camera control section
- Choose press once or press and hold it in the next screen
Once you have made your choice, you will need to remember the gesture for the moments when you want to use the left or right atrium as a camera remote control. Press the upper once or pressing the stem, will allow you to take photos when the camera application is open to the iPhone. The left or right airpod will allow you to take photos (with a 3 -second countdown) or save videos. The camera remote control operates similarly if you want to use AirPods as a remote shutter with your iPad. The tablet must execute iPados 26 beta or the final version of the iPados 26 software.
