To turn off announcements on AirPods, open your iPhone or iPad's Settings app, tap Notifications, then tap Announce Notifications and toggle the switch off. This is the primary method to stop Siri from reading your alerts aloud through your earbuds, which is exactly what you need if the constant chatter is interrupting your music or podcasts.
How to turn off announcements on AirPods using an iPhone or iPad
The quickest way to silence all notification announcements is through the Notifications section of your device's Settings. Start by unlocking your iPhone or iPad and opening the Settings app. From there, scroll down and tap "Notifications," then select "Announce Notifications." You'll see a master toggle at the top of the screen, flip it off to disable all announcements at once. This is the most direct route when you want to turn off announcements on AirPods completely.
Alternatively, you can reach the same setting through Siri's configuration. Open Settings, tap "Siri" (or "Apple Intelligence & Siri" on newer iOS versions), then select "Announce Notifications" and toggle the switch off. Both paths lead to the same result, so choose whichever feels more intuitive. This method works regardless of whether your AirPods are currently connected, as long as they're paired with the device.
How to stop AirPods from announcing incoming calls
If the problem is specifically calls interrupting your listening, you can silence those separately. Open Settings, tap "Siri" (or "Apple Intelligence & Siri"), then select "Announce Calls." From the options presented, choose "Never" to stop Siri from reading caller names or numbers through your AirPods. This is a more targeted fix than disabling all notifications, which is useful if you still want message previews but can't stand call interruptions during a podcast.
How to customize announcements for specific apps
You don't have to choose between all announcements or none. To fine-tune which apps can speak up, go to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications. Scroll through the list of apps below the master toggle and tap any app to adjust its behavior. For each app, you can toggle "Announce Notifications" on or off individually, giving you granular control over your alerts. For some apps, you'll also see a second option to choose between "All Notifications" or only "Time Sensitive and Direct Messages", selecting the latter ensures only urgent alerts break through, so you can enjoy a quieter experience without missing critical updates.
How to quickly toggle announcements from Control Center
Digging through Settings every time you want to silence your AirPods gets old fast. Instead, add a shortcut to Control Center for one-tap access. Open Settings, tap "Control Center," then scroll to find "Announce Notifications" and tap the green plus icon next to it. This is the fastest way to turn off announcements on AirPods when you're in the middle of something and just need a moment of silence.
Using Siri to turn off announcements
If your hands are full, you can let your voice do the work. Make sure your AirPods are connected, then activate Siri by saying "Hey Siri" or pressing and holding the side button on your iPhone. Simply say, "Turn off announcements," and Siri will disable the feature for you without requiring any menu navigation.
Temporarily stopping announcements and other tips
Sometimes you don't need to change any settings, you just need a brief pause. If Siri starts announcing multiple notifications at once, simply remove one earbud from your ear. This temporarily stops the announcements while keeping your audio playing, and they'll resume once you put the earbud back in. It's a quick, natural way to regain control without touching your phone.
Keep in mind that Siri only announces notifications when your iPhone or iPad is locked and the screen is dark. Also, ensure your device is running iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later, as that's the minimum requirement for the Announce Notifications feature to work with your compatible headphones.
