Upcoming iOS feature will automatically pause AirPods audio when you fall asleep
Image credits: Zahotoo _
Say goodbye to waking up with dead batteries and unfinished episodes- a new update coming later this year will stop earphone audio playback when you’re asleep.
A new feature to save your sleep
Ever fallen asleep with music, a podcast, or an audiobook still playing, only to be woken up by a loud track or low-battery noise? Well, Apple’s looking to fix that.
Announced as one of the smaller new features at this year’s Apple WWDC25, AirPods are set to gain another new addition this fall alongside better mic quality and camera remote features.
The new feature dubbed “Pause Media When Falling Asleep” does exactly what it says on the tin: automatically pause audio on your AirPods when you’ve nodded off. While originally believed to be exclusive to AirPods, code uncovered by MacRumors suggests it’ll work with Beats headphones too. This makes sense given that Apple owns Beats after purchasing Beats by Dre back in 2014.
How will this help?
Undoubtedly, this feature will be useful to anyone who listens to audio as they drift off. It means no more drained batteries by morning, no more loud noises waking you up in the middle of the night, and no need to fumble with manual timers to stop your playback.
Oh, and it’ll also remember exactly where you left off. So whether you’re mid-album, chapter, or episode, you can pick up from the same spot the next time you listen.
In the past, you’d have to rely on a “Stop Playing” timer through the iPhone’s Clock app which I have (very) occasionally used throughout the years. This new feature saves the hassle of doing so.
So how will it work?
Apple hasn’t yet said exactly how the sleep detection will work, and many users under MacRumors post are asking the same question: “How will it know when you’re asleep?” Some suggest it must tie in with Apple Watch or your iPhone’s sleep tracking system, but no one knows for sure.
What we do know is that it should be automatically enabled once iOS 26 is installed, and users will be able to manually toggle it on or off in their headphones settings when connected to a device.
When is it coming?
The feature will arrive with the upcoming iOS 26 update in September, which is currently in developer beta testing. It’ll also require updated firmware across compatible AirPods and Beats models, which is also being tested.
It might be a feature that flies under the radar, but for nighttime listeners, it’s one that could make a real difference. Whether users actually find it useful though and how it actually works, we’ll have to wait until it officially launches.