Stop AirPods from Reading Texts: Easy Guide to Disabling Notifications

Just a few years ago, AirPods were everywhere: on city streets and in coffee shops. With more than 100 million units sold since their release, AirPods are among the best-selling wireless earbuds in the world. All this wide adaptation falls into categories for being seamlessly locked in the Apple ecosystem and countless other conveniences, such as reading texts. Now, with this being such a useful feature, it can sometimes be subject to minor irritation among users who cherish their privacy and like fewer interruptions.

Purpose of the Blog

In this blog, we will get straight to the point on how to stop AirPods from reading texts. A lot of folks love having their texts read to them on AirPods, but we all know there are times when such a feature comes across as annoying. In this blog, you are going to follow some of the steps that will help others learn how to easily disable these text notifications on their AirPods—at least with which readers could maintain privacy or limit unnecessary interruptions.

What are Voice Notifications?

AirPods, especially the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, have voice notifications; that is, Siri monitors for new notifications like text messages, phone calls, Remind Me Later alerts bespeaking of some apps, etc., and you get a buzz, then she reads it too. Using Siri, this feature will read your messages and other notifications through the AirPods (so you can stay informed without needing to look at a display).

How It Works

  1. How much do voice notifications work if enabled?
  2. Notifications: Siri notifies you of incoming notifications from apps that are enabled to show notifications.
  3. Speak Notifications: Siri announces the content of the notification over AirPods, starting with either “from []” for messages or “[App Name]” for other notifications
  4. Interactability: Voice commands allow users, without touching an iPhone or iPad, to do things like reply to a text message from the notification.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits:

  • Voice Notifications: Get the message; Stay in touch without having to take your phone out of wherever you have it stashed away Technology meets ultimate convenience when people are driving, cooking, or working out.
  • Productivity: allows you to quickly get the most important information without having to go through unlock and verification on your device on hold (this can be especially useful for working moments).
  • Accessibility – improves iPhone unlock usability for blind people or users who have problems with dexterity.

Drawbacks:

  • Privacy: one concern with having messages and other notifications read out loud while one is in public places or around other people is the exposure to third-party listeners.
  • Some of the information that is transmitted over texts may be sensitive, and the other party is not meant to hear it.
  • They are likely to listen in when they hear something directed at them. 
  • Interruptions: in certain instances, when the phone keeps on being active and is a constant notifier of messages, the process becomes a nuisance, especially during important meetings, focused reading, or discussions.
  • Notification Management: It might be a little cumbersome for the users to be able to regulate what type of notification is supposed to be notifiable; hence, the turn of all notifications is read.

How to Stop AirPods from Reading Texts

  1. Preliminary Steps
  2. Make sure you have the following steps ready and become a pro to STOP YOUR AIRPODS FROM READING TEXTS:
  3. Connectivity: Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad.
  4. Update Software: Be sure to update both your iPhone and iPad, as well as AirPods, with the latest software updates.

Optional Method 1: Through the Settings App

  1. Open the Settings app: Find and tap on your iPhone or iPad’s settings app.
  2. Step 2: Notifications Scroll down and select ‘Notifications’.
  3. Announce Notifications: Locate and tap ‘Announce Notifications’
  4. To announce messages or not: Tap the toggle switch for Announce Messages with Siri to disable it.

Method 2: With the help of the Control Center

  • How to access the Control CenterOn iPhones that have Face ID, you swipe down from the top-right corner of your display. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen
  • Find the Announce Messages Icon: Tap on ‘Announce Messages with Siri’ It looks like a bubble of the message with a wavelet.
  • Turn Off: Disable the feature by clicking on that icon. If the icon is grey, then it’s currently disabled.
  • Part 3: Changing Engage notifications
  • Launch the Settings app. Go to your iPhone or iPad, and open the settings app.
  • Settings: Notifications, Scroll down, Notifications
  • You Must Choose the App for Which These Customizations Apply: Tap the app (e.g. Messages) you want to customize notifications for.
  • You will configure the notification settings of your choice. You may also turn off notifications or adjust notification format and delivery frequency.
  • Visual Aids
  • Add a few screenshots or pictures with each step, as it will increase the clarity. These might look like the following:
  • Screenshot of Settings App: Display where the settings app is displayed on the home screen.
  • Posted in Notifications Menu Screenshot: Shows the notification menu within the settings app.
  • Announce Notifications Screenshot: This will show ‘Announce Notifications’ and the toggle for ‘Announce Messages with Siri’.
  • Control Center Screenshot Indicating Control Center and Icon for ‘Announce Messages with Siri’

Step-by-step Tips and Tricks

  • How to manually disable the notifications temporarily: 
  • Turn on the “Do Not Disturb” mode. Here is a simple guide to temporarily halting all notifications on your iPhone. First, open the Control Center, and then click on the crescent moon.
  • Moreover, one can access Do Not Disturb from the settings and customize it according to one’s preference. How to disable the notifications Siri shortcuts:
  • Create the Siri Shortcut to enable/disable messages with Siri. First, open the Shortcuts application, and then tap on + to create a new shortcut.
  • Siri, Secondly, add the action by toggling announce messages with Siri and then save it. Finally, record the command and save the Siri shortcut.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Notifications Read By British Voice:
  • Verify With The Settings: Make sure the changes in settings are saved correctly.
  • Start Devices: At every corner, you can restart your iPhone or iPad and reconnect AirPods to see changes.
  • Settings of AirPods Not Updating:
  • Firmware update: Be sure to install the latest firmware for your AirPods.
  • If the problem persists, Reset AirPods
  • Step-by-Step Guide:
  • Place your AirPods in the charging case and close the lid.
  • Cover the mixture with a lid and wait for at least 30 seconds.
  • Put the case into pairing mode by holding down on the back of it until you see amber and white lights.
Airpods
Stop airpods from reading texts: easy guide to disabling notifications 3

How else can you stop AirPods from reading texts?

  • Disable Notifications Temporarily
  • Using Do Not Disturb Mode
  • Summary: It puts your phone in prioritised mode so you can keep the necessary noise out and not get interrupted.
  • Enabling Do Not Disturb Mode:
  • Stage 1: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center (or swipe up from any place on your iPhone with a Home button).
  • Step 2: Tap the crescent moon icon to turn on Do Not Disturb. The highlighted icon present means Do Not Disturb is enabled.
  • Do Not Disturb Settings Customization
  • Visit Settings > Do Not Disturb
  • Set up things like a Do Not Disturb schedule, parameters for receiving calls from specific contacts etc.
  • Using Focus Modes
  • Focus modes are custom notification settings for work, personal time, and more
  • How to create and work with Focus Mode;
  • Step 1: Launch Settings on your iPhone/iPad.
  • Step 2: Tap on Focus.
  • Step 3: Pick a focus mode that already exists or tap the plus icon (lets you make one).
  • Step 4: Configure Notification Permissions and Home & Lock Screen settings etc.
  • #5) Launch the Focus mode from the Control Center by tapping on its icon.
  • Using Siri Shortcuts
  • Creating a Siri Shortcut
  • Summary: Siri Shortcuts to manage text notifications via voice or tap, for your iPhone / iPad.
  • Step-by-Step Guide:
  • Step 1: Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone/iPad.
  • Step 2: Click the plus sign (+) to make a New Shortcut.
  • Step 3: Tap Add Action.
  • How to turn Announce Messages with Siri on and offStep 4: Look for the action ‘Announce Messages with Siri’ in your search results.
  • Step 5: Open Settings -> Select Shortcut to Turn on or off the feature as per your requirement.
  • Step 6 – Now tap Next, name your shortcut and then press Done.
  • Using the Shortcut:
  • Run the shortcut by saying “Hey Siri, [Shortcut Name]” or tapping on your Shortcut in the Shortcuts app/home screen.

Managing Notifications from Specific Apps

  • Customizing App Notifications
  • Summary: Manage which applications can generate notifications to display them.
  • Step-by-Step Guide:
  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Step 2: Tap Notifications.
  • Step 3: Locate and tap on the app – Messages in this case that you wish to edit custom notifications.
  • Step 4: Tweak options including Allow Notifications, Alerts (Lock Screen / Notification Center/ Banners), Sounds and Badges.
  • Using Notification Summary
  • With summary notification, all non-urgent notifications will be sent together at pre-scheduled timings so that it does not interrupt throughout the day.
  • Step-by-Step Guide:
  • How to Uninstall AppsiOS Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone / iPad.
  • Step 2: Tap Notifications.
  • Step 3: Select Scheduled Summary.
  • 4) Check the **Enable Scheduled Summary** box and set the times you’d like to get your summary.
  • Step 5: Tap the apps you want to include in the summary.
  • Troubleshooting Common Issues
  • Notifications continue to be read aloud
  • Verify Settings: Make sure that the changes to switch Voice Notifications off have been saved correctly.
  • Try these steps to solve the issue. Reset your iPhone/iPad, and reconnect AirPods so that settings work well.
  • Reconfigure Siri & Search:
  • Navigate to settings, then General > Siri & Search.
  • Simply toggle off Announce Notifications and then back on to adjust the setting.
  • AirPods Not Updating Settings
  • With that out of the way, follow this guide if you are sure your AirPods firmware is not at issue:
  • Step-by-Step Guide:
  • Store your AirPods in the case
  • Power the case and keep it close to your iPhone/iPad.
  • The firmware will be updated automatically.
  • Reset AirPods:
  • Step 1: Place your AirPods in their charging case, and close the lid.
  • Step 2: Leave it for about half an hour and look inside.
  • Step 3: Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until you see a status light flash amber, followed by white.
  • Over here, tap the “Connect to This iPad” button and then follow on-screen instructions in re-pairing your AirPods.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Notifications Still Being Read Aloud

  • Check Settings:
  • Double-Check Settings:
  • Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications (on/off)
  • Turn off ‘Announce Messages with Siri’
  • Check Settings of Individual Apps:
  • Open Settings > Notifications
  • Select the app you choose(e.g Messages) and configure it for notifications
  • Restart Devices:
  • Restart iPhone/iPad:
  • Hold the power button and one of the volume keys until you see a slider.
  • Slide to power off; wait a few moments, then press and hold the Power button again.
  • Reconnect AirPods:
  • Put your AirPods in the case and close the lid for about 10 seconds.
  • Place them back to your ear and they should reconnect right away.
  • Reconfigure Siri & Search:
  • Reset Announce Notifications Settings:
  • Settings – Siri & Search
  • DISABLE ‘Announce Notifications’ and turn it back on after a few seconds.
  • Adjust the preferences to make sure that long-time space officers are not being responded to without barriers.
  • AirPods Not Updating Settings
  • Update Firmware:
  • Fully updated firmware:
  • Charge your AirPods case and bring it close to your iPhone/iPad.
  • View firmware updates by going to the General settings section > About tab, then tap on your AirPods.
  • It will automatically update to the most current firmware if there is a new version available.
  • Reset AirPods:
  • Restoring AirPods to Factory Settings:
  • Insert your AirPods back into the case and snap it closed.
  • Wait for 30 seconds.
  • Open the lid.
  • Keep the setup button on a case pad for two seconds so that its status light will flash amber and then white.
  • Reconnect AirPods:
  • Reconnect your AirPods through the instructions on your iPhone/iPad application pages.
  • Check the Connection and Bluetooth Issues:
  • Bluetooth Connection Stabilized
  • Open the settings app and Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on.
  • See if Your AirPods Are Linked If so tap them and the doors will lock again.
  • Reset Network Settings:
  • Next, tap on Settings – General _ Reset _ and lastly, click on the Reset Network Settings. This will resolve connectivity problems.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have told you how to disable the option of AirPods reading your texts just like they read messages and calls by default. Want all the details on disabling it through Settings, Control Center and in-app notification preferences?

We also gave some advice when it comes to suppressing the notifications for a while by turning on Do Not Disturb mode and setting up Siri Shortcuts that help you fight the battle faster.

We also answer questions and resolve some of the problems that readers have come across when using their AirPods settings to ensure they’re all set up correctly.

FAQ

  • 1. Why are AirPods reading my texts?
  • To shut up those text-reading AirPods, head to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications and switch off the toggle for Announce Messages with Siri.
  • 2. Is it possible to turn off text message notifications for some apps only?
  • Go to Settings > Notifications, choose the app and then adjust how you want notifications from there, for example.
  • 3. How do I turn off all my notifications from being read out loud?
  • To enable DND mode, pull down from the top to open Control Center and tap on the crescent moon icon. Settings > Do Not Disturb
  • 4. I turned off the feature, but my AirPods are still reading texts. What should I do?
  • Make sure to save the settings changes, then restart your iPhone/iPad and Airpods + check whether/if it worked. You can also try to re-configure Announce Notifications from Settings > Siri & Search as well.
  • 5. How to update AirPods firmware?
  • Updating AirPods Firmware; The charging case should be connected to power and placed close to your iPhone / iPad which is also on the internet. The firmware is updated automatically.
  • 6. SolutionHow to Reset If Not Updating Settings – My AirPods
  • Insert AirPods into the charging case, close it up and wait for 30 seconds before opening the lid again. Irap the setup button on the rear of one’s case before the status lighting flashes amber and then white. Pair your AirPods with the device again.
  • 7. Is that a good reason to want an easy way with Siri Shortcuts, quickly on and off text notifications?
  • Sure, you could always find your way to the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut for this that toggles Announce Messages with Siri, but now it can be easily activated with just voice or a home screen icon.