Apple is overhauling how users manage AirPods through iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, per a Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter. The upcoming WWDC 2026 update will reorganize the AirPods settings menu to make it more functional and easier to navigate. While AirPods don't have a dedicated OS spotlight at WWDC, these operating system changes still directly affect the audio experience.

Gurman reports the controls revamp responds to long-standing user complaints about managing AirPods settings. Users have pushed for a separate AirPods control app, similar to what exists for the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro. Apple is not expected to deliver that anytime soon, but the menu improvements aim to address some of that frustration directly.

The report also claims major features will be better highlighted to users, though no specific details were disclosed. The changes mark Apple's latest effort to simplify AirPods management, even if the full scope of the update remains unclear for now.