Why do some users wear their AirPods upside down?

Have you ever been out in public and noticed someone wearing their AirPods upside down? You might think they’re wearing them the wrong way, and they are, but they’re probably wearing them that way for a reason. If you’re having issues with the fit or sound of your AirPods, some users find that wearing the AirPods upside down can help, although it will interfere with directional audio input and output.

If you want to try this for yourself to see if it improves your AirPods experience, all you have to do is swap the left and right earbuds, point the stems upward, and insert the AirPods into your ears. Some users recommend pointing the rods toward the back of your head for a better seal. Apparently this works for almost all headphones, but users say it works even better for active noise cancellation (ANC) with AirPods. But the main reason people on social media and forums say they do this is because they say AirPods are simply more comfortable that way. But keep in mind that this is not how Apple envisioned AirPods being used.

In a post on Reddit’s AirPods community, a user asked if others also wear AirPods upside down and in opposite ears. A commenter asked why they would do that, and the original author responded by saying that it just seemed more comfortable because they had big ears. A few other users chimed in, stating that they also wear their AirPods upside down because it’s much more comfortable, with one agreeing that it depends on the type of ears one has. Another commenter also mentioned that not only is it comfortable, but they also do it so their AirPods don’t fall out while jogging and working out.

Users have also mentioned that it can help form a better seal which improves sound. A user responding to a similar post in the r/AirPods subreddit said that the sound “sucked” when wearing them normally and that the bass sounded ten times louder, making them go “bang.” The post is full of commenters saying they’re getting positive results after trying it, with words like “game changer” being thrown around and people feeling happy they’re not the only ones doing this.

Not everyone agrees that wearing AirPods upside down is a good idea. In some of the posts in which users praised him, one user responded by asking how he handled phone calls. This brings us to one of the main reasons why it is not recommended to wear your AirPods upside down. While some users claim this helps their AirPods sound better, the earbuds’ microphones are located in the stem, which now points away from the mouth, meaning people might not hear you clearly during calls.

Another commenter also mentioned that wearing AirPods upside down can disrupt the transparency mode of AirPods. This feature is the opposite of ANC, as it actively introduces outside noise so you don’t feel like you’re wearing headphones. This is great for being aware of your surroundings, but not for immersive sound. Since you’re also swapping earbuds for this trick to work, it may disrupt AirPods Spatial Audio, which is an immersive audio feature designed to make sound seem like it’s coming from all around you. With the left earbud in your right ear and vice versa, Spatial Audio can be inaccurate, especially when you enable the Head Tracked feature which adjusts audio output based on your head position. For example, turning your head can make the sound seem distant, as if you are turning away from it.