Do you need to remove your headphones at a TSA checkpoint?

Wireless headphones, including over-ear models and earbuds like Apple AirPods, are commonly seen in public, as many smartphone users rely on these accessories to listen to their favorite content and talk on the phone while on the go. Some people may wear their headphones throughout the day, even when they are not listening to music, to the point of forgetting to take them off when the situation calls for it.

TSA checkpoints are a scenario where some headphone users may not remove their devices when preparing for security and going through the checkpoint, but this is not the appropriate procedure. Instead of wearing the headphones when going through the TSA checkpoint, users must place them in the trash can with all their belongings for screening. The only exception is people who are deaf or hard of hearing, who can continue to use their hearing aids when passing through the checkpoint. But even then, additional control can be applied.

The TSA allows users to bring headphones on planes, including in carry-on and checked bags. Most people will probably want to use the headphones during the flight, so they will have them with them or in their carry-on luggage. Although the TSA documentation mentions the traveler’s right to carry these devices, it also states that it is up to the TSA officer to decide whether the device is allowed through the checkpoint. The documentation does not specify whether the user must place the headphones in the trash when going through the checkpoint, but TSA officers may ask users to do so. If they allow a user to pass the checkpoint with headphones, metal components inside the device may trigger an alarm, which may lead to additional screening.

If the metal detector alarm sounds, a TSA agent may conduct an additional screening, which may include a pat-down and inspection of the headphones that may have triggered the alarm. Users may be required to go through the checkpoint again, without wearing the headphones, which can be placed in a separate trash can. The x-ray machine will not damage your headphones or other electronic devices, if you are concerned about damage. But there’s another reason travelers should avoid wearing headphones when going through TSA checkpoints, one that has nothing to do with setting off an alarm and slowing down the line. Former TSA agent Caleb Harmon-Marshall told Business Insider that he would never wear headphones through security because he wanted to be “very attentive” to his surroundings.

TSA screening can be very stressful for both the traveler and the agent, especially in crowded airports. Wearing headphones can make it difficult to hear instructions from TSA agents, even if you stop playing music or podcasts as your turn to go through security approaches. You may be an experienced traveler who is very familiar with TSA screening, but if you don’t hear a particular instruction, you will slow down security screening for yourself and others behind you. This is why it is a good idea to remove your headphones and place them in the trash or in your bag when going through the checkpoint.

Removing headphones at TSA checkpoints will give you another benefit if you wear AirPods or other headphones all day. You’ll give your ear a break from headphones, allowing ventilation of the ear canal and helping to improve ear health.

The TSA’s online documentation has a section for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, where it explains that people with hearing loss should inform the TSA agent that they are “deaf or hard of hearing and need assistance with the screening process.” The same page states that hearing aids or cochlear implants should not be removed during security screening, warning that additional screening and inspection could follow.

Since Apple AirPods Pro also offer hearing aid features, the devices can be considered hearing aids. However, unlike hearing aids and cochlear implants, which indicate a hearing problem, AirPods Pro do not signal that the wearer may have hearing difficulties. In this case, the user must inform the TSA agent that they are using AirPods Pro as a hearing aid. Even then, it will be up to the agent to authorize the use of wireless headphones during the security check. The same goes for other headphones that may offer hearing aid functionality.

The Canadian TSA (CATSA) says that people with hearing impairments can be screened without removing hearing aids or devices, but that they will be visually inspected. The agency notes that some hearing aids may be affected by x-ray and metal detectors, advising users to request full body scans or physical searches. The Australian Office of Home Affairs notes that travelers do not need to remove their hearing aids (cochlear implants, external components of cochlear implants and middle ear implants) and that the devices will not be affected by metal detectors and body scanners.