New iOS 26 Setting Fixes Annoying Auto Audio Switching Issue

[MacRumors]

Apple's first iOS 26 beta includes a new "Keep Audio in Headphones" setting that addresses a common frustration for iPhone users juggling multiple audio devices.

Found in Settings ➝ General ➝ AirPlay & Continuity, the new toggle prevents audio from automatically switching to newly connected devices like car speakers or Bluetooth speakers when you're already listening through headphones or AirPods. Instead of having your music suddenly blast through your car's sound system, audio continues playing through your original output device.

This seemingly simple addition solves an awkward scenario many users will have experienced. Say you're listening to a podcast through AirPods while walking to your car, only to have it unexpectedly resume through CarPlay when you start the engine. Now you can stop that happening by enabling this option.

When iOS 26 launches this fall, the feature should provide welcome relief for anyone tired of their iPhone making assumptions about where they want their audio played. iOS 26 is available in developer beta, with a public beta dropping next month.

Article Link: New iOS 26 Setting Fixes Annoying Auto Audio Switching Issue

 

[Arytonsenna]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

 

[constantsnags!]

I want a setting that prevents any other app from hijacking my music unless I specifically allow it do so on a use-by-use basis.

 

[GDF]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

Definitely not if you are using them to talk on the phone. This is a great feature that is very welcome. Great job Apple!

 

[gatorvet96]

I love this. Sometimes I’m in the car in a zoom meeting with AirPods and need to turn it on for the air conditioner and it goes to airplay. Now it won’t do that as it was annoying.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

While true (or so I've heard), a couple days ago I was talking to my wife on my AirPods, and I unlocked the car via the FOB That turns on the radio, and wireless CarPlay connected and switched over the audio. I was still 20 feet from the car.

 

[dannyyankou]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

But when someone in your family starts up a car you share and your phone connects to it when you’re just sitting in your living room, that’s annoying.

 

[macjaffa]

If we could control whether it auto starts when getting into car as well that would be great. I have about 20,000 plays of A.F.U (Naturally Wired) by Van Halen since that's the first track in my library that plays every time i get in my car. Even If my head unit is on Radio. It still plays in the background. The next track is Ab's Song, Marshall Trucker Band

 

[karnac]

groundbreaking stuff here. only took them 19 years to figure it out.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

If we could control whether it auto starts when getting into car as well that would be great. I have about 20,000 plays of A.F.U (Naturally Wired) by Van Halen since that's the first track in my library that plays every time i get in my car. Even If my head unit is on Radio. It still plays in the background. The next track is Ab's Song, Marshall Trucker Band

Yea it sucks. For a while I had a two minute blank track named AAAAA, by AAAAA in my library.

__ A A A A A A A A A __ on Apple Music

Listen to music by __ A A A A A A A A A __ on Apple Music.

music.apple.com

 

[ifxf]

Want a setting to prevent Safari from sending audio to CarPlay.

 

[macjaffa]

Yea it sucks. For a while I had a two minute blank track named AAAAA, by AAAAA in my library.

__ A A A A A A A A A __ on Apple Music

Listen to music by __ A A A A A A A A A __ on Apple Music.

music.apple.com

Sometimes though it's really neat, if i'm listening to something podcast, web stream, even music and I get in the car and it plays without even pressing a button, picks right up where I left off, even hours or days later in the case of podcasts. There should be some kind of toggle like this headphone thing but something like 'Autoplay when connecting to... Yes /No and then a bunch of the known connected devices tht can be tuned to do this. And then link this in the focus modes. Put another couple of layers onto it accessed via some obscure up up down down left right motion and then call it a day, ship it in IOS 27. jobs a good one.

 

[winxmac]

The new look of the toggle is worse.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I never realized this was a "Problem" - I use my MFi Hearing Aids to listen to (for example) a podcast or audiobook, and when I get in the car & start it, the audio switches to the car system. Which is exactly what I'd want it to do.

Good to have options though!

 

[QuarterSwede]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

Pretty outdated with transparency mode nowadays, especially since you can use them as hearing aids now (not illegal obviously).

 

[JackNL]

groundbreaking stuff here. only took them 19 years to figure it out.

I guess your cup is always half empty.

 

[petieg]

... "only to have it unexpectedly resume through CarPlay when you start the engine." Yeah, as if my iPhone 16 connects to my CarPlay unit upon starting the car... it often connects 5 minutes down the road...

 

[Residentsteve]

Will it fix the problem when I’m watching something on my iPad only for my iPhone to pick audio from another dumb ad online 🤬 honestly it’s so annoying.

 

[mxrider88]

I’m astonished by he audacity of calling it feature!!!

It’s a common sense thing and it should have been the standard behavior since the beginning of times. I filed 20 bug reports about this, not someone read the report and came up with this “feature”???

 

[gaximus]

I’ve wanted this so long. Hope it works not just for headphones, but airplay as well. So many times I’ll be listening to music in my garage via air play, move my truck, and it disconnects and connects to my truck.

 

[H2SO4]

Don't have music on my phone, I find it too annoying to have it start playing as soon as the device is plugged in. Is it possible to stop this now?

 

[Shirasaki]

groundbreaking stuff here. only took them 19 years to figure it out.

Or you know, actually USING their products for once and revelation hits them.

 

[MallardDuck]

Better but what I want is the reverse, don’t ever switch my AirPods automatically to any device.

 

[jlwarlow]

Hope they fix the annoying audio switching on CarPlay where it cuts to whatever video in Facebook my wife is looking at when we were listening to DAB radio

 

[johnediii]

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to drive with headphones (especially noise cancelling) in most states.

This is the second most annoying thing I see on my daily commute. First is somebody holding their phone up to there face. You're driving like a maniac, PUT THE PHONE DOWN.