Why Do Some Users Wear Their AirPods Upside Down?

Have you ever been out in public and noticed someone who is wearing their AirPods upside down? You might think they're wearing them the wrong way, and they are, but they're likely wearing them that way for a reason. If you've been having problems with the way your AirPods fit or sound, some users think wearing the AirPods upside down can help, even though it will interfere with directional audio input and output.

In case 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 in your ears. Some users recommend pointing the stems toward the back of your head for an even better seal. Apparently, this works for pretty much all earbuds, but users say it works even better for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with AirPods. But the biggest reason users on social media and forums say they do this is that they say the AirPods are just more comfortable this way. But keep in mind that this is not the way Apple intended for AirPods to be used.

In a post on Reddit's AirPods community, one user asked if others also wear the AirPods upside down and in the opposite ears. A commenter asked why they would do that, and the original author responded, saying that it just feels more comfortable for them because they've got large ears. A couple of other users chimed in, stating that they also wear their AirPods upside down because it feels a lot 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 that their AirPods don't fall out when jogging and working out.

Users also mentioned that it can help form a better seal that enhances the sound. One user responding to a similar post in the r/AirPods subreddit said that the sound "sucks" when they wear them normally, and that the bass sounds ten times louder, making them "bang." The post is full of commenters saying they are experiencing positive results after trying it, with words like "game changer" being thrown around and people feeling glad that they aren't the only ones who do this.

Not everyone agrees that wearing AirPods upside down is a good idea. In some of the posts where users praised doing so, one user responded, asking how they deal with phone calls. That brings us to one of the main reasons why it's not recommended to wear your AirPods upside down. While some users claim it helps their AirPods sound better, the microphones on the earbuds are located in the stem, which is now pointing away from the mouth, meaning people might not hear you clearly during calls.

Another commenter also mentioned that wearing AirPods upside down can confuse the AirPods' Transparency Mode. This feature is the opposite of ANC, since it actively brings in outside noise so it doesn't feel like you're wearing earbuds. It's great for being aware of your surroundings, but not for immersive audio. Since you also swap the earbuds for this trick to work, it can mess with the AirPods Spatial Audio, which is an immersive audio feature designed to make the sound appear like it's coming all around you. With the left bud in your right ear and vice versa, Spatial Audio can be inaccurate, especially when you enable the Head Tracked feature that adjusts the audio output based on your head's position. For instance, turning your head can make the sound seem distant, as if you're turning away from it.