Apple may be a bit of a nuisance for users who purchase the new AirPods Pro 3 with the iOS 26 update. In some countries, including Turkey, the earbud volume will be controlled. Here are the details.

With iOS 26, a new setting added to the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 models limits the earbud volume. With this update, Apple introduces a hearing protection system compliant with the European Hearing Protection Program (EN 352). This protection system may initially surprise or even irritate users. This news article details what to do before breaking your earbuds in such a situation.

How to Turn Off AirPods EN 352 Protection?

The new EN 352 feature limits the maximum volume level to 82 dBA. This reduces the volume of the earbuds. The protection activates as soon as you pair your AirPods Pro 2 or newly purchased AirPods Pro 3 with your iPhone running iOS 26. While this feature is important for your hearing health, it can be frustrating for some users. Users who want to listen to music and watch videos at maximum volume can disable EN 352 protection in Settings > AirPods > Hearing Protection.

Which Countries Will Offer Sound Protection?

European and Middle Eastern countries such as Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Turkey will offer EN 352 protection. Users can turn the feature on or off at any time. When the feature is disabled, iOS’s sound alert system, General Hearing Protection, will be activated and will advise users to lower the volume.

Apple is reportedly mandating this setting to be enabled due to pressure from the European Union.

iOS 26 Update May Enable the Feature Immediately

The sound protection feature will be enabled by default for users who first receive the AirPods Pro 2 or the newly released AirPods Pro 3 and connect it to their phone. However, it is unclear whether this feature will be automatically enabled for users who upgrade to iOS 26 and previously used AirPods Pro 2. Therefore, if you notice a decrease in the volume after the update, you can make the relevant adjustments from the settings menu.