Latest iOS 27 rumor brings hope for an overdue Settings app revamp

In just a couple of weeks, we’re going to get our first look at iOS 27, and we’re not expecting a ton of new features. Beyond some overdue AI enhancements, iOS 27 is widely rumored to be more of a maintenance release with a focus on performance and stability that fixes some of iOS 26’s annoyances.

According to a new report, one of those fixes will target AirPods settings. According to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Apple plans on giving its AirPods settings a much-needed revamp in iOS 27. While light on details, he says the new settings will be “more functional, better organized, and more streamlined.”

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AirPods settings only appear when you connect a pair to your iPhone, with the controls feeling buried. They have become bogged down over the years as Apple has added new features without much reorganization. They’re not totally confusing, but AirPods settings are different than other Apple devices, particularly Apple Watch, and most users probably never use the settings at all, and when they do, it’s likely a short visit.

Gurman says Apple has “heard the feedback” on AirPods settings, and while it doesn’t sound like a standalone app will arrive, the new settings “should mean the earbuds are easier to manage and major feature options are better highlighted,” he writes. 

That sounds promising, exactly the kind of thing we hope Apple fixes in iOS 27. AirPods controls are hardly the worst problem with iOS settings, but if Apple is retooling its earbuds settings, that could mean Apple will revamp the entire Settings app. Much like AirPods, Apple’s settings app has become complicated and cluttered over the years, and could use a thoughtful redesign that focuses on what people are looking for and where they expect to find it.

WWDC kicks off on Monday, June 8, with a keynote presentation at 10am ET.