Apple is adding a new layer of safety for AirPods Pro users with iOS 26. A setting called EN 352 Protection is now available in select countries across Europe and the Middle East, including Belgium, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. This option appears under the Hearing Protection menu when AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 are connected to an iPhone.
The report, first highlighted by MacRumors, notes that the EN 352 Protection setting ensures AirPods Pro comply with the European EN 352 hearing protection standard. When enabled, it caps the maximum media playback volume at 82 dBA. Apple’s existing Hearing Protection feature already works to reduce exposure to loud sounds, but this new compliance-based toggle introduces a stricter volume limit for regions where regulations or local guidance may require it.
Once paired, users can find the toggle by opening the Settings app, selecting their AirPods, navigating to Hearing Protection, and switching on EN 352 Protection. Apple has not clarified whether this setting was mandated by law or added voluntarily to align with safety best practices. Either way, it reinforces the company’s ongoing emphasis on hearing health, which has been gradually expanding across iOS and AirPods features over recent years.
The update arrives just ahead of iOS 26’s general release on September 15. Alongside the software rollout, AirPods Pro 3 will officially launch on September 19 after a week of pre-orders. For those who regularly use AirPods Pro in noisy environments, this adjustment could help limit long-term risks of hearing damage, especially when combined with Apple’s existing monitoring tools and noise reduction features.
Compared to previous iOS releases, this change is notable because it highlights Apple’s responsiveness to regional standards. While earlier Hearing Protection features mainly offered alerts and exposure tracking, EN 352 Protection introduces a hard limit that ensures users cannot exceed a volume threshold considered safe by European authorities. This also comes at a time when regulators are increasingly scrutinizing how tech products safeguard consumer health, suggesting Apple is preemptively aligning its devices with broader safety expectations.
For users outside the listed countries, Apple has not indicated whether the feature will expand more widely. Still, it sets a precedent for future updates where similar regional health compliance features could become standard. With AirPods Pro 2 and the new AirPods Pro 3 now both supporting the option, it is likely to remain a fixture for years to come.
