Apple EarPods play/ pause button (single tap) not working on media apps and demands a phone restart, every time, to fix the issue.

That sounds like a software issue in iOS 26, not the Apple EarPods themselves, since long press and call controls still work.

I suggest you try:

• Unplug the EarPods, force close the media app, then reconnect and test again
• Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Call Audio Routing and make sure nothing odd is set there
• Try disabling Siri temporarily and test the single press again
• Test in the built-in Music app first, just to rule out third-party app weirdness
• Clean the Lightning/USB-C port too, since partial contact can cause weird button mapping issues

The fact that a restart fixes it every time usually means iOS is losing the media control event, not that the button is failing.

Since Apple already checked both phone and EarPods, and the update didn’t fix it, it’s probably an OS bug affecting the headset controls service.

If it keeps happening, one useful test is whether it breaks after using a specific app (YouTube/Spotify/call), because sometimes one app grabs the media session and never releases it properly. That can help narrow down the trigger.

The issue is resolved with the recent update 26.5

the wired headphone buttons are working the way it should

Congrats guys!!

I see the exact same issue. Volume up/down, long press for Siri and normal press to accept/end a phone call work, but normal press to play/pause in any audio context doesn't work. A reboot fixes the issue temporarily as you described (thank you for that).

I tried this with several wired Apple EarPods (3.5mm with Lighting adapter or straight up Lightening) and verified the 3.5mm ones working as expected on my MacBook Air. So I am sure it's not the hardware, just in case the fix by reboot didn't make that obvious.

iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 26.3.1

Did wired headphones fall out of your regression tests? ;-)

I’ve had this same problem too with my iphone 14 with my wired headphones as well and just assumed maybe my headphones were old or damaged. i recently got a new iphone 17 and brand new wire headphones and the same issue is happening. volume button and siri work perfectly fine, but i cannot pause any of my media with that button. very annoying considering they’re brand new apple wire headphones.

A temporary solution to this is restarting your device. I did that too and it does make it functional.

using Wired Airpods, volume Up-Down button is working, Centre button long press to invoke Siri is working but Centre button single press is not working for Play/pause or double press to skip is also not working

Pls suggest a solution, I am sure headphone’s buttons are fine its software issue

My wired headphones work properly some days back, but phone is ask to update i will update the phone, that time to not work Usb-c type play and pause button