Quite so, the unclear touch interface is my sole criticism of the otherwise excellent Buds Live. According to Samsung, the sensor area is centered around the upper microphone - see this picture ("Touch area"). Of course, that microphone is not exactly a landmark, and it does not provide much guidance once the Buds are in the ears. Personally I have found it helpful to tap with the whole flat of the finger, rather than just the tip, simply in order to increase the area that I touch and thereby my chances of hitting the spot. Also, if you hold one Bud in your hand and cover the inner touch sensor (again, see the diagram) to make the Bud "believe" it is in the ear, this will activate the touch area. Then you can practice tapping at it and see/hear how far off from the center you can go while still turning on/off the sound. This is all far from ideal, and I wish they were designed more clearly, but it helps a little. Answer from Dr_Matoi on reddit.com
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Samsung
samsung.com › home › product help & support › mobile device › how to make touch command on galaxy buds live
How to make touch command on Galaxy Buds Live | Samsung UK
Step 2. Tap Touch controls. Step 3. Tap Left or Right under Touch and hold. Step 4. Select a feature that you want to use as a preset touch-and-hold feature. Active noise canceling: Refer to 'How can I use the Active Noise Canceling feature ...
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Samsung Community
d2z8fvypt29s4a.cloudfront.net › t5 › Galaxy-Buds › Galaxy-buds-touch-controls-responding-properly › td-p › 2761219
Solved: Galaxy buds touch controls responding properly. - Samsung Community - 2761219
December 22, 2023 - To start, what pair of earbuds are you using? (Buds, Buds+, Buds Live, Buds Pro Buds2, Buds2 Pro, Buds FE). Second, are touch controls turned on? You can check this from the galaxy wearable app.
Discussions

My right ear bud has stopped working by touch control. It happened overnight. It will still play music but will not answer, end call, skip music. no beeps when touching. I have made sure it is clean and charged with no change. Any suggestions? null
My right ear bud has stopped working by touch control. It happened overnight. It will sti – Learn about Samsung - Galaxy Buds Live True Wireless Earbud Headphones - Black with 2 Answers – Best Buy More on bestbuy.com
🌐 bestbuy.com
2
November 13, 2021
Where exactly is the sensor of the touchpad on the buds live?
Quite so, the unclear touch interface is my sole criticism of the otherwise excellent Buds Live. According to Samsung, the sensor area is centered around the upper microphone - see this picture ("Touch area"). Of course, that microphone is not exactly a landmark, and it does not provide much guidance once the Buds are in the ears. Personally I have found it helpful to tap with the whole flat of the finger, rather than just the tip, simply in order to increase the area that I touch and thereby my chances of hitting the spot. Also, if you hold one Bud in your hand and cover the inner touch sensor (again, see the diagram) to make the Bud "believe" it is in the ear, this will activate the touch area. Then you can practice tapping at it and see/hear how far off from the center you can go while still turning on/off the sound. This is all far from ideal, and I wish they were designed more clearly, but it helps a little. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/galaxybuds
4
5
October 10, 2020
Galaxy Buds touch controls suck
It's super easy to pause and start play. Tap the bud. What's hard is moving them around in your ears without triggering it a bunch of times. I don't have a solution other than turning off touch. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/samsung
52
56
August 22, 2022
Galaxy Buds 2 touch controls are terrible
Yeah, that is something they need to fix with next year's Buds. It feels like it is getting worse with every generation as their "solution" to the accidental touches seems to be to use larger touch surfaces. If that is their solution they also have to start using accidental touch algorithms for the edges. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/galaxybuds
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July 12, 2021
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Samsung
samsung.com › us › support › answer › ANS10001318
Use touchpad commands for your Samsung Galaxy earbuds
To adjust the volume on the Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds Pro, or Galaxy Buds2 Pro, touch and hold the touchpad. Please see the last two customization sections for more information.
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Best Buy
bestbuy.com › best buy › headphones › all headphones › product details
My right ear bud has stopped working by touch con – Q&A – Best Buy
November 13, 2021 - I appreciate your taking the time to raise this inquiry regarding the Samsung - Galaxy Buds Live; the right bud is not working properly. You also mentioned you keep the buds charged and cleaned. Here are a few links that might be able to help out. How to wear your Samsung earbuds https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00082785/ Touchpad commands for your Samsung earbuds https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00078137/ Touchpad commands for your Samsung earbuds https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00078137/ Software updates for Samsung earbuds https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00078087/ Should you need more assistance, please feel free to get back to us via the following options: 1.
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Google Play
play.google.com › store › apps › details
Galaxy Buds Live Guide - Apps on Google Play
This app is a guide that provides information about Samsung galaxy buds live. From this app, you can learn about wearing earbuds, charging the device battery, using the device's features (calling, touch controls, music, etc.) and so on. Even when your wireless connection is weak, the sound ...
Rating: 4.4 ​ - ​ 158 votes
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Digital Trends
digitaltrends.com › home › wearables › news
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro want you to control audio with your head | Digital Trends
November 17, 2025 - Samsung is expected to launch the Pro model alongside the Galaxy S26 series, making this our clearest preview yet of its next flagship earbuds. This is important because: This leak hints at a bigger shift than a new case color. Head-based controls could change how you use earbuds when your hands are busy, wet, or just nowhere near your ears. Quick nods or shakes could take care of everyday tasks like answering calls, skipping tracks, or silencing notifications without hunting for tiny touch targets.
Find elsewhere
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B&H Photo Video
bhphotovideo.com › lit_files › 621703.pdf pdf
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live R180 User Manual
Navigate your playlist using the touch area on your earbuds. ... Answer and control calls using your earbuds. ... Galaxy Wearable, tap Read notification aloud.
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Livemint
livemint.com › business news › gadgets and appliances
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro leak points to new stem design and head gesture controls | Mint
November 20, 2025 - The obvious bet is a launch with the Galaxy S26 series, so early 2026 feels like the right target. For now, the leak tells a clear story. Samsung is smoothing out the design, tightening case usability, and adding hands free controls that could matter in daily use. No wild reinvention, just a push to make the Pro buds feel easier to live with.
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Beebom
beebom.com › galaxy-buds-live-name-confirmed-anc-touch-controls
Samsung's App Confirms Galaxy Buds Live will Come with ANC, Touch Controls | Beebom
July 24, 2020 - For one, active noise cancelation is going to be present on the Buds Live. Whether it’s any good is a different question, but the app confirms the presence of ANC. Moreover, the Buds Live will come with touch controls.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/galaxybuds › where exactly is the sensor of the touchpad on the buds live?
r/galaxybuds on Reddit: Where exactly is the sensor of the touchpad on the buds live?
October 10, 2020 -

I'm always having trouble getting the touchpad to respond when skipping tracks etc, but I will get accidentally taps when i try to adjust the buds. Does anyone know where exactly the sensor is? On the OG/+ buds, I can touch any part of the touchpad and it would be very responsive.

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WIRED
wired.com › gear › shopping › the best wireless earbuds we've tested
Best Wireless Earbuds (2025): Apple, Sony, Bose, and More | WIRED
October 14, 2025 - While these aren't a top choice, they're a great budget buy, especially on sale. Sony Linkbuds Fit for $175: Sony’s Linkbuds Fit offer rich and punchy sound, naturalistic transparency mode, and a light and comfy fit, helping them live up to their intent as a “wear anywhere” solution. They provide some solid features, but skimp on battery life with just 5.5 hours per charge, and their noise canceling is just OK. Their oddly unresponsive touch controls and reliance on flimsy silicone sleeves further diminish their value, but they're still Sony buds and could be worth nabbing on a good sale.
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Headphone Guide Pro
headphoneguidepro.com › home › how to use touch control on galaxy buds live?
How to use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live? - Headphone Guide Pro
November 28, 2021 - This guide explains how to use touch control on Galaxy Buds Live to control music playing, answer or reject calls, and how to customize tap and hold gesture.
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CNET
cnet.com › tech › mobile › headphones › samsung galaxy buds live: 8 tips and tricks to get the most out of your new earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: 8 tips and tricks to get the most out of your new earbuds - CNET
August 28, 2020 - How to choose the best earbuds ... where you can go to change the long-press action for each earbud. Open the Wearable app and tap on Touch controls....
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Gadget Hacks
samsung.gadgethacks.com › news › samsung-galaxy-buds-4-pro-design-revealed-in-ui-85-leak
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Design Revealed in UI 8.5 Leak << Samsung :: Gadget Hacks
November 21, 2025 - It also adds an accessibility layer for those who benefit from touch-free controls. The key will be calibration. Sony provides sensitivity settings in its app that can reduce accidental triggers, and I expect Samsung to offer similar protection options and per-gesture customization so users can choose what feels natural. Even with the design shift, core staples from the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro should return: adaptive active noise cancellation, multi-point connectivity, and seamless device handoff in Samsung's ecosystem.
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Samsung Community
d2z8fvypt29s4a.cloudfront.net › t5 › Galaxy-Buds › Galaxy-Buds-touch-controls › td-p › 2647896
Solved: Galaxy Buds touch controls - Samsung Community - 2647896
September 5, 2023 - The touch controls on Galaxy Buds should be more customizable. You should be able to choose what each command does instead of just being able to toggle commands on/off. For instance being able to change single tap to volume up/down per ear. Or being able to set double tap on your right ear as nex...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/samsung › galaxy buds touch controls suck
r/samsung on Reddit: Galaxy Buds touch controls suck
August 22, 2022 -

I have some Buds2 and the touch controls more often trigger by mistake than when I'm trying to actually use them. My wearables app is up to date and there is no update due on my Buds, but Jesus Christ these controls are clunky. I always have to touch my buds several times before they actually pause/play. But when I'm just adjusting them in my ear suddenly the touch controls are super sensitive and it will turn on the ambient noise mode.

I don't know how they will fix a hardware issue with software updates, but I am very disappointed in the functionality of these earbuds and hope Samsung addresses this issue.

Normally I don't like it when Samsung copies Apple, but maybe the next buds should have a piece sticking out of them just for these controls. When I owned AirPods the pause button/noise cancelation on the bar always worked just fine.

Does anybody else feel the same way?

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Amazon
amazon.com › SAMSUNG-Wireless-Bluetooth-Wing-Tip-Assistant › dp › B0CF7GYNW2
Amazon.com: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, Comfort and Secure in Ear Fit, Auto Switch Audio, Touch Control, Built-in Voice Assistant, Graphite [US Version, 1Yr Manufacturer Warranty] : Electronics
PAIRS EASILY WITH YOUR GALAXY: Galaxy Buds FE pair easily to your other Galaxy devices through your Samsung account; Just open the case, tap to connect² and your paired Buds FE show up in your list of devices · AUDIO THAT SWITCHES AUTOMATICALLY: With Auto Switch³, Buds FE connect to whatever device you need so you don’t miss a beat; Stream a movie on your Tab — if a call comes through on your phone, you can answer through your Buds FE · EASILY CONTROL WITH A TAP: With clearly defined areas for tapping and gripping, it’s easy to secure them, pause the audio and change the volume with a simple tap; The areas even look and feel different so your finger can find them easily
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RTINGS
rtings.com › home › headphones › reviews › samsung › galaxy buds3 pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Review - RTINGS.com
December 6, 2024 - The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are the 2024 follow-up to the previous Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, as the brand's top-of-the-line buds are mainly aimed at the Android...
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Mozilla Support
support.mozilla.org › en-US › questions › 1410934
Galaxy Buds Live Touch Controls Not Working
JavaScript is disabled in your browser · Please enable JavaScript to proceed · A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser
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Yahoo!
currently.att.yahoo.com › att › samsung-galaxy-buds-3-drops-233055378.html
Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3 drops to $75 at Woot
September 2, 2025 - Add in intuitive touch controls and seamless multi-device connection, and you’ve got a pair of earbuds that blend cutting-edge tech with everyday convenience. The Galaxy Buds 3 feature a new open-type design that provides a comfortable fit while keeping you aware of your surroundings. They also offer richer sounds, thanks to their boosted speakers that support ultra-high-quality audio playback. ... Need help on the go? Galaxy AI translates conversations live, making travel and calls easier than ever.