Embodiments disclosed herein include a headphone device which operates in various modes applying different gesture profiles based on various operational, playback, or environmental conditions. An example headphone device includes a first earbud and a second earbud communicatively coupled to each other. One or both of the earbuds include a touch-sensitive interface and a processor. The earbuds are configured to interpret a first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands while operating in a first mode. Upon detecting a change in an operational condition, one or both earbuds transition to a second mode where the earbuds are configured to interpret a second set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface as respective commands, different from the respective commands correlating to the first set of gestures to the touch-sensitive interface.