If you have AirPods or certain Beats headphones, the Live Listen feature on your iPhone can be a game-changer for those with hearing difficulties. Live Listen essentially turns your AirPods into a hearing aid by using your iPhone’s microphone to capture sound from your environment and amplify it to your AirPods.
Before you get started, make sure that your devices are compatible. You’ll need an iOS or iPadOS 14.3 or newer, and any AirPods (including the regular old AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max) or select Beats products.
Setting up Live Listen is relatively simple. Go to Settings on your iPhone and navigate to Control Center. Add the Hearing icon to the top part of the active included controls. Once you’ve done that, you can access Live Listen from the Control Center.
Live Listen is great for amplifying voices while drowning out background noise and other distractions. It’s not quite as powerful as an actual hearing aid, but it is a helpful alternative that can be used in a variety of situations.
One of the most significant advantages of Live Listen is that your iPhone doesn’t have to be in the same location as your AirPods. For example, if you’re having trouble hearing the television, you can place your iPhone near the TV or even point the microphone directly at the speaker to get better sound in your AirPods.
Other potential uses include using it as a baby monitor or a listening device in another room. You can also use Live Listen at a meeting or conference if you’re having trouble hearing the speaker. Simply point your iPhone toward the speaker or the person speaking, and it may improve your ability to hear what they’re saying.
Remember that the microphone on your iPhone is located along the bottom and should be pointed in the direction of the sound source for optimal performance.
Overall, Live Listen is a valuable feature for those with hearing difficulties. It’s easy to set up and can be used in a variety of situations. Give it a try, and you may be surprised at how much it improves your ability to participate in conversations.