How to Use Your AirPods as Hearing Assistants

Connecting the AirPods to an iPhone or iPad

Unlock the screen of your iPhone or iPad. If your AirPods are already connected to your phone or tablet, skip to Enabling Live Listening.

Hold your AirPods close to your iPhone or iPad. In a few seconds, the ″AirPods″ window will appear on the screen.

Tap Connect. The word ″Done″ will appear once the AirPods are connected.

Tap Done.

Enabling Live Listening

Open your Settings iPhone Settings App Icon. You’ll usually find it on the home screen.

Scroll down and tap Control Center. It’s in the third group of settings.

Tap Customize Controls.

Scroll down and tap Hearing. It’s under the ″MORE CONTROLS″ header. You can now quickly access Live Listening from the Control Center.

Using Live Listen in a Conversation

Open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad. If you’re using an iPhone X, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. Other iPhone and iPad users should swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Tap and hold the audio/music square. It’s the square at the top-right corner of the Control Center.

Tap the sound icon. It’s the triangle with several rounded lines at the top-right corner of the screen.

Select your AirPods. All sound on your iPhone or iPad will now be routed through your AirPods.

Tap a blank area on the screen to return to the Control Center.

Tap the Live Listen icon. It’s the ear icon at the bottom of the Control Center.

Tap Live Listen. Live Listen is now enabled.

Aim the bottom of your iPhone or iPad toward the sound or person you want to hear. Get as close as you can to the source of the sound. Now that the microphone is pointed at the source, your iPhone or iPad will strip out most other ambient sounds so you can hear the desired sound/conversation more clearly. Use your iPhone or iPad’s volume controls to adjust the sound to your liking.

Disable Live Listen when you’re finished. To turn it off, return to the Control Center, tap the ear icon again, and then tap Live Listen.