iPad comes with built-in tools designed to help you hear better—or stay connected without hearing a sound.
With Live Captions, you can get a transcription of audio from any app, and from live conversations around you. iPad can also listen for your name or for sounds like a doorbell and alert you, and you can make Real-Time Text (RTT) calls. There are transcriptions of audio messages and podcasts, too, and you can pair MFi hearing devices and make audio adjustments. Siri can even announce notifications and calls on your MFi hearing devices.
To explore accessibility features for hearing, go to Settings > Accessibility, then scroll down to the Hearing section.
Use alternatives to sound
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Get real-time captions of spoken audio
With Live Captions, get a transcription of the audio from any app and from live conversations around you.
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Customize subtitles and captions
Change how subtitles look. Or instead of standard subtitles, use closed captions and SDH when available.
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Get notified if someone says your name
With Name Recognition, have iPad listen for your name and alert you when it recognizes it.
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Get notified about sounds around you
With Sound Recognition, have iPad listen for sounds—such as a doorbell or your siren—and alert you when it recognizes them.
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Type to Siri
Type your Siri requests instead of speaking them.
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Make Real-Time Text (RTT) calls
Type to communicate on calls. The person you’re talking to sees your message as you type it.
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Blink the iPad light for notifications
If you can’t hear your alerts, get notified visually.
You can also get transcriptions of audio messages, HomePod Intercom messages, and podcasts.
Use hearing devices and make audio adjustments
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Hearing devices
Pair Made for iPad (MFi) hearing aids or sound processors with iPad and adjust their settings.
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Live Listen
Stream sound from the iPad microphone to your MFi hearing devices or AirPods.
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Audio balance
Play stereo audio as mono, adjust left-right stereo balance, and more.
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AirPods
Set accessibility options for AirPods and other Apple headphones paired with your iPad.
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Background sounds
Have your iPad play ambient sounds—such as ocean waves or rain—to help you focus or rest.
You can also have Siri announce notifications and calls on your MFi hearing devices.
Quick tip: The click of a button or Control Center can control your go-to accessibility features and settings; see our guide, Quickly open features with Accessibility Shortcut.
See also
