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How to recognize sounds using iPad

Your iPad can continuously listen for certain sounds—such as a doorbell, siren, or crying baby—and notify you when it recognizes these sounds. With Sound Recognition, iPad can also recognize a custom alarm, appliance, or doorbell you set up, if it isn’t recognized automatically.

Once it’s on, iPad may need a moment to download the available sounds on your device. You can turn Sound Recognition on or off quickly from Control Center, too, and even use iPad as a remote microphone with Live Listen.

Note: Don’t rely on your iPad to recognize sounds in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, in high-risk or emergency situations, or for navigation.

Set up Sound Recognition

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Sound & Name Recognition, tap Sound Recognition, and turn on Sound Recognition.

    Note: After you turn on Sound Recognition, you may need to wait for iPad to download the available sounds on your device.

  3. Tap Sounds, then turn on the sounds you want iPad to recognize.

Quick tip: Add Sound Recognition to Control Center to quickly turn it on or off.

Add a custom alarm, appliance, or doorbell

When a custom alarm, appliance, or doorbell isn’t recognized automatically, you can set up iPad to recognize it.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Sound & Name Recognition and tap Sound Recognition. Tap Sounds.
  3. Tap Custom Alarm or Custom Appliance or Doorbell and enter a name.
  4. When your alarm, appliance, or doorbell is ready, place iPad near the sound and minimize background noise.
  5. Tap Start Listening, then follow the onscreen instructions.

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