You can stream sound from the microphone on iPad to your MFi hearing devices, AirPods or supported Beats headphones. This can help you hear better in some situations—for example, when having a conversation in a noisy environment.
With iPad near the sound source, sounds around you become louder. During a Live Listen session, you can view Live Captions in real time, go back 10 seconds to catch something you missed, or skip back to the live audio.
Note: Live Captions in Live Listen isn’t available in all languages, countries, or regions. The accuracy of Live Captions may vary and shouldn’t be relied upon in high-risk or emergency situations. To use Live Listen with your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, or Powerbeats Fit, you need an iPad with iPadOS 14.3 or later. To use Live Captions with Live Listen, you need an iPad with iPadOS 26 or later.
Use iPad as a remote microphone with Live Listen
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Do one of the following:
- If you’re using a hearing device: Wear your hearing device and make sure it’s paired to your iPad.
- If you’re using AirPods or Beats: Wear one or both of your AirPods or your Beats and make sure they’re connected to your iPad.
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To turn on Live Listen, do one of the following:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Live Listen, then tap Start Live Listen.
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Open Control Center, then tap the Live Listen button.
If you don’t see the Live Listen button, add it to Control Center. See Customize controls.
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Open Control Center, tap the Hearing Devices button, tap your hearing device or AirPods, then tap Live Listen.
If you don’t see the Hearing Devices button, add it to Control Center. See Customize controls.
- If you’ve set up the Accessibility Shortcut, triple-click the top button or Home button, tap Hearing Devices, then tap Live Listen.
- If you’re using hearing aids, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices, then turn on Live Listen.
- Position iPad near the sound source. Sounds around you will become louder.
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In Control Center, tap the Live Listen button and tap Live Listen. Then do any of the following:
- View Live Captions: View captions of the Live Listen session in real time.
- Rewind: Tap the Go Back 10 Seconds button to go back to something that may have been missed.
- Skip forward: Tap the Skip Back to Live button to go back to the live audio.
- Stop Live Listen: Tap the Live Listen switch button to stop the Live Listen session.
Control a Live Listen session with another nearby device
From another nearby Apple device signed in to the same Apple Account, such as another iPhone or iPad, you’re able to remotely start, stop, or jump back in on a Live Listen session on your iPad. The text appears on that device in real time as your iPad picks up audio, so you can follow along on either one.
To use Live Listen on multiple devices, start a Live Listen session, then start a session on your second device.
See also
