Apple has a feature called Sound Recognition that can help people who don’t hear well identify sounds around them. Your iPhone or iPad will continuously listen for certain sounds and notify you when it recognizes one, like a doorbell, a smoke alarm, or a dog barking.
The sound recognition is done on the device itself. Audio is not transmitted to Apple. This feature works on iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 or later.
Important: as of iOS 18, Sound Recognition no longer disables “Hey Siri.” In earlier versions it did, but Apple has since updated the feature so both can work at the same time.
How to turn on Sound Recognition
Go to Settings.
Go to Accessibility.
Tap Sound Recognition.
Turn the feature on. The first time you enable it, your device will download a small file (about 5 megabytes).
You will then have the option of selecting what sounds you would like your device to alert you to. You can check off as many as you’d like, and your iPhone or iPad will give you a notification whenever it hears those sounds.
Tip: you can also quickly turn this feature on or off from within Control Center.
Custom sounds
Starting with iOS 16, Apple added the ability to train Sound Recognition to listen for custom sounds specific to your home. This means if you have a unique doorbell, a specific appliance tone, or any other recurring sound, you can train your device to recognize it. You do this from the same Sound Recognition settings screen by choosing Custom Alarm or Custom Appliance or Device.
Sounds Apple devices can listen for
Below is the list of categories and sounds. Apple has expanded this list since the feature first launched.
Alarms: Fire, Siren, Smoke
Animals: Cat, Dog
Household: Appliances, Car Horn, Doorbell, Door Knock, Water Running
People: Baby Crying, Coughing, Shouting
Apple continues to add more sounds over time, so check back if you don’t see what you’re looking for.
FAQ
Does Sound Recognition work with headphones on?
Yes. This is actually one of its best uses. If you have headphones on and would like to be alerted to sounds you don’t want to miss, Sound Recognition can notify you.
Does it disable “Hey Siri”?
Not anymore. In earlier iOS versions it did, but Apple has since updated the feature so both can work at the same time.
Can I train it to recognize sounds specific to my home?
Yes. Starting with iOS 16, you can train custom sounds like a unique doorbell or appliance tone.
Should I rely on this in emergencies?
Apple says you should not rely on Sound Recognition in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, in high-risk or emergency situations, or for navigation. It is a helpful extra layer, not a substitute for dedicated safety equipment.
Final remarks
In spite of Apple’s disclaimer, I think you will find this a nice feature to help you stay alert to your surroundings. I find that it works great if you are distracted but would like an extra set of ears to help you out.
With that I will sign off for now.
Qapla!
I think this will help many hard-of-hearing people, I will be waiting to test this with my friend.