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Use Apple’s built-in Live Listen feature: your iPhone picks up sound through its microphone and sends it to connected, compatible AirPods. Put the iPhone near the person or sound you want to hear, then listen through your AirPods. You do not need a separate app for this setup.
Turn on Live Listen from Control Center
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Connect your compatible AirPods to your iPhone and wear one or both earbuds.
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Open Control Center and tap Live Listen. If the control is missing, add it using Control Center’s controls editor, then return to Control Center and tap it.
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If your interface shows a Hearing Devices control instead, open it, choose your AirPods, and tap Live Listen.
#1 Best Overall
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds | Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat & Water Resistant, USB-C Charging Case, H2 Chip- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
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Place your iPhone close to the person or sound source. Adjust the iPhone volume if needed.
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When you are done, return to the Live Listen control and turn the session off.
Rank #2
Sale
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation | Live Translation, Heart Rate Sensing, Hearing Aid Feature, Bluetooth Headphones, Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Apple also documents this route: Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Live Listen > Start Live Listen. If you have configured the Accessibility Shortcut, it can also take you to Hearing Devices and Live Listen. Labels and Control Center layouts may vary by iOS version and your customizations. See Apple’s current iPhone instructions or AirPods instructions if your screen looks different.
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Live Listen uses the iPhone microphone, so the iPhone—not just the AirPods—needs to be near the person or sound source. The feature is intended for situations such as hearing a conversation in a noisy place or across a room. Apple does not specify a guaranteed operating range, latency, or audio-quality level, so treat it as a situational listening aid rather than a professional wireless microphone system.
Rank #3
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Check compatibility
Apple’s current iPhone User Guide lists AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, and Powerbeats Fit for Live Listen, and specifies iOS 14.3 or later for those AirPods or Beats. The headphones must be connected to the iPhone. Not every generation is necessarily supported; check Apple’s current compatibility information for your exact model. If you already have supported AirPods connected, the documented setup requires no separate app or accessory.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Optional: show Live Captions
Apple says Live Captions for Live Listen requires iOS 26 or later. Captions are not available in all languages, countries, or regions, and Apple cautions that accuracy may vary. Do not rely on them in high-risk or emergency situations. Details are in Apple’s Live Listen guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
Rank #4
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- Easy setup for all your Apple devices
- Quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
- Double-tap to play or skip forward
- New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices
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