Live Listen turns your iPhone into a remote microphone that streams audio directly to your AirPods or other supported hearing devices. It's tucked away in Control Center and most people have no idea it exists.

How to use it

1. Go to Settings → Control Center and add Hearing if it's not already there
2. Connect your AirPods
3. Open Control Center and tap the Hearing icon (ear symbol)
4. Tap Live Listen to start streaming

Place your iPhone near the sound source — your AirPods become a personal amplifier from across the room.

Real-world story

At my Nono's funeral, my Nona couldn't hear any of the eulogies. I quickly set up Live Listen on my phone with my AirPods and placed the phone near the speakers, allowing her to hear everything clearly through my AirPods. It saved the day and let her participate in honoring my grandfather's memory.

Good to know

• Works with AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Beats Fit Pro, and MFi hearing devices
• You can start a Live Listen session on your iPhone and control it remotely from a paired Apple Watch
• As of iOS 26, real-time transcription also appears on screen while Live Listen is active

For more details, see Apple's guide on Live Listen.