How to Use the Sound Recognition Feature in iOS 14

This guide explains how to use the Sound Recognition Feature in iOS 14, with clear steps, practical tips, and important checks before you begin.

Here's how to enable Sound Recognition on devices running iOS 14? or ? iPadOS 14? .

Turn on Sound Recognition on iPhone and iPad

Step 1. Launch the Settings application on the device.

Step 2. Click Accessibility.

Step 3. In the Hearing section , select Sound Recognition.

Select Sound Recognition

Step 4. Switch the Sound Recognition switch to the green ON position and wait a moment for the download feature. Note that enabling the option requires 5.5 MB of storage space on the device.

Step 5. Click Sounds.

Step 6. Select the sound you want your device to listen to by turning on the switch next to each option.

Select the sound you want your device to listen to

When the feature is turned on, ?iPhone? or ?iPad? will continuously listen to the sound you have chosen and use your intelligence on the device, then notify you when those sounds are recognized.

Add Sound Recognition to the Control Center

Once Sound Recognition is turned on, you can add it to your device's Control Center to make it easier to turn on and off.

Step 1. Launch the Settings application on ?iPhone? or ?iPad?.

Step 2. Click Control Center.

Step 3. In the More Controls section, click the green plus ( + ) button next to Sound Recognition to add it to the Included Controls list. You can use the hamburger handles on the right side of the list to arrange them in the desired order.

Click the green + button next to Sound Recognition to add it to the Included Controls list

When you're done, you can access the Sound Recognition button by launching Control Center on your iOS device (on ??iPad?? or with the Home button, double-clicking the Home button; on ??iPhone?? 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and on an iPad Pro 2018 or ??iPhone?? X or later, swipe down from the top right of the screen).

Press the Sound Recognition button to enable or disable the feature. You can also press and hold the button to change the sound the device will listen.