Isn’t live listening working on your iPhone or iPad? Does this invite you to ‘Connect a compatible audio device to use live listening’ even though your AirPods are connected to your iOS device? This is most likely due to a software issue and you can probably fix it by following the tips in this article!
Live listening requirements
First, make sure your hardware and software are compatible with the live listening feature. According to Apple, you must use compatible devices like an iPhone or iPad and supported headphones: AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2 and AirPods Max. Beats headphones are also supported.
Important: Live listening is not supported by Apple Watch! This means that you cannot use your watchOS device as a baby monitor or redirect the iPhone microphone to your Apple Watch speaker! Unfortunately, the same is true for Mac. Live listening is currently not available in macOS Big Sur!
Made: Of course, this live listening also works with hearing aids designed for iPhone, as it was originally supposed to!
What is live listening?
This is an accessibility feature that allows you to route audio captured by the iPhone’s microphone to a compatible headset. It comes to help those who have hearing problems. The feature is also popular because it allows owners to use the iPhone for spying!
5 ways to solve live listening demands
We are not counting this one, but please make sure your device is running the most recent version of iOS / iPadOS!
1. Force close unnecessary applications
Live listening can be blocked by an app running in the background, such as the Podcast player. First of all, make sure to close any apps you don’t need!
How? ‘Or’ What: Open the app switcher and swipe the cards from apps that might interfere. An example would be Podcasts.
2. Restart the iPhone
The first troubleshooting step involves force restarting your iPhone and seeing if a small problem is preventing Live Listen from working as it should.
How? ‘Or’ What: Click and release quickly Turn up the sound, Lower the volume followed by a long press on the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen!
Please be patient until the iPhone restarts. Provide your Password, check the Bluetooth settings, and make sure your AirPods are connected. Then open the Control Center and press the Audience icon. Start listening live! Does it work?
3. Forget and pair AirPods
If live listening doesn’t work after restarting, your next option is to unpair your AirPods and reconnect them with your iPhone.
How? ‘Or’ What: Open Settings -> Bluetooth. Tap the blue “i” icon available next to [AirPods name]. Now use the Forget this device option.
Then restart your iPhone as recommended in step 1 and re-pair your AirPods. Try to see if the live listening works.
4. Activate automatic ear detection
Another way to correct live listening is to turn on Automatic ear detection, if it is not already active for your AirPods.
How? ‘Or’ What: Go for Settings -> Bluetooth. Press the ‘I’ beside the [AirPods name] and activate Automatic ear detection. Does it help? Use the comments section available at the end of this article and let us know.
5. Activate hearing aid compatibility
The issue of live listening not working can also be caused by a missing accessibility setting. Don’t get me wrong, it should work fine without it, but I’m trying to approach this issue from all angles.
How? ‘Or’ What: Search Settings -> Accessibility -> Hearing aids -> Hearing aid compatibility.
Made: This setting is intended to improve the audio quality of some hearing aids, but it can also correct live listening!
Made: From iOS 14, you can also check the audio levels of your headphones in real time! This is done from the Audition toggle available in the Control Center. Tap to access detailed decibel level readings.
Did the above tips help you fix AirPods live listening? Use the comments section available below and let us know. Do you need more help? Do not hesitate to ask!
Listen live on Mac
As mentioned above, this feature is not available in macOS. However, there is a workaround that allows you to reroute the audio captured by the computer microphone to the headphones. This is achieved with the help of the built-in QuickTime Player application.
How? ‘Or’ What: Launch the application from Finder -> Applications. Click on Deposit, available in the upper left corner and select New audio recording.
Use the volume bar available in the audio recording window to increase the audio intensity!
Related: You might also want to know how to fix AirPods auto switching not working!