How to use Headphone Accommodations on iPhone and iPad

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Beginning with iOS 14 and continuing with iOS 15, you can amplify soft sounds and adjust specific frequencies for your hearing needs. Headphone Accommodations is available on iPhone and iPad with select audio devices. Here's how it works on the best iPhones and best iPads.

Supported audio products

Headphone Accommodations are available for the following Apple and Beats audio products:

  • AirPods Max
  • Apple EarPods (with 3.5 mm Headphone Plug or Lightning Connector)
  • AirPods (2nd generation)
  • AirPods Pro
  • Powerbeats
  • Powerbeats Pro
  • Beats Solo Pro

Setting up Headphone Accommodations

You can set up Headphone Accommodations by following these steps:

  1. Tap the Settings app on your device, making sure your supported device is connected.
  2. Select Accessibility.
  3. Scroll down, choose Audio/Visual under Hearing.

To set up Headphone Accommodations, tap the Settings app, then choose Accessibility. Tap Audio/Visual under Hearing. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Choose Headphone Accommodations at the top.
  2. Toggle on Headphone Accommodations.
  3. Choose how you want to apply your custom audio settings. You can turn on Phone to apply these settings to phone calls, FaceTime calls, and any third-party video call apps or turn on Media to apply these settings to music, movies, podcasts, audiobooks, Siri, voicemail, and Live Listen.

Customizing audio

The first step with Headphone Accommodations is performing headphone audio customization. On the same page as noted above:

  1. Tap Custom Audio Setup.
  2. Choose Continue.
  3. Select Don't Use Audiogram.

To customize audio, tap Custom Audio Setup, then choose Continue. Select Don't Use Audiogram. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Continue.
  2. Follow the on-screen directions to test your hearing.

To customize audio, tap continue and follow the on-screen directions to test your hearing. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Choose Use Custom Settings or Use Standard Settings, depending on the recommended settings on the screen.
  2. Tap Done.

To customize audio, choose Use Custom Settings or Use Standard Settings, depending on the result of the test. Tap Done. (Image credit: iMore)

Manually adjust

You can also manually adjust the audio settings at any time.

  1. Tap the Settings app on your device, making sure your supported device is connected.
  2. Select Accessibility.
  3. Scroll down, choose Audio/Visual under Hearing.
  4. Adjust the Balance slider.

To manually adjust audio, tap the Settings app, then choose Accessibility. Choose Audio/Visual. Adjust the Balance slide. (Image credit: iMore)

Those are the steps to adjust Headphone Accommodations for select Apple and Beats products. When activated, they should make your music listening even better.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.