How To Set Up And Use iOS 12 Live Listen Feature With AirPods

With iOS 12 set to arrive in a matter of weeks, one of the best yet little-known features is the ability to use AirPods as a hearing aid of sorts. The new feature, dubbed Live Listen, will be available to any device with iOS 12 and a pair of AirPods connected.

Using the magic of wireless connectivity, the AirPods can be used as one half a remote microphone, perfect for placing your iPhone near a subject who you need to listen to with the AirPods in your ear acting as, well, AirPods.

We envisage this being a great feature for anyone who is hard of hearing and wants to make sure they never miss part of a conversation at a meeting or in a busy restaurant, and if you already have the AirPods and an iPhone in-hand, this is a solution that you already own.

Here’s how you make it all work.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Control Center.

Step 2: Select Customize Control Center.

Step 3: Next up, tap the “+” icon next to the Hearing entry. This will add the Hearing toggle to Control Center.

Step 4: Open Control Center and you will notice a new icon that looks like an ear. You’re going to need that in a moment.

Step 5: Take your AirPods and put them in your ears and wait for the familiar chime that tells you the pairing process is complete.

Step 6: Tap on that new ear icon in Control Center.

Step 7: Your AirPods will now appear with a label that indicates Live Listen is currently Off. Tap on it to activate the feature.

Step 8: Now lock your iPhone and place it near whoever you need to hear and you’re all done.

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