AirPods can work as hearing aids through two built-in features: Live Listen amplifies sound around you, and Conversation Boost makes voices clearer in noisy settings
Apple's Live Listen feature turns your AirPods into a remote microphone that picks up sound from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and sends it directly to your ears. Conversation Boost does something similar but is designed specifically for one-on-one conversations — it isolates the person speaking in front of you and reduces background noise. Neither feature is a replacement for a clinical hearing aid, but both can help you hear better in specific situations without buying separate equipment.
These features work on AirPods Pro (2nd generation), AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro (1st generation). Standard AirPods and AirPods (3rd generation) support Live Listen but not Conversation Boost. You'll need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running a recent operating system — iOS 17.1 or later, iPadOS 17.1 or later, or macOS Sonoma 14.1 or later.
Key Takeaways
- Live Listen uses your device's microphone to amplify sound in your environment and send it to your AirPods in real time.
- Conversation Boost isolates a single speaker's voice and reduces background noise, making it useful for one-on-one conversations in loud places.
- Both features are turned on through the Accessibility settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, not through the AirPods app.
- Live Listen works at a distance — you can place your iPhone on a table across a room and hear what the microphone picks up through your AirPods.
- These features work best for temporary hearing support; they are not a substitute for a hearing aid prescribed by an audiologist.
How to turn on Live Listen on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings, then go to Accessibility > Hearing Devices. Tap Live Listen. Make sure the toggle is switched on. Once Live Listen is enabled, you'll see a new control in your Control Center (swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones, or up from the bottom on older models). When you need to use it, open Control Center and tap the hearing icon, then select your AirPods from the list.
When you tap Live Listen in Control Center, your AirPods will start picking up sound from your device's microphone. You can place your iPhone or iPad anywhere in the room — on a table during a meeting, on a shelf in a classroom, or in your pocket during a conversation — and hear everything the microphone captures. The audio streams directly to your AirPods with minimal delay. You can adjust the volume using the volume buttons on your device or through the AirPods controls.
How to turn on Conversation Boost on AirPods Pro
Conversation Boost is available only on AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Pro (1st generation). On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices. Tap Conversation Boost and toggle it on. Unlike Live Listen, Conversation Boost activates automatically when you're wearing your AirPods and having a conversation.
When Conversation Boost is on, your AirPods use their microphones to pick up the voice of the person in front of you and amplify it while reducing sounds from the sides and behind. This is particularly useful in restaurants, coffee shops, or other noisy environments where background noise makes it hard to follow a single speaker. You don't need to do anything special to activate it — just wear your AirPods and the feature works on its own.
How to use Live Listen on Mac
On a Mac running macOS Sonoma or later, open System Settings, then go to Accessibility > Hearing. Toggle on Live Listen. The feature works the same way as on iPhone and iPad — your Mac's microphone becomes the audio source, and the sound streams to your AirPods.
This setup is useful if you're in a meeting or classroom and want to place your Mac closer to the speaker or presentation. You can control the volume through your Mac's volume controls or by using the volume buttons on your AirPods.
What Live Listen and Conversation Boost can and cannot do
Live Listen amplifies whatever sound your device's microphone picks up, which means it works well for conversations, lectures, and meetings where you can position your device near the sound source. It does not filter out background noise — if you're in a loud restaurant, you'll hear both the conversation and the noise. Conversation Boost, by contrast, is designed to filter out background noise and focus on one speaker's voice, but it only works when you're having a face-to-face conversation with someone in front of you.
Neither feature provides the customization of a clinical hearing aid. A hearing aid is programmed by an audiologist to match your specific hearing loss across different frequencies. Live Listen and Conversation Boost apply the same amplification to everyone, regardless of their hearing profile. They also don't work over distance the way hearing aids do — Live Listen requires your device to be within normal microphone range, and Conversation Boost only works when the speaker is directly in front of you.
When to use each feature
Use Live Listen when you need to hear something happening at a distance or in a specific location. Place your iPhone on a table during a meeting and hear the discussion through your AirPods. Set your iPad on a shelf in a classroom and listen to the lecture. Hold your device closer to a speaker at a presentation. Live Listen is flexible because you control where the microphone is positioned.
Use Conversation Boost when you're having a one-on-one conversation in a noisy environment. The feature works best when the other person is facing you and within a few feet. It's less useful in group conversations or when people are spread out around a room, because it isolates the voice directly in front of you and may make it harder to hear others.
Troubleshooting common issues
If Live Listen isn't working, make sure your AirPods are connected to your device and that you've enabled Live Listen in Accessibility settings. Check that your device's microphone is not muted or blocked. If you're using an older iPhone or iPad, confirm that you're running iOS 17.1 or later. Restart your device and reconnect your AirPods if the feature still doesn't work.
If Conversation Boost isn't activating, verify that you have AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or AirPods Pro (1st generation) — the feature doesn't work on other AirPods models. Make sure Conversation Boost is toggled on in Accessibility settings. If it's on but not working, try removing your AirPods and reconnecting them to your device. Conversation Boost also works better when you're wearing your AirPods properly and they're making good contact with your ears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Live Listen if I'm not in the same room as my device?
No. Live Listen uses your device's microphone, so you need to be within normal microphone range — usually a few feet away. You can't use Live Listen to hear something happening in another room or building. The feature is designed for situations where you can position your device near the sound source you want to hear.
Do Live Listen and Conversation Boost work with non-Apple devices?
No. Both features are built into Apple's operating systems and work only with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. They do not work with Android devices or other non-Apple platforms, even if you're using AirPods.
Will Live Listen drain my AirPods battery faster?
Yes. Live Listen keeps your AirPods actively receiving audio from your device, which uses more power than normal listening. Expect shorter battery life when using Live Listen for extended periods. Conversation Boost has a smaller impact on battery life because it uses the AirPods' own microphones rather than streaming audio from your device.
Can I use Live Listen in a classroom without the teacher knowing?
Technically yes, but you should check your school's policies first. Some schools have rules about recording or amplifying classroom audio. Using Live Listen to hear better is different from recording, but it's worth understanding your school's expectations before using it regularly.
What's the difference between these features and a real hearing aid?
A hearing aid is programmed by an audiologist to match your specific hearing loss. Live Listen and Conversation Boost apply the same amplification to everyone. Hearing aids also work continuously throughout the day and are designed to be worn all the time. These AirPods features are best for specific situations where you need temporary amplification, not as an all-day solution.