How to Enable Background Sounds on Your iPhone
Welcome back to Mondays With Megan, our weekly series from EasyIT where we share practical tech tips to help you get the most out of your devices. This week, Megan walks us through a hidden iPhone feature that many people don’t know about: Background Sounds.
If you’ve ever wanted to turn your iPhone into a white noise machine without downloading extra apps, this built‑in tool is for you.
What Are Background Sounds on iPhone?
Background Sounds is an accessibility feature in iOS designed to help reduce distractions and create a calming environment. Whether you need white noise to help you concentrate at work, soothing ocean sounds to relax, or gentle rain to help a baby fall asleep, your iPhone can play these sounds directly in the background.
The best part? You don’t need to install any third‑party apps. It’s already built into your iPhone.
How to Enable Background Sounds on iPhone
Here’s a step‑by‑step guide Megan shares in the video:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Under the Hearing section, select Audio & Visual.
- Tap Background Sounds.
- Toggle the switch to turn it on.
- Choose your preferred sound — white noise, ocean, rain, etc.
- Adjust the volume and whether you want it to play when media is on or only when the phone is idle.
That’s it! Your iPhone is now a portable white noise machine.
Why Use Background Sounds?
There are several great reasons you might want to use this feature:
- Focus at work: Block out distracting office chatter.
- Relaxation: Use calming sounds to wind down after a long day.
- Sleep aid: Help yourself or your baby fall asleep more easily.
- On the go: Perfect for travel, especially on planes or in noisy environments.
Pro Tips from EasyIT
- Pair Background Sounds with AirPods or headphones for a more immersive experience.
- Adjust volume levels so the sounds are soothing without being overwhelming.
- Combine with Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode for maximum productivity.
Final Thoughts
Your iPhone is more than just a phone—it’s a powerful tool with hidden features that can make everyday life easier. With Background Sounds, you can create a calmer, more focused environment anytime, anywhere.
Be sure to check out the full video on YouTube here: Watch on YouTube
And don’t forget to subscribe to the EasyIT YouTube channel for more quick and helpful tech tips every Monday with Megan.
