How To Check Decibel Level On iPhone?

Both iPhone and Apple Watch include features that monitor environmental and headphone noise levels to protect against hearing damage. 

These tools can quickly and easily measure decibel levels and provide noise threshold alerts, helping users know when to lower the volume, use hearing protection, or exit a noisy environment.

What is considered a dangerous noise level?

A dangerous noise level depends on the intensity and duration of exposure.

According to Apple, repeated long-term exposure to sounds above 80 dB can cause permanent hearing damage. 

Below are some examples of how noise levels and exposure times relate to potential hearing loss:

  • 80 dB: Safe for up to 5 hours and 30 minutes

  • 85 dB: Safe for up to 1 hour and 45 minutes

  • 90 dB: Safe for up to 30 minutes

  • 95 dB: Safe for just 10 minutes

  • 100 dB: Only a few minutes before potential damage

How do you check decibel levels with an iPhone?

While the Apple Watch Noise app is unavailable on iPhone, you can still monitor headphone decibel levels. Follow these steps:

  • Open the Settings app, then go to Control Center.
  • If the Hearing control isn’t already added, find it under “More Controls” and tap the green “+” icon.
Hearing control
  • Connect your headphones to your iPhone.
  • Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open Control Center and locate the ear icon. This will display the headphone dB levels.
  • To receive notifications for loud headphone sounds, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Notifications.
  • To limit loud sounds, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety, and turn on “Reduce Loud Sounds.”

How can you monitor ambient decibel levels with an iPhone?

With headphones connected, you can also measure ambient decibel levels using Live Listen.

  • Open Control Center and tap the ear icon.

  • Tap the Live Listen option to activate your headphones’ microphone, allowing you to monitor the ambient noise around you.

How do you check decibel levels with an Apple Watch?

Apple Watch can monitor both ambient and headphone noise levels. For ambient sound, use the dedicated Noise app:

1. Open the Noise app on your watch (or activate it through the iPhone Watch app).

2. If using it for the first time, enable the feature when prompted.

3. Learn more about the noise exposure by tapping “Learn More” at the bottom of the app.

4. To get quicker access to decibel readings, add the Noise complication to your watch face.

5. If you didn’t enable noise notifications during setup, you can adjust this by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to Noise > Noise Threshold.

    How can you check headphone decibel levels with Apple Watch?

    1. Open the Control Center on the Apple Watch by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

    2. Scroll down and tap the ear icon to view decibel levels for headphones.

      How do Apple Watch noise warnings appear?

      When noise levels exceed safe limits, Apple Watch will alert you with warnings, helping you avoid harmful noise exposure.

      These warnings make it easier to take action and protect your hearing.

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