11 Tips to Maximize the Use of iOS 15 Background Sounds

Apple's iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 introduce a new feature called Background Sounds, which aims to minimize distractions and mask environmental noises, helping users to focus, relax, or even sleep better. If you're excited about this feature, here are some helpful tips to get the most out of Background Sounds, including sounds like rain, ocean, and more.

Tips for Using Background Sounds on iOS

1. Enable or Disable Background Sounds

To start hearing the soothing background noises on your iPhone or iPad, you first need to enable the Background Sounds setting. Simply navigate to iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds. Toggle the switch next to Background Sounds to turn it on. The currently selected sound will begin playing. To stop hearing the background sounds, simply toggle the switch off.

2. Choose Your Preferred Background Sound

iOS 15 offers six different sound types to choose from. These include Balanced Noise, Bright Noise, Dark Noise, Ocean, Rain, and Stream. To switch between these sounds, go to iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds and tap on Sound. Then, select the sound you want to play.

3. Adjust the Volume of Background Sounds

Apple provides a separate volume control for Background Sounds, allowing you to adjust the volume independently of the device volume. You can find this option under iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds.

4. Change the Volume Using Physical Buttons

In addition to adjusting the volume through the settings, you can also change the volume of background sounds using the physical volume buttons on your device. This convenient method works from any screen, including the lock screen.

5. Listen to Background Sounds While Playing Other Media

By default, when you play media (audio or video) on your iPhone or iPad, the background sounds will stop. However, you can override this behavior and continue listening to the background sounds while other media is being played. Simply enable the toggle switch next to Use when media is playing within the Background Sounds setting.

6. Adjust the Background Sounds Volume While Playing Media

Enabling the above tip allows you to adjust the volume of the background sounds while other media is playing. Look for the Volume with media option just below the Use when media is playing toggle. This feature lets you prioritize the volume of either the background sound or the media you're playing, depending on your preference.

7. Use Background Sounds Offline

The six native background sounds can be enjoyed even without an internet connection or when your phone is in Airplane mode. However, make sure to download the sounds once before going offline. To do this, tap on the sound you want to download within the Sounds section of the Background Sounds settings. If a red remove icon appears next to the sound, it means it has been successfully downloaded and can be played offline.

8. Stop Background Sounds on the Lock Screen

If you prefer the background sounds to stop when your device is locked, you can enable this behavior in the settings. Open the Background Sounds setting and scroll down to find the toggle switch next to Stop sounds when locked. Toggle it on to activate this feature.

9. Add Background Sounds to Control Center

For quick access and management of background sounds, you can add a shortcut to Control Center. Follow these steps to add and use the shortcut:

1. Open Settings and go to Control Center.
2. Look for the Hearing option under the Included controls section. If it's already there, move on to the next step. If not, scroll down and tap on the green + icon next to Hearing under the More Controls section to add it.
3. Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad and tap on the ear button. This will reveal options to customize the background sound:
   • Press the Background Sounds option to change the sound.
   • Adjust the volume using the available slider.
   • Tap the blue Background Sounds button at the bottom to turn it on and off.

10. Enable or Disable Background Sounds Using Accessibility Shortcut

To quickly enable or disable background sounds, you can create an accessibility shortcut. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and enable Background Sounds. Now, by pressing the Home or side button (depending on your device model) three times, you can easily turn background sounds on or off from any screen. You can also keep multiple accessibility services enabled for the shortcut, giving you the option to choose which service to activate when you press the button.

11. Add a Background Sounds Shortcut to the Home Screen

To add a Background Sounds shortcut directly to your iPhone's home screen, you'll need to install the Apple Shortcuts app. Once installed, follow these steps:

1. Open the Shortcuts app and go to the Shortcuts tab.
2. Tap the + icon at the top to create a new shortcut. Give it a name, such as “Rain Sound.”
3. Tap Add action and search for Background Sound.
4. Select Set Background Sounds.
5. Tap the hamburger icon and choose Add to Home Screen.
6. Tap Add. The shortcut will now appear on your home screen.

By default, this shortcut will enable background sounds and play the currently selected sound. If you want to create a separate shortcut to disable background sounds, repeat steps 1-4. Once on the shortcut screen, tap On and change it to Off. Then, follow steps 5 and 6 to add it to the home screen.

These tips will help you make the most of Background Sounds on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. While you can't download or add custom sounds to Background Sounds, you can explore other methods to generate background or white noise on your iPhone. Additionally, you can check out the best white noise apps available for iPhone.