If you have second set of AirPods, or other compatible headphones, you can share audio from your iPhone with a friend. Here’s how the iPhone’s Share Audio feature works.
What Is Share Audio?
Share Audio is an iPhone feature that allows you to share your iPhone’s audio content with multiple sets of Bluetooth headphones—to be specific, it works using AirPlay.
While that’s pretty good news, there are some caveats. This feature only works through compatible headphones, which include:
AirPods Max AirPods Pro AirPods (1st generation) and newer Powerbeats Powerbeats Pro Solo Pro Beats Solo 3 Wireless Beats Studio3 Wireless BeatsX Beats Flex Beats Fit Pro
You can enjoy the feature as long as you’re using an iPhone 8 or a newer model. However, it should be running on iOS 13.1 or later. There’s a similar feature for Mac that allows you to listen through two pairs of headphones. What’s different is that you can use any two pairs of headphones to listen to audio on your Mac.
How to Share Audio on Your iPhone
If you and your friend both have compatible wireless headphones, and you have an iPhone that supports the feature, here’s how to begin sharing your audio:
Connect your headphones to your iPhone. Tap the AirPlay button from your iPhone’s Control Center. You may also see this option on certain apps, such as the Music app. Tap Share Audio. If your friend is using AirPods or AirPods Pro, ask them to hold their headphones near your iPhone while inside the case with the lid opened. If they have AirPods Max, just ask your friend to bring them near your iPhone. For Beats, ask them to put their headphones in pairing mode, then move them close to your iPhone. Wait for their headphones to be detected by your phone. Tap them once they appear on the screen.
How to Manage Audio in Shared Audio
If you and your friend have different volume preferences, you can manually adjust the volume for each set of headphones from your Lock Screen or in the Control Center. Just drag the volume slider for each of the headphones shown on your iPhone.
If you want to stop sharing, you can go to the Control Center, the Lock Screen, or the app you’re using. Then tap the checkmark beside the headphones you want to stop sharing your audio with.
No Wires, One Source, Same Audio Goodness
You no longer need to sacrifice the audio quality of the music or movie you’re enjoying just because you want to give one of your earbuds to a friend. With Share Audio, you and your friend get a complete listening experience by each using your own wireless headphones from the same iPhone.
