How to turn off hearing protection

you need 14.4

then when you connect via settings/ bluetooth you have the option in 'info' to change device type to car stereo, headphone, hearing aid, speaker or other ...some devices need to be forgotten & connected again though first (my JBL speaker didn't need to do this, but both of my Tunai Firefly's did)

Same issue here - incredibly irritating as I’m a) quite deaf and b) a professional musician currently using my phone as a recording booth...

I may have found a solution - it’s actually to turn ‘reduce loud sounds’ ON and set the decibel level to maximum (100db - which is still less than a french horn at full tilt 18 inches from my right ear. No I can’t move - it’s the one I’m playing!)

I wish Apple would stop trying to be a nanny and allow us to make our own decisions about stuff like this.

Nigel

luckysilver777 wrote:

I have had this same problem on both my iPhone and iPad. I was able to fix it on my phone, but the iPad will not let me either click on the Reduce Sound Levels (which is greyed out and stuck in ON in light green), nor can I change the Decibel level (greyed out and stuck at 85db). I never listen to headphones, always a bluetooth speaker at varying distances, so I definitely want to override it. Right now I can barely hear anything, whereas on the phone (same bluetooth speaker) I can hear fine now. iPad 6G w 14.4.1. Thank you.

Then you need to make sure that your BT speakers are properly listed as speakers. Go to Settings>Bluetooth and tap on the little "i" in a circle to the right of the speaker name. Make sure that Device Type is set to speaker, not Headphone.

I found my way here after scratching my head as to why the audio on my BT enabled amplifier setup kept dropping dramatically.

I work in the audio industry and so I fully appreciate what Apple is trying to do with this new feature. Too many people walk around with ear buds or full headphones on with the volume set at a level that over time WILL (not might) cause permanent hearing loss. So I applaud the effort.

That said, the current implementation is NOT ready for mass roll-out. I have dozens of audio devices (again, I work for a major audio brand) that are BlueTooth enabled that are NOT headphones, and many have their own volume control built in. The best way to use such a device is to have the BT source, in this case my iPhone 12, send full volume to the BT receiver, and then let the receiver device scale it with its local volume control. This new feature prevents that from being possible.

Apple needs to push out an update ASAP that allows this feature to be disabled until it can be better refined.

As for suggested improvements...

1) Provide a way to classify a BT device as "headphones" or not. You can even make the safe default that all devices are headphones, but give me a way to go into the BT devices specific settings and set the device type with a "headphone" check box or something, and then use this setting to decide if the headphone hearing protection feature should apply to the source or not. Simple enough.

2) Rather than immediately cutting the volume, provide a couple of notifications that it is going to happen. Like "You have exceeded X minutes over the safe listening level for headphones, your volume will be automatically reduced in 30 minutes" or something like that. Maybe a second warning at the 5 minute mark. This would give the user a chance to know what is happening and either update the settings or make adjustments on their own. However having used my phone as a source for several official events, I know that having the music abruptly drop out is not acceptable.

Again, I appreciate the efforts that are being taken to make people aware of the consequences of their choices. But this one needs some additional refinement.

Daniel just follow these instructions: step1 : update to 14.4 step2: in bluetooth settings menu put your audio device under other. Step3: enjoy the ride

you’re welcome

Yeah, that was not helpful at all, unfortunately.

I have no Apple watch and keep running into this issue while using bluetooth. It's infuriating. The phone automatically assumes that all bluetooth-connected audio devices are headphones. Reduce Loud Sounds is turned off, but I can't turn off this constant nagging with the same reminders Simonas1991.

I have an iPhone 8 and sound limit is off. Seriously considering moving away from Apple products altogether if you don't provide an option to turn this off along with the notifications. Seriously. It's obnoxious and the constant reminders are what really seal the deal.

Welllll... i would say that brands make no difference, I have skull candy and it’s like comparing apples to apples. Orange you glad I didn’t shout? What we are all shouting for is the blatant fact that this is a human rights issue. Corporation A is not nor should be responsible for my hearing protection. Right? I mean they will allow me to buy something loud line fireworks or firearms without forcing me get earplugs, so what if I am using non Apple earbuds to listen to non Apple Music. They are not the hearing police and have no business impersonating said fictional entity. Open to discussion.

MichiganFan01 wrote:

Again, I appreciate the efforts that are being taken to make people aware of the consequences of their choices. But this one needs some additional refinement.

Apple isn't reading here for suggestions. I hope that you've submitted your very thoughtful feedback to Apple here:

Product Feedback - Apple

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Apple isn't reading here for suggestions. I hope that you've submitted your very thoughtful feedback to Apple here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Honestly I came here to look for a solution, and short of that, vent a little. But I have submitted it now. Thanks for the heads up!

DID NOT WORK FOR ME. (THE PERSON THAT GAVE 3 STEPS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN BLUETOOTH)

I UPDATED TO 14.4 AND NOTHING. BLUETOOTH DOESN'T EVEN GIVE AN OPTION FOR EARPODS.

WAIT, DUH!!! THESE ARE JUST PLUGGED INTO PHONE. SO I TURNED OFF BLUE TOOTH AND I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC AGAIN. HOPE IT KEEPS WORKING. I HAVE TWO MORE DAYS LEFT TO RETURN THIS PHONE. ( I'LL UPDATE IF STOPS WORKING AGAIN.) BUT I WON'T BE ABLE TO REPLY IN CORRECT PLACE ON HERE AS IS THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

Same problem. I use my phone on Bluetooth for music in my car, on my workshop stereo speakers and with a wired connection to my computer, my bedside Bose and my computer and this dumb system thinks all of them are "headphones".

This thing used to be called a "smartphone". Gonna have to change that to dumbphone!

How long before it starts nagging me to move my bowels?

This is the most irritating thing Apple have done since they forced a U2 album on me.

I was considering an iPhone 12, but that's on hold till they get rid of this moronic "service"!

I've tried absolutely everything that you suggest. It can be disabled but not permanently. My main issue is that I'm deaf and my hearing aids are paired with my phone - anything below 85dB is inaudible. So I HAVE to turn the volume up. The 'protect your hearing' feature is a menace

I am so sick of Apple adding Features that I don't want that I cannot disable permanently. Im Deaf in my left ear I don't use an earphone in it So this hearing protection feature just makes me unable to use my phone for any purpose at all. Come Payday im Switching back to a Samsung phone, at least Android doesn't force this stuff on me.