How to turn off Headphone Safety on iPhone

The EU regulation stipulates specifically that " a default limit of 85 decibels" should be set by manufacturers, yet users should be allowed to OVERRIDE THIS IF THEY SO CHOOSE. Accordingly, such options should also apply to the EU

While I agree with everything you wrote here wholeheartedly, you are wrong about EU part. EU does not mandate any company to turn anyone’s volume down. They recommend that manufacturer’s warn but still allow users to set their headphones to as high as 100dB if they wish to. Neither EU nor WHO nor UN nor any governmental, NGO entity requires Apple to forcefully turn the volume down in the middle of people’s listening pleasure.

Your crusade is just going to get you banned from the forum.

You're going about this all wrong. You're in Apple's hosted space, for users only. You are welcome to say you don't like something. Campaigning in Apple's house is just wrong and won't get you anything.

Contact Apple directly. Call Apple directly. Email Apple. But doing what you're doing here is pointless.

Bondo86, I could agree more. Of course my much less elegant post is above yours and is at least still there as I type this reply.

In addition to your concerns of which I have and agree with all of them...they don't even account for the fact that different sound files of different types from different sources are not recorded at the same volume level. So, one can be listening to a book at a very moderate level but the phone will think you are listening much more loudly than you actually are.

And, yes I really feel bad for our fellow Apple users who are actually hard of hearing. :(

Veritas67, I cannot speak for others but I have personally been dealing directly with Apple via their Chat, Email, and Phone for over a week on this topic. The support person (people) are nice enough but not really helpful as nothing changes. At this point I wouldn't say I would be happy but I would stop being so upset if they would just provide options for me to use my Cardo PackTalk Bold Helmet Bluetooth correct. The issues with audio files that are not recorded as loudly as normal music also needs addressed but isn't as much of a danger when I have to reset the phone's health data (still a pain).

I still also think that it is a violation of my trust with Apple but the above are my personal biggest issues.

But, talking directly with apple has done exactly NOTHING!!! But, waste several hours of my time.

These are discussions in Apple support regarding issues and unlawful restrictions applied to some USA citizens that have rendered their $1000-1400 devices worthless for those primarily using for music, recording, athletes using while training. Not sure what region/country you are from but we have protected rights for freedom for of speech in USA, we also have rights regarding privacy and undue restrictions.

It is a user forum for Apple users. People have freedom to speak, the actions you describe are exactly the actions that have found google, Fb, Twitter in the middle of senate hearings here in the USA, pending being stripped of protections and also found google in a lawsuit filed by FTC

Placing restrictions on devices without disclosing it in advance to consumers and without government mandating restriction is in fact not legal in the USA.

Is it true that this setting cannot be turned off?

I listen to digital radio through my iphone using an fm transmitter in my van, not using headphones but it is a pain in the backside having to adjust it every time it goes quiet whilst driving. Surely there is a way to sort this out. I hate having these restrictions thrust on me. surely as an adult i can make my own decisions instead of 'The Man' telling me what i need.

Are you a lawyer? Apple has a pretty vast legal team. I imagine they know the laws and what they can or can't do.

I get people aren't happy about this. But complaining here isn't going to get you anything.

Then maybe stop trying to police other users and silence them. People can absolutely discuss issues with their devices and share information and experiences with others.

having a vast legal team doesn’t allow you to violate protected rights of people, pretty sure google, fb and Twitter have just as vast legal team and there they sit in senate investigation hearing being held accountable for censoring Americans discussing things and for trying to silence them all actions that violate individuals rights and is illegal here.

the USA is NOT even a part of the WHO, so Americans are not restricted or allowed to be by WHO standards of anything

In other words, I can't say anything, but you can? I can comment as well as you can.

I've just been around these parts for more than a decade and am suggesting that expressing some of the vitriolic hate at Apple over this isn't the way to get things changed.

I'll leave you to complain now.

it’s so irritating that you cannot change this feature

it’s also distracting when the feature is activated

and while the user is gonna turn the volume manually all the way up

it can put the user in danger because they gonna turn the volume all the way up no matter what,

when they are driving or riding etc

so I think this feature is putting you in danger just as much is keeping you safe

hope apple thing is this true

debraelizabeth wrote:

Not sure what region/country you are from but we have protected rights for freedom for of speech in USA, we also have rights regarding privacy and undue restrictions.

This is Apple's house and Apple's rules. Constitutional rights determine what the government can do, not what corporations can do. Corporations's actions are governed by civil law and regulations. I suspect that there are no laws in the U.S. that would prevent Apple from placing a limit on volume of the device. But, you're free to inquire further about that with an attorney.

I’m driving an older car, also using an fm transmitter. The directions for which are to turn up phone volume and lower stereo volume to reduce static.

needless to say it’s driving me mad. I’ve just sent feedback to  saying that I get what they’re trying to achieve but not all Bluetooth connections are in ear and the feature isn’t practical. Pretty sure more people die reaching for their phone behind the wheel than die from loud music and all they’re doing is encouraging people to pick up their phones. We need an override.

Looks like there is regulations apple is following after all.

In Canada it is: CSA 62368-1.

in USA it is UL 62368-1

and in Europe it is EIC 62368-1.

under clause 10.6 it appears that all

new audio visual equipment must adhere to some sort of method of informing the user of the consequences of exposure to loud sounds:

RS1 85db and under

RS2 100db and under

10.6.4 Protection of persons

Except as given below, protection requirements for parts accessible to ordinary persons,

instructed persons and skilled persons are given in 4.3. NOTE 1 Volume control is not considered a safeguard.

Between RS2 and an ordinary person, the basic safeguard may be replaced by an instructional safeguard in accordance with Clause F.5, except that the instructional safeguard shall be placed on the equipment, or on the packaging, or in the instruction manual. Alternatively, the instructional safeguard may be given through the equipment display during use.

The elements of the instructional safeguard shall be as follows:

”Do not listen at high volume levels for long periods.” or equivalent wording.

An equipment safeguard shall prevent exposure of an ordinary person to RS2 power source without intentional physical action from the ordinary person and shall automatically return to an output level not exceeding RS1 when the power is switched off.

The equipment shall provide a means to actively inform the user of the increased sound pressure when the equipment is operated with an acoustic output exceeding RS1. Any means used shall be acknowledged by the user before activating a mode of operation which allows for an acoustic output exceeding RS1. The acknowledgement does not need to be repeated more than once every 20 h of cumulative listening time.

Apples implementation of this is a massive fail.

The regulation states the user should be subject to accepting to listen to levels over 85db after having been warned on screen; and for this to happen ONCE EVERY 20 HOURS, not every 20 minutes.

Apple needs to implement a better solution to allow the respect of these regulations but also not to irritate their user base to this point.