How to turn off Headphone Safety on iPhone

I think WHO document still plays nicer than Apple. Look at the examples they list of how user can be warned. None of them force the volume down. They just warn! Turning volume down is solely Apple’s own interpretation.

95dB gives you about 1,5 hours per 7 days. These numbers multiply exponentially. (as the supposed effect of a +5dB increase) If you select 90 it should give you something closer to 30-40 hours which is more managable imo.

This need to be fixed or removed by Apple. If they want to promote safety, sure enable it by default, I support that. However, don’t restrict people from being able to use a device by making it not possible to be turned off. You need to consider factors of how far away people are from the phone and speaker, that they could be wearing hearing protection that is giving a false positive that they are being exposed (and yes this is a thing as I use Bluetooth hearing protection at work that has an external mic that lets you hear people talking around you but filters out everything high dB), in car audio systems, etc... The roots of the iPhone stemmed from the iPod original, which an integral part of its existence was the experience while enjoying music. Apple needs to stick to its principles. The choice to use this feature should be left up to the customer to disable.

This is so absolutely ridiculous ... this screenshot was taken while Bluetooth connected to a system with an external volume control.... yes my iPhone’s volume is maxed out, NO I am NOT listening to audio at 100 dB.

The external volume was set to zero when this screenshot was taken. Audio listening data shouldn’t be gathered and used for warnings when not connected to a “compatible device” since obviously it doesn’t have enough data to know if it’s right or not.

Right, I get what the WHO recommendations are for potentially damaging your hearing. What I am saying is that the feature in iOS does not take into account if the play source has an external volume control and assumes that if the phone volume is maxed out it must be blaring... in my case it is not as I’ve got the amplifier volume literally on zero, and the health tool still says I’m damaging my hearing by listening too loudly.

the audio playback is literally muted and I’m in the “warning zone” ... unacceptable.

Exactly right, it does not take into account the actual audio level....just its own perceived level based on the phone volume level.

I tested myself in the car yesterday. Had the Car stereo volume on 0, it still threw a warning three times on a short drive across town

The laziness of the implementation is beyond ridiculous.

This feature is truly awful.

So not using my earbuds in my car, the phone connects to my car bluetooth playing spotify, then it turns the volume to zero repeatedly.

This happens though just bluetooth and through my alexa auto. So has no idea of context (and volume) of the speaker you are connecting to!

UsernamePlus wrote:

Wow. That’s actually ridiculous. The general implementation of this bug is a disaster but applying it to your alarm clock too?! That’s ridiculous.

It does not apply to the alarm clock that is part of the Clock app, but rather only to third party alarm clocks like Alarmy, as iOS doesn’t see them any differently than any other audio player.

thanks for clarifying. still, if that’s the alarm you use that’s a nightmare.

I’m never updating ios again, that’s for sure. And I think this headphone thing means I’ll either downgrade to a second hand iphone 6 (is that the highest that the new ios won’t install on?) or an android. i’d prefer the android but changing from apple music and all my apps is a pain.

i hate apple rn.

debraelizabeth wrote:

Yes it applies to all 3rd party alarm clocks, so your point is to force people to use the Apple alarm clock rather than have a choice?

No, it's a workaround for the moment, and shows that Apple isn't intentionally applying volume limits to alarms.

Rather third party alarm sounds are seen by the system as the same as any other sound being played and fall under the same restrictions.

This isn't an excuse, it's an explanation and shows that no, Apple isn't intentionally limiting the volume of alarms.

Ok but the alarm is not using headphones or any Bluetooth. The WHO safety recommendations apply to headphones not speakers, car play, alarm clocks - Who also recommends a notification that gives option to continue listening at your own risk without dropping volume and a once per 20 hour notification. Apple went way too far

iPhone should properly recognize what is headphones and what isn't. If that is not possible, then Apple should give opportunity to set it manually. I'm not using headphones with my phone at all. I connect it to amplifiers mainly, if volume on source device isn't maxed then switching to different channel is very dangerous as it will be insanely loud - somehow you need to compensate that decibels that phone is cutting out... This require immediate action from Apple.

It’s the most unhelpful feature I’ve come across. I use my phone connected to a speaker for white noise for my daughter, which HAS to be loud. Turns down in the middle of night and wakes her up. Can’t even turn it off. 100% not sticking with Apple if this feature stays.

100% agree, my dad is 75 and hearing isn’t as good - he has cancer and uses headphones in the hospital, drops volume on him constantly. Well says you can go out and buy beats pro for hearing accessibility 🙄🙄 going to just use one of my non apple tablets for music I guess. We are completely done with Apple, cancelled our IPad Pro we ordered I’m sure they will be pulling same nonsense on those too