This feature in iPhones can let you hear conversations through walls (2024)

Listening through the walls is no longer rocket science, thanks to smartphones and that too iPhones. An undiscovered feature in Apple phones has both amused and shocked netizens in equal measure.

The iPhone feature that has grabbed attention is 'Live Listen'. This feature practically makes your iPhone a spying device as it can let you hear conversations through the walls.

The distinct feature came to the surface after a TikTok user, Dalilamouhib, discovered it and posted a video about it. She reportedly said that one can hear absolutely everything.

The TikTok user reportedly told her fans that they can forget their iPhone in a room where people are talking and hear the conversations from afar. According to her, the voice of the speakers can be heard loud and clear through AirPods.

This feature in iPhones can let you hear conversations through walls (1)Agencies

TikTok user Dalilamouhib.


According to Apple, the Live Listen feature has been developed to help users hear conversations in noisy areas or in case someone is speaking across the room. The efficacy of the feature depends on Bluetooth connectivity. An orange microphone icon appears on the top left corner of the screen when the feature is in use.

The feature allows one to use their iPhone, iPod, or iPad into microphones that can transmit conversations through AirPods. It is also available on AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, etc.

Apple has been a pioneer in engineering smartphones that are not only user-intuitive but leagues apart from its contemporaries in terms of security and privacy.

In November 2021, the company announced that it will sue NSO Group, the maker of surveillance software Pegasus Spyware. Apple said in its press release that it was seeking to protect its users from "further abuse and harm" with a permanent injunction to ban NSO Group from using its software, hardware, or devices.

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This feature in iPhones can let you hear conversations through walls (2024)

FAQs

This feature in iPhones can let you hear conversations through walls? ›

“With Live Listen, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch can act like a microphone that sends sound to your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, or Beats Fit Pro. Live Listen can help you hear a conversation in a noisy area or even hear someone speaking across the room.”

What is the iPhone app that listens through walls? ›

Ear Spy is a "Super Spy" application that gives you super-hearing and the ability to eavesdrop on those around you. With some Bluetooth headsets, you can eavesdrop from the next room. Ear Spy amplifies sound coming through your phone microphone straight to your earphones.

What can I use to hear a conversation through a wall? ›

Place an empty glass or spy stethoscope (store bought or homemade) against a clear spot on the wall that's unobstructed by studs or other structures. Alternatively, drill a very narrow hole through the wall and cover it with plastic wrap to draw sound through the hole.

Is there a listening device that can hear through walls? ›

A wall microphone is used to hear through walls, any kind of sounds, by the sensors in direct contact with walls or ceilings up to 70 cm thickness . A contact microphone is composed of a microphone capsule, a diaphragm transducing sound vibrations into audio signals, a voice processor and a pre amplifier.

Can you use your iPhone to listen into conversations? ›

Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPod touch, or your iPad. Tap Live Listen. Place your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in front of the person that you want to hear.

Is there an eavesdrop app? ›

The Ultimate Eavesdropping App. Enhance your hearing with Ear Spy. Click on the center button, and you can hear the world around you. Whether you want to eavesdrop on conversations or just hear the TV better, Ear Spy aims to give you super hearing and improve what you hear.

Is there an app that can see thru walls? ›

Imagine plugging a pocket-sized camera device into your smart phone and then being able to see leaky pipes or ductwork inside walls. That's what the Seek Thermal™ camera does.

Is there an app to find hidden listening devices? ›

Android users have the app Detectify.

Detectify also says it can detect infrared spy cams. The app is free for android.

Can you hear talking through apartment walls? ›

“If you're in a closed room and you hear the conversation from another room. You probably won't hear the mid-range frequencies; you'll hear the lower range, bass frequencies of the voices.” “A lot of times, low-end frequency will be transmitted through the wall, and actually transfer into structural noise.

How do you make it so people can't hear you through walls? ›

You can soundproof an existing room by adding acoustic panels or foam, extra layers of drywall, soundproofing the doors and windows with draft stoppers and weatherstripping, and adding a rug to the floor. Heavy, upholstered furniture helps to soundproof an existing room, too.

What is a secret listening device? ›

A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug or a wire, is usually a combination of a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone. The use of bugs, called bugging, or wiretapping is a common technique in surveillance, espionage and police investigations.

What is a hidden listening device? ›

A Covert Listening Device is an electronic device that is concealed with the purpose eavesdropping on conversations. Covert Listening Devices are also known as wires or bugging devices or when use on telephone lines, as wire taps or intercepts.

What do hidden listening devices look like? ›

Listening bugs are always very small because they're designed to be hidden and unnoticeable. Every listening device will appear slightly different, but they'll usually look like the following: Very small and round, usually no more than 0.5 inches (1cm) Black or silver plated, with a hole in the center.

What is the hearing feature on iOS 15? ›

iOS 15 now offers background sounds which include stream, balanced/bright/or dark noise, ocean, and rain. These sounds can play quietly in the background to mask other unwanted sounds in your environment, and they also can layer underneath other audio played from your iPhone.

What part of the iPhone do you hear from? ›

How to check if your iPhone's microphones are working. The iPhone has three microphones. On the screen side, the one at the top allows your to hear a caller, the one at the bottom allows the caller to hear you, and the one below the camera on the back of the iPhone is used for recording video.

Is it possible for someone to listen to your phone conversations? ›

If someone wants to listen to your calls, they'll need to compromise your phone in some way, usually by installing spy software on your device to monitor your activity. Therefore, searching for signs of spyware is the best way to know if someone is listening to your calls.

Is it possible for someone to hear your conversations through your phone? ›

Therefore it's natural to wonder “can this happen to me?”. The truth is, yes. Someone can listen to your phone calls, if they have the right tools and they know how to use them – which when all is said and done, isn't anywhere near as difficult as you might expect.

Can I use my phone to listen to conversations? ›

Yes, it is legal for phones to listen to you. That's because we often give consent for phones to listen to us when we accept terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads.

What is eavesdropper app? ›

Description. Monitor the sounds around you in the room.

How do you hear distant conversations? ›

Using a spy hearing device is a great way to overhear a conversation from a distance. These devices can pick up virtually anything, and they can do so with a high level of accuracy. Depending on the model, you may be able to listen to a conversation from more than 300 yards away.

What is the app that listens? ›

Shazam will identify any song in seconds. Discover artists, lyrics, videos & playlists, all for free.

What sensor can see through walls? ›

Magnetometers detect nails, screws or the presence of metal behind the wall. Devices that use rare earth magnets can detect metal pipes and metal studs as well as nails and screws.

Is there a tool to see inside walls? ›

A stud finder locates concealed studs and joists inside a wall or ceiling using electronic sensors or magnets. Magnetic stud finders detect the stud by the nails and screws holding it in place, while electronic sensors use changes in electrical flow to "see" wood, metal, and sometimes electrical wiring within the wall.

Is there an app to detect listening devices on iPhone? ›

deviceOwl is an AI point-and-shoot hardware device checker that helps you identify the make and model of devices, and reveal their privacy implications. Covert spy devices are cameras and microphones that are either miniaturized, or disguised as other trusted household objects.

How do you detect if there is a hidden microphone? ›

Sweep the area with an RF detector.

RF detectors allow you to scan for radio frequencies used to transmit from hidden cameras and microphones. Purchase an RF detector online or from your local electronics store and wave it around the area you think is bugged.

How do I turn off device listening? ›

Follow these steps to disable Google Assistant on Android:
  1. Go to “Settings.”
  2. Select “Google” > “Account services” > “Search, assistant & voice” > “Voice.”
  3. Select “Voice match” and toggle off “Hey Google.”
Mar 7, 2023

Can you tell if someone is live listening? ›

You won't know if someone has turned on Live Listen. But you might notice if someone wearing AirPods has left their phone near you. They could hear your conversation up to 50 feet away.

Does the orange dot mean someone is listening? ›

According to Apple, with iOS 14 or later, an orange dot means your microphone is being used by an app. But it doesn't necessarily mean anyone is listening in. But if you're worried about it, you can deny microphone access by going to Settings, Privacy, and Security and selecting Microphone.

How can I see if someone has access to my iPhone? ›

Sign in to the Apple ID website (https://appleid.apple.com) and review all the personal and security information in your account to see if there is any information that someone else has added. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, review trusted devices for any devices that you don't recognize.

Can my Neighbours hear me through wall? ›

The sound transfer occurs as a result of airborne noise (voices, music, etc). The airborne sound wave strikes the wall and the pressure variations cause the wall to vibrate. This vibrational energy is transferred through the wall and radiated as airborne sound on the other side.

Can my apartment neighbors hear me talk? ›

It really depends on how your apartment building is built. Even though it is more likely for neighbors living below you to hear sounds such as footsteps and neighbors living in adjacent apartments to hear the sound from a loud television and music, sound will also travel in an upward direction.

How do I stop sound going through my apartment walls? ›

  1. Hang acoustic panels on your walls. ...
  2. Lay down a sound-muffling foam mat. ...
  3. Add window inserts. ...
  4. Hang heavy curtains. ...
  5. Seal door gaps. ...
  6. Hang fabric on your walls. ...
  7. Upholster your walls. ...
  8. Shift your furniture.
Sep 18, 2022

How do I make my neighbors not hear me? ›

If your neighbor has super hearing, or you just seem to have really thin floors, carpet can go a long way to mitigating that noise. Throw down rugs in high-traffic areas to help soundproof. You can even layer rugs for a chic, bohemian look that will help protect your neighbor from hearing your feet every day.

What is the best soundproofing between walls? ›

ReductoClip / furring bar and two layers of plasterboard and Tecsound. These materials are extremely efficient at blocking airborne sounds travelling through. This is because their weight and density increase the overall mass, which, (as mentioned above) is crucial for soundproofing against airborne sounds.

How do I block all noise around me? ›

  1. Wear Earplugs. ...
  2. Try Noise-Canceling Headphones. ...
  3. Use a Fan for Consistent Background Noise. ...
  4. Install Heavy Curtains. ...
  5. Purchase New Windows. ...
  6. Find Muffling Wall Decorations or Acoustic Tiles. ...
  7. Get a Thicker Bedroom Door. ...
  8. Block the Space Underneath Your Door.

What is a listening bug? ›

Modern listening bugs are small, mainly under an inch, and they have a small radio transmitter with a microphone. Once someone installs a listening bug in your house, they can listen in on personal conversations around the area of the bug, thus compromising your privacy.

What is a listener device? ›

Britannica Dictionary definition of LISTENING DEVICE. [count] : a small hidden microphone that is used to secretly listen to and record people. The police planted/installed a listening device in the home of the suspected mobster.

What is the most commonly used assistive listening device? ›

An electromagnetic field is created that connects to a telecoil in hearing aids, cochlear implants or telecoil receivers. Loops are the most user-friendly of assistive listening options and the consumer's #1 choice. Hearing loops are simple, discreet and effective.

How do I know if my phone is being used as a listening device? ›

Unusual sounds during calls

If there are clicking sounds, static, or distant voices coming through your phone during conversations it could be a sign that you're being snooped on. This is not normal for today's phones on digital networks. It's a thing of the past and associated with old-style analogue networks.

What are the best listening device? ›

Best Long Distance Listening Devices 2023
Long Distance Listening DevicesType of DeviceConnectivity Options
HAUSBELL Listening DeviceOver EarWired
Lehang8899 Listening DeviceOver EarWired
Generic Sumas Listening DeviceOver EarWired
Podoy Listening Recording DeviceOver EarWired
1 more row

How do I find a listening bug in my house? ›

Listen for It

Turn off all of your electrical appliances. Then walk into each room of your home, standing completely still. If you hear a soft buzzing or beeping noise, you may be able to pinpoint the location of the listening device.

What is an audio jammer? ›

Voice jammers work much like noise-cancelling headphones, which effectively squash unwanted background sound waves out of existence by playing a copy of a background sound wave but with the wave pattern inverted.

Does iPhone have proximity sensor? ›

In the iPhone 14 Pro, the proximity sensor is located under the display (outside the Dynamic Island). Conversely, in the iPhone 15 series, the proximity sensor is situated within the Dynamic Island, with almost no change to the Dynamic Island area.

Does iPhone have secret mode? ›

Visit sites privately

You can use Private Browsing Mode to open private tabs, which don't appear in History on iPhone or in the list of tabs on your other devices.

Can an iPhone be used as a bugging device? ›

Well! It's true. Apple iPhones can be used as a microphone to secretly listen to the conversations while being in another room via the Live Listen feature. According to the Apple website, this was designed to help users hear a conversation in a noisy area or even hear someone speaking across the room.

Can we listen to someone else's cell phone conversation? ›

Is There A Device To Listen To Cell Phone Calls? There are devices that you can use to listen to cell phone calls. However, they can be expensive and impractical for daily use. The best way to do it is by using a spy app like uMobix or FlexiSpy.

How far away does live listen work? ›

Another reason why Live Listen is so unique is that it works up to 15 meters away. This makes it ideal for large meetings and classroom lectures.

How do you know if your iPhone is being tapped? ›

How To Know That Your iPhone Is Being Tapped
  • Using special codes. ...
  • Noise from technology. ...
  • Rapid consumption and heating of the battery. ...
  • Phone screen. ...
  • Strange sounds during a call. ...
  • Check certificates and set passwords. ...
  • Check the battery. ...
  • Check the performance.
Nov 15, 2022

Can you tell if your phone is being monitored? ›

However, if someone is spying on your phone, there are common signs you can look out for. You may notice a rapid increase in your phone's data usage, suspicious files or applications, or strange text messages that you don't remember sending. Your device may also show signs of malfunctioning behavior.

What does *# 62 do? ›

With the *#62# settings interrogation code, you can see if calls or texts are being forwarded to another number whenever you're unreachable. If the "Voice Call Forwarding," "Data Call Forwarding," and "SMS Call Forwarding" all say they're disabled, good. If numbers are listed, they could be put there by someone else.

What is the proximity mode on my iPhone? ›

Your iPhone's proximity sensor can tell when you're holding the phone up to your ear, and it will shut off the screen, saving battery and preventing your face from accidentally hitting buttons. The proximity sensor can malfunction due to obstruction by a phone case, dirt or grime, or a software issue.

Can I turn off my phones proximity sensor? ›

Swipe down from the top of the screen, and tap Sensors Off. A quick way to see if the sensors are off without checking the toggle is to look for the horizontal symbol with a line through it. It's located at the top of the screen, on the same line as the battery life indicator and signal strength.

What is proximity in iPhone? ›

The proximity sensor assists in turning off the screen whenever you pick a call and rest it on your ear. If the proximity sensor on your iPhone is giving you trouble, you will need to fix it as soon as possible as it causes a great deal of trouble, such as accidental touches when receiving calls.

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