Starting with iOS 14.4, you can label bluetooth devices as headphones, speaker or hearing aid. In this tip you can read how this works and why you should.
iOS 14.4: This is how iPhone audio tags work
Once you have installed iOS 14.4, a new option has been added to the Bluetooth settings of your iPhone and iPad. Now you can give a Bluetooth device five different types of labels:
- Car stereo
- Headphones
- Hearing aid
- Loudspeaker
- Other
As you can see, this function is specifically intended for audio devices that connect to your iPhone or iPad via bluetooth. This function does not have much to do with a wireless keyboard or mouse. This is how you set it up:
- Connect a bluetooth device to your iPhone or iPad;
- Go to Settings and tap on ‘Bluetooth’;
- Press the blue i-icon behind the name of the device;
- Click on ‘Device type’;
- Choose the correct name.
Setting the audio labels of your Bluetooth devices correctly has two advantages, according to Apple. First of all, it provides enhanced audio notifications that call the correct device when you connect to it. More important is the second reason for doing this: once your iPhone knows what kind of device it is, the audio level can be fine-tuned.
Protect your ears with your iPhone
This means that if you have set a maximum volume to protect your hearing, this now works a lot better on headphones not made by Apple. You can set this via the ‘Hear and feel’ settings and works as follows:
- Open the Settings app;
- Tap on ‘Hear and feel’;
- Tap on ‘Headphone Safety’;
- Set a maximum volume.
Want to learn more about what iOS 14.4 has to offer? Check out our overview in which we list the seven most important new functions and improvements.
Also read: iOS 14.4: 7 new features and improvements in a row