Should I turn on Spatial audio

Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking brings cinema-like sound from the film or video you're watching, so that the sound seems like it's coming from all around you.

What you need

• AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation) or Beats Fit Pro
• The built-in speakers on an iPhone 7 or later, or on one of these iPad models:
  • iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation) and later
  • iPad Pro 11‑inch
  • iPad Air (3rd generation) and later
  • iPad (6th generation) and later
  • iPad mini (5th generation) and later
• iOS or iPadOS 15.1 or later
• The built-in speakers on a Mac computer with Apple silicon
• Apple TV 4K with tvOS 15 or later
• Audiovisual content from a supported app

Turn on spatial audio

Find out how to turn on spatial audio on your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.

Turn on spatial audio on your iPhone or iPad

1. Make sure you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation) or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open Control Centre on your iPhone or on your iPad.
3. Touch and hold the volume control to turn on spatial audio while you're playing multichannel content or Spatialise Stereo while you're playing two-channel stereo content. This also shows you the status icons.
4. When you turn on spatial audio with head tracking, audio adjusts based on your head movement. To turn on spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Head Tracked. To turn on spatial audio only, tap Fixed. To turn off spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Off.

Turn on spatial audio on your Mac with Apple silicon

1. Make sure you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation) or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your Mac.
2. Click the AirPods or Beats icon in the menu bar to see Spatial Audio listed while you're playing multichannel content, or Spatialise Stereo while you're playing two-channel stereo content.
3. Click Head Tracked to turn on spatial audio and dynamic head tracking. To turn on spatial audio only, click Fixed. To turn off spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, click Off.

Turn on spatial audio on your Apple TV

1. Make sure you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation) or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your Apple TV.
2. Go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Or you can press and hold the Home button on your Siri Remote while you're playing audio-visual content in a supported app.
3. Choose your AirPods or Beats from the list.
4. Choose Spatial Audio while you're playing multichannel content or Spatialise Stereo while you're playing two-channel stereo content. This also shows you the status icons.

Some device settings, including Follow iPhone, Balance, Mono audio and Headphone Accommodations, can affect how spatial audio works.

Published Date: September 29, 2022

Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking brings theater-like sound from the movie or video you're watching, so that sound seems like it's coming from all around you.

What you need

• AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro
• The built-in speakers on an iPhone 7 or later, or on one of these iPad models:
  • iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation) and later
  • iPad Pro 11‑inch
  • iPad Air (3rd generation) and later
  • iPad (6th generation) and later
  • iPad mini (5th generation) and later
• iOS or iPadOS 15.1 or later
• The built-in speakers on a Mac computer with Apple silicon
• Apple TV 4K with tvOS 15 or later
• Audiovisual content from a supported app

Turn on spatial audio

Learn how to turn on spatial audio on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

Turn on spatial audio on your iPhone or iPad

1. Make sure that you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open Control Center on your iPhone or on your iPad.
3. Touch and hold the volume control to turn on spatial audio while you're playing multichannel content or Spatialize Stereo while you're playing two-channel stereo content. This also shows you the status icons.
4. When you turn on spatial audio with head tracking, audio adjusts based on your head movement. To turn on spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Head Tracked. To turn on spatial audio only, tap Fixed. To turn off spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Off.

Turn on spatial audio on your Mac with Apple silicon

1. Make sure that you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your Mac.
2. Click the AirPods or Beats icon in the menu bar to see Spatial Audio listed while you’re playing multichannel content, or Spatialize Stereo while you’re playing two-channel stereo content.
3. Click Head Tracked to turn on spatial audio and dynamic head tracking. To turn on spatial audio only, click Fixed. To turn off spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, click Off.

Turn on spatial audio on your Apple TV

1. Make sure that you're wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro, and that they're connected to your Apple TV.
2. Go to Settings > Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Or you can press and hold the Home button on your Siri Remote while you're playing audiovisual content in a supported app.
3. Choose your AirPods or Beats from the list.
4. Choose Spatial Audio while you're playing multichannel content, or Spatialize Stereo while you're playing two-channel stereo content. This also shows you the status icons.

Some device settings, including Follow iPhone, Balance, Mono audio, and Headphone Accommodations, can affect how spatial audio works.

Published Date: September 22, 2022

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