Your Apple devices now come with built-in background sounds, designed to help you focus, stay calm, or rest. This feature plays soothing ambient noises like rain, ocean waves, or balanced noise directly from your device, masking unwanted environmental sounds without needing a separate app. It's a seamless way to create your own personal soundscape, whether you're working, studying, or winding down.
This feature integrates a suite of ambient sounds directly into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. You can now add a dedicated Background Sounds control to your Control Center for quick access. From there, you can turn sounds on or off, choose from a variety of soundscapes, and adjust the volume independently of your system's main volume. The sounds can even play alongside other media like music or podcasts, allowing you to create a layered audio experience.
For more advanced options, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds. Here, you can adjust the volume when media is playing and enable a setting to 'Stop Sounds When Locked' to conserve battery. On a Mac, you can set a timer or have sounds turn off automatically when your Mac is not in use.
Playing Background Sounds is a powerful yet simple tool for managing your auditory environment. By providing quick access to a library of ambient sounds, you can easily mask distractions and create a more productive or relaxing atmosphere. With its seamless integration into the Control Center, this feature is always just a swipe and a tap away.