Apple added several new features with iOS 13, including a lesser-known but very useful feature, dubbed as Audio Sharing. If you don’t like sharing one of your AirPods with a spouse or friend so that you can both listen to the same music, then this feature is for you. This feature allows you to share audio from one iOS device to two pairs of AirPods. So, if you find this feature useful, but don’t know how to use it, then detailed below is how to share audio in iOS 13.
Audio Sharing: what is it?
Apple initially announced the release of the audio sharing feature with iOS 13. However, the feature was postponed and finally came with iOS 13.1, or five days after the release of the iOS 13.
“While you wear AirPods or compatible Beats headphones or earphones, you can share what you’re listening to with a friend who’s also wearing AirPods or compatible Beats headphones or earphones,” Apple says.
Before we detail how to share audio in iOS 13, let’s take a look at the supported headphones and iOS devices. Apple’s Audio Sharing isn’t just limited to AirPods even though Apple often refers to it as “Audio Sharing with AirPods.” In fact, it supports any pair of wireless headphones or earbuds powered by the H1 or W1 processor.
The following is the complete list of supported headphones or earbuds: AirPods; AirPods Pro; Powerbeats Pro; Powerbeats 3; Beats Solo Pro; Beats Solo 3 Wireless; Beats Studio 3 Wireless; and BeatsX.
Even if you own any one of these accessories with an iPhone or iPad running on iOS 13, you may still not be able to use Audio Sharing. The feature does not support all iOS devices, even if they are running on iOS 13.
Apple’s Audio Sharing feature supports the following iOS devices: iPhone 8 and later; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (second generation or newer); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 10.5-inch; iPad (fifth generation or newer); iPad Air (third generation); iPad Mini (fifth generation); and iPod Touch (seventh generation or later).
There are a few different ways in which you can share audio in iOS 13 with another supported set of headphones or earbuds. The way you share will depend on whether or not the person with whom you want to share audio has AirPods and if that person is already using it or not. The steps to share audio in different scenarios will be more or less the same with other supported headphones or earbuds as well.
Let’s talk first about the scenario when your friend’s AirPods are in the case. If your friend has AirPods in the case and connected with the device, then it is the easiest method to share audio. Follow the below steps to share audio:
First, open the charging case lid so that the AirPods connect to the iPhone.
Second, now that the AirPods are connected to the iOS device, move your friend’s open AirPods case near to your device.
Third, a Temporarily Share Audio prompt will now appear on the screen.
Fourth, tap the Confirm button, and then follow on-screen instructions to set up audio sharing with your friend’s AirPods.
Another scenario is if your friend is already using the AirPods, but you want your friend to listen to what you are listening to. Follow the below steps to share audio in this case:
First, swipe from the top-right corner of the screen and open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
Second, from the Now Playing shortcut tap on the AirPlay icon.
Third, you will now see a Share Audio button below your AirPods.
Fourth, tap the Share button and then place your and your friend’s device close to each other.
Fifth, the Share Audio prompt will show up after a moment. Tap Share Audio prompt and ask your friend also to tap Join on their device.
That’s it!
Now let’s go over the process to share audio if your friend uses Beats headphones.
First, ask your friend to turn on the headphone and connect them to their iPhone or iPad.
Second, now ask your friend to tap the power button on the headphones (for less than a second), and then move your iOS device closer to your friend’s device.
Third, a Temporarily Share Audio prompt will appear on the screen. Select it and follow the on-screen instructions to share audio.
How do you control volume?
Talking of who will have control over the audio settings, the answer is pretty obvious. The person sharing the audio can control the volume for both connected headphones and earbuds. You can control the volume either by using the volume keys on the side of the phone, or through the Control Center (long-pressing on the volume slider).
The volume slider icon will show two people, indicating that you are sharing audio and control both the devices. Once you long-press the volume slider, you will get the two volume sliders, one each for the two connected devices.
To stop sharing audio, just tap the Playback Destination button on the Now Playing screen, and then tap the name of your friend’s device to disconnect the audio.
You can also refer to the video below for help on sharing audio in iOS 13:
