Make use of Live Listen

1 Open Settings app

As of IOS 12, Live Listen works with your Airpods, letting you use an iphone, ipad or ipod touch as a microphone. Open Settings and tap ‘Control Centre’.

2 Customise Controls

On the next screen, select ‘Customise Controls’. You’ll see a list of usable options, so scroll down and tap the ‘+’ next to Hearing, placing it within the ‘Include’ section.

3 Open Control Centre

On an iphone X and above, swipe down from the top-right of the screen to view the Control Centre (otherwise swipe up from the bottom). A Hearing (ear) icon will appear.

4 Insert your Airpods

Pop your Airpods into your ears and ensure your device outputs sound to them by tapping the top-right corner of the Music control (which looks like a sound wave).

5 Choose Airpods

The list of output devices should include your Airpods, assuming they are connected to your device. Select your Airpods and a tone will play to confirm they’re active.

6 Tap Hearing icon

Tap anywhere outside of the displayed selection box to go back to the main Control Centre and you’re ready to activate the Hearing feature. Start by tapping the ear icon.

7 Turn on Live Listen

The screen will display the name of your Airpods and show how much battery life they have left. You’ll need to turn Live Listen on by tapping the button marked ‘Off’.

8 Make some noise

Now when your device picks up on any noise through its microphone you’ll not only see it represented as one of five dots on the screen but you’ll also hear the amplified sound.

9 Crank it up

Finding it hard to hear? Then turn it up via your device’s volume controls. Now decide where to place your device – you could place it in a nearby room for some spy action.