Can’t decide between noise-blocking ocean waves and an enlightening podcast? You don’t have to. Find out here how to play masking white noise and nature sounds on an iPhone ⤓ in the background (mixed with other media).
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How to Play White Noise and Nature Sounds on iPhone (Mixed with Everything)
Time needed: 2 minutes
To mix white noise and ambient sounds with any other sound output on an iPhone to enhance focus and concentration (or, perchance, sleep):
- Open the Settings app on the iPhone.
- Go to Accessibility.
- Choose Audio/Visual under HEARING.
- Open Background Sounds.
- Turn on Background Sounds.
Pick without playing: You can also choose settings without first turning on the background sound, of course.
Easy on/off: Control center lets you easily enable and disable background sounds; see below. - Tap Sound.
- Choose the type of masking sound (white noise, pink noise, brown noise, ocean waves, rain or a bubbling stream) to play in the background.
- Tap < Back.
- Options: Enable Use When Media Is Playing for mixing white noise with music, podcasts etc.
Volume: Using the volume and Volume with Media sliders, you can choose a different (typically lower) volume for mixing background sounds with other media.
Their word: Apple include information on background sounds in the iPhone User Guide.
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Control White Noise and Nature Sounds from iPhone Control Center
To pick, start and stop ambient background noise using iPhone Control Center:
- Add Hearing controls to Control Center; see below.
- Open Control Center.
- Tap the hearing control.
- Now tap Background Sounds to switch between masking background noise playing and stopping.
Sound choice: Tap Background Sounds to pick a different sound.
Volume control: Use the volume control to change background sound (relative to overall iPhone volume).
To add background sound controls to iPhone Control Center:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to Control Center.
- Tap + for Hearing if you see it under MORE CONTROLS.
Already there: If Hearing is enabled, it appears under INCLUDED CONTROLS.
Ready for distraction-free work? How to Add a New To-Do List to Apple Reminders
Also on the Mac: How to Turn Your Mac into a White Noise Machine
How to Mix White Noise and Nature Sounds with Everything on iPhone
Can I add sounds to the collection?
No.
The list of sounds for background noise is fixed.
Will playback stop when I disconnect or unplug headphones?
Yes.
All playing including white noise will stop when headphones are disconnected.
Will playing ambient background noise drain the iPhone battery?
Minimally.
If the screen is locked, playing white noise on the iPhone using the built-in mixer uses little energy.
Does iPhone white noise work with Bluetooth headphones?
Yes.
Background sounds will play on the iPhone speakers or any connected headphones.
Will white noise play over AirPlay?
No.
iPhone will not send the ambient sounds to AirPlay speakers. Since it is for individual focus and concentration, the white noise will still play on the iPhone itself or on connected headphones.
(Tested with iOS 16–18 and 26; first published June 2023, last updated June 2026)