How to Use the Apple Watch Noise App

The Apple Watch Noise app measures the ambient sound level around you and alerts you when it reaches a level that could damage your hearing. You can check the current decibel level at any time, see a history of loud environments, and set a threshold for notifications. This guide covers everything from opening the app to customizing its settings, so you can protect your ears without constantly checking your watch.

What You’ll Need

An Apple Watch Series 4 or later (the Noise app is not available on earlier models).
watchOS 6 or later (the app was introduced with watchOS 6).
An iPhone paired to the watch to adjust settings and review detailed history.

Step-by-Step

Open the Noise app. Press the Digital Crown to see the app grid, then tap the Noise app icon (it looks like a yellow ear). The app opens to a live decibel reading, with a label like “OK” or “Loud” and a small graph showing recent levels.
Understand the reading. The number is the current sound level in decibels (dB). The color and text tell you the category: green/“OK” for under 80 dB, yellow/“Loud” for 80–89 dB, orange/“Loud” for 90–99 dB, and red/“Loud” for 100 dB and above. The graph at the bottom shows the last few minutes of levels.
Check the history. On the watch, swipe down from the top of the Noise app screen to see a 24-hour summary. For more detail, open the Health app on your iPhone, tap “Browse” at the bottom, then “Hearing,” and select “Environmental Sound Levels.” You’ll see a graph of daily averages and the range of levels you were exposed to.
Enable or adjust loud-noise notifications. On your iPhone, open the Watch app, tap “Noise,” then tap “Noise Threshold.” Choose a decibel level from 75 to 100 dB. When the sound around you stays at or above that level for about three minutes, you’ll get a notification on your watch. The default is 80 dB, which is the level where prolonged exposure can start to cause damage.
Turn off notifications entirely. If you don’t want alerts, go to the Watch app on your iPhone, tap “Noise,” and turn off “Environmental Sound Measurements.” This stops all sound measuring and disables the Noise app on your watch. You can turn it back on anytime.
Use the Noise app with headphones. The app also measures the volume of audio played through Bluetooth headphones connected to your watch. When you’re listening to music or a podcast, the app will show the headphone decibel level, and you’ll get a notification if it exceeds your threshold for a prolonged period.
Check your headphone audio levels. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety. Here you can see a history of headphone exposure and turn on “Reduce Loud Sounds” to automatically cap the volume of connected headphones.

Common Mistakes

Expecting instant alerts. The Noise app does not notify you the moment a loud sound occurs. It only alerts after the sound level stays above your threshold for about three minutes. A single loud clap or a brief siren won’t trigger a notification.
Misreading the decibel scale. Decibels are logarithmic, so a small increase in the number means a big jump in intensity. 90 dB is not “a little louder” than 80 dB—it’s about 10 times more intense.
Thinking the app measures your actual hearing damage. The app measures the sound level in your environment, not how loud it sounds to you. If you have hearing loss, the app’s readings may not reflect what you perceive, but they still indicate the physical sound pressure level.
Forgetting that the watch must be on your wrist. The Noise app only measures sound when the watch is worn. If you leave it on a table, it won’t record anything.
Assuming the app works underwater. The microphone is not designed for underwater use, and the watch’s water lock doesn’t affect the Noise app. It will not give accurate readings while swimming.

Tips

Set a realistic threshold. The default 80 dB is a good balance. If you set it too low (75 dB), you’ll get frequent notifications in normal environments like a busy office. If you set it too high (100 dB), you might miss dangerous levels.
Use the Noise app to learn your everyday environment. Check it in different places—a coffee shop, a subway, a concert—to get a sense of how loud they really are. This can help you make informed decisions about ear protection.
Pair with the Health app for long-term tracking. The Health app on your iPhone stores all your environmental sound data. Over time, you can see if your average exposure is increasing or decreasing.
Add the Noise app to your watch face. You can add the Noise complication to a watch face so you can see the current level at a glance without opening the app. Press and hold the watch face, tap “Edit,” then add the complication.
Keep your watch’s microphone clean. Dirt or water in the microphone can affect readings. Wipe the microphone area with a soft, dry cloth if you notice inaccurate levels.

Troubleshooting

The Noise app shows no reading or “—” Make sure your watch is on your wrist and the microphone is not blocked. If the problem persists, restart your watch by holding the side button and the Digital Crown until the Apple logo appears.
Notifications are not appearing. Check that “Environmental Sound Measurements” is enabled in the Watch app on your iPhone, and that your threshold is set below the level you’re experiencing. Also, make sure your watch is not in Do Not Disturb or Theater Mode, which silences notifications.
The app is not showing in the app grid. The Noise app cannot be deleted, but it can be hidden. On your iPhone, go to the Watch app, tap “App Layout,” and look for the Noise app. If it’s not there, scroll down to “Noise” in the Watch app settings and make sure “Show App on Apple Watch” is toggled on.
The readings seem inaccurate. The Noise app is calibrated to be reasonably accurate, but it’s not a professional sound meter. If you’re in a very windy area, the microphone may pick up wind noise and give a higher reading. Move to a sheltered spot or cover the microphone with your hand to get a more accurate reading.
Headphone notifications are not working. Make sure your headphones are connected to your watch (not your iPhone) if you want the watch to measure them. Also, check that your headphone volume is actually above the threshold—notifications only trigger when the volume is high for a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What decibel level is considered safe?
Generally, sounds below 80 dB are considered safe for unlimited exposure. At 85 dB, the recommended limit is about 8 hours; for every 3 dB increase, the safe time halves. The Noise app uses 80 dB as the default threshold because that’s where prolonged exposure can start to cause damage.

Q: Does the Noise app record audio?
No. The app only measures the sound level and does not record or store any audio. It only saves the decibel value and the time.

Q: Can I use the Noise app on an Apple Watch SE?
Yes, the Apple Watch SE (first and second generation) includes the Noise app. It requires watchOS 6 or later, which the SE supports.

Q: Why did my watch notify me about loud noise when I was just talking?
If you were in a very loud environment, like a crowded restaurant or a concert, the ambient sound could have been above your threshold. The app measures all sounds, not just your voice. Also, if you were wearing headphones, the volume might have been high.

Q: Can I see a detailed history of noise levels?
Yes. On your iPhone, open the Health app, go to “Browse” > “Hearing” > “Environmental Sound Levels.” You can see daily averages, the range of levels, and a timeline. You can also filter by day, week, month, or year.

Q: Does the Noise app work with AirPods?
Yes, the Noise app measures the volume of audio played through any Bluetooth headphones connected to your watch, including AirPods. It will show the headphone decibel level and can notify you if it’s too loud.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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