Apple Watch User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in watchOS 27
- Apple Watch For Your Kids
- Run with Apple Watch
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- Important safety information
- Important handling information
- Find more resources for software and service
- Unauthorized modification of watchOS
- Band care information
- FCC compliance statement
- ISED Canada compliance statement
- Ultra Wideband information
- Disposal and recycling information
- Apple and the environment
- Copyright and trademarks
Recognize sounds using Apple Watch
Apple Watch can continuously listen for certain sounds—such as a doorbell, siren, or crying baby—and notify you when it recognizes these sounds.
Note: Sound recognition is available on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Don’t rely on your Apple Watch to recognize sounds in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, in high-risk or emergency situations, or for navigation. For more information, see Important safety information for Apple Watch.
Set up Sound Recognition
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility, tap Sound & Name Recognition, tap Sound Recognition, then turn on Sound Recognition.
Note: After you turn on Sound Recognition, you may need to wait for your iPhone to download the available sounds to your device.
Tap Sounds, then turn on the sounds you want your Apple Watch to recognize.
Add a custom alarm, appliance, or doorbell
You can also set up Apple Watch to recognize a custom alarm, appliance, or doorbell if it isn’t recognized automatically.
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility, tap Sound & Name Recognition, tap Sound Recognition, then tap Sounds.
Tap Custom Alarm or Custom Appliance or Doorbell, then enter a name.
When your alarm, appliance, or doorbell is ready, place your Apple Watch near the sound and minimize background noise.
Tap Start Listening, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Turn off Sound Recognition on Apple Watch
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Accessibility, scroll down to Hearing, then tap Sound & Name Recognition.
Tap Sound Recognition, then turn off Detect using Apple Watch.