Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the gadgets and software you already use.
Editor’s Note: Unsure if you should update to the new iPhones? Check out our reviews the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro.
You’ve probably downloaded iOS 13 on your iPhone or iPad already, so chances are you’ve experienced many of its killer features, such as Dark Mode, a new Photos app, an improved Apple Maps and just a way snappier interphase. But there’s a good chance you haven’t heard about, or utilized, one of its coolest new features: Audio Sharing.
The new Audio Sharing feature allows two sets of wireless headphones to pair to the same iPhone or iPad so that they can listen to the same audio. It’s essentially a wireless and free version of everybody’s favorite dongle from yesteryear: the headphone splitter.
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The catch is that Audio Sharing only works with wireless headphones that have Apple’s H1 or W1 chips built into them; this means both first- and second-generation AirPods and the new AirPods Pro will be able to do it, as well as the latest wireless headphones by Beats: including Powerbeats Pro, Studio3 Wireless, BeatsX, Powerbeats3 Wireless, Solo3 Wireless and Solo Pro.
Reminder, iOS 13 is available on all iPhone 6s and later models, which includes the iPhone SE. Also, Audio sharing requires an iPhone 8 or above, so if you have an iPhone or iPad that’s over three years old, you won’t be able to access Audio Sharing even if your device is running iOS 13.
With Audio Sharing, you’re able to share any audio coming from your iPhone; it doesn’t matter if you’re listening to Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube — it all works. To access the feature, swipe down from upper right corner and click that little Bluetooth icon. Then tap “Share Audio.”
