Your iPhone's Messages app includes a feature called Raise to Listen that automatically starts recording audio messages when you lift your phone to your ear after receiving an audio message.
This feature can be super annoying because it automatically records audio when you raise your phone to your ear after listening to a message. Many users find embarrassing recordings waiting to be sent without realizing their phone captured private conversations or background noise.
The feature activates so easily that normal phone handling can trigger it. Simply picking up your phone after getting an audio message can start recording, and there's no obvious visual indicator it's happening until you check your messages later.
Here's how you can stop accidentally recording audio messages on your iPhone.
What is the Raise to Listen feature?
Raise to Listen is a Messages feature that automatically plays or records audio messages when you lift your iPhone to your ear.
While it’s designed for convenience, many people find it frustrating since it can trigger by accident making it a feature you may want to turn off.
1. Access Messages settings on your iPhone
Go to Settings, Apps and scroll down until you locate Messages.
Then tap on Messages to enter the menu where audio recording preferences are stored.
2. Find Raise to Listen
Once inside Messages settings, scroll down until you find Raise to Listen and tap it.
3. Toggle off Raise to Listen
Tap the toggle to turn this feature off. The switch will change from green to gray, indicating the automatic recording function is now disabled.
With Raise to Listen turned off, you eliminate accidental recordings triggered by normal phone handling near your ear.
You can still send intentional audio messages by tapping the sound wave icon that appears in the message text box, giving you full control over when voice recordings are created and sent.
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