How to play background sounds on iPhone

You can have iPhone play Background Sounds—such as ocean waves or rain—to help you focus or rest.

You can choose a sound and adjust the volume, use Background Sounds when other media is playing, and adjust the frequency ranges with the equalizer to hear wider frequency ranges with a richer sound. You can also set a timer, or turn off Background Sounds when iPhone locks. They’re in Control Center, too.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Tip: Control Background Sounds with the click of a button or from Control Center.
Tap Accessibility, tap Audio & Visual, tap Background Sounds, and then turn on Background Sounds.
Do any of the following:
- Choose a sound: Tap a sound. Select the name of a sound.
- Adjust the volume: Drag the slider to increase or decrease the volume of the background sound.
- Use Background Sounds when other media is playing: Turn on Use When Media is Playing.
- Adjust the Background Sounds volume when other media is playing: Drag the Volume with Media slider to increase or decrease the volume of Background Sounds.
- Adjust the frequency ranges: Tap Equalizer and then turn on Equalizer.
  
  Adjust the tone: Drag your finger across the grid to select specific frequency ranges. Select Broad to hear wider frequency ranges with a richer sound or select Focused to hear specific frequency ranges with less audio distraction.
  
  Adjust the sound balance: Drag the Balance slider left or right to adjust the sound balance.
  
  Note: You’ll see settings for Tone and Balance after you turn on Equalizer.
- Set a timer: Tap Stop Sound with a Timer and then turn on Timer. Select At a specific time or After an amount of time and then choose an option.
  
  Tip: Turn on “Always use these settings” if you plan to use the settings you selected in your daily routine—like during downtime or focus time.
- Turn off Background Sounds when iPhone locks: Turn on Stop Sounds When Locked.