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With iOS 13, Apple is fulfilling many wishes - functions that have been long awaited are finally being introduced with the new iPhone operating system. One of the many features is audio sharing. It allows you to connect two different Bluetooth headphones - for example AirPods - to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch at the same time - we will now show you how this works.
On the plane - you're watching a film on your iPad with Bluetooth headphones and would like your girlfriend or a friend to listen in. But how do you do that? In the days of jack plugs, there were suitable splitters - today this solution is no longer available. So you have to pass on a headset - if that's even possible - AirPods, for example. Other headsets are usually connected to each other. Apple knows this too and has now come up with a solution - audio sharing. The function is being introduced in iOS 13 and its counterpart iPadOS and from now on makes it possible to pair two different Bluetooth headphones with the same device - iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. But how exactly does it work? We'll show you.
Requirements for Audio Sharing under iOS 13 or iPadOS
To be able to use the audio sharing feature, you also need a compatible device. So if you have AirPods and/or Powerbeats Pro, you should make sure that your device supports the feature. According to Apple's list, the following devices are included:
- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus & iPhone X
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max & iPhone XR
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation or later)
- iPad Pro 11 inch
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Mini (5th generation)
- iPod Touch (7th generation)
If you have the right device and headset, all you need is iOS 13 or iPadOS. If you have met these requirements, we can continue.
How to enable audio sharing on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 13 or iPadOS
According to Apple, there are two ways to activate the new feature – one of which is much more convenient. If two devices – iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch – are connected to the AirPods or Powerbeats Pro, both iOS devices must be placed next to each other. Then select the AirPlay icon and click "Share Audio." A pop-up will appear allowing you to share audio. You can now listen to a song or watch an entire movie, for example. The big advantage of this method is that both users can control the volume independently.
The second variant of audio sharing is to connect two pairs of AirPods or Powerbeats Pro to an iOS device. This can be done via the iOS settings under Bluetooth. The disadvantage is that the volume remains the same for both output sources and cannot be controlled separately. Basically, the feature is easy to use - the first method is more recommended. Amazon currently offers the AirPods 2
