If you’re like many, silence isn’t always golden. Whether you’re trying to block out the city’s hustle or focus on work while your pet plays, a background buffer can be essential.
For years, I relied on third-party apps like Calm or Dark Noise to fill the silence with white noise. While effective, these apps often come with subscription fees, and I’m looking to declutter my subscriptions this year.
In my search for a cost-effective alternative, I recalled that Apple has integrated a high-quality sound machine directly into iOS 26, a feature many users are unaware of.
This feature, known as Background Sounds, could be the most underrated accessibility option on your iPhone, especially if you struggle with distractions or insomnia.
Why Use Apple’s Native Background Noises?
Aside from being free, the seamless integration of this feature is what truly sets it apart. Unlike some third-party apps that stop when you lock your phone or start playing music, Apple’s Background Sounds are designed to layer.
You can enjoy a rainstorm while listening to your favorite podcast or have white noise in the background while scrolling through TikTok. This transforms your phone into a dynamic soundscape rather than just a media player, making it an excellent way to enjoy background sounds on an iPhone.
Research shows that sounds like white noise can significantly improve sleep quality. So, if you’re a light sleeper or have noisy neighbors, Apple’s hidden sound library might be the solution you need.
How to Listen to White Noise on Your iPhone
I personally love white noise, especially when I need to concentrate. Enabling Background Sounds on iOS 26 is straightforward, but if you don’t know where to look, you might miss it.
Here’s how to enable white noise sounds on your iPhone:
- Open Settings
- Tap Accessibility, then Audio & Visual
- Select Background Sounds
- Toggle On and choose your preferred sound
Pro Tip: Control Center Toggle
Now that you know how to activate background noises, wouldn’t it be easier to have a quick toggle in the Control Center instead of navigating through Settings every time you want to use rain sounds?
Here’s how to add it:
- Open Settings
- Select Control Center
- Add Hearing
That’s it! You now have a dedicated toggle for background noise on your iPhone without needing to pay for a subscription to apps like Calm.
If you want to take it a step further, you can use the Shortcuts app to enable white noise before bedtime and disable it when you wake up.
This hidden tool is just one of many lesser-known features on the iPhone that often go unnoticed. Stay tuned to our publication for more quick iOS tips.