To turn off loud sound notifications on iPhone, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety, then turn off Headphone Notifications. Apple says you cannot turn off this setting in certain countries or regions. Headphone exposure warnings, Apple Watch environmental noise alerts, and ordinary notification sounds have separate controls.
The short version
- Headphone warnings: Turn off Headphone Notifications in Headphone Safety where regional rules permit it.
- Listening volume: Turn on Reduce Loud Audio to limit loud headphone playback while keeping warnings enabled.
- Environmental alerts: Set Noise Threshold to Off in the paired iPhone’s Watch app for an Apple Watch with Noise support.
- Ordinary notifications: Adjust alert volume, turn on Silent mode, or change an individual app’s notification settings.
| Control or option | What you can change | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Headphone Notifications | Turn off exposure warnings where permitted | iPhone Headphone Safety |
| Reduce Loud Audio | Limit loud headphone playback | iOS 26 or 27 Headphone Safety |
| Volume Down | Lower headphone media volume | iPhone hardware button |
| Playback volume slider | Lower listening volume | iPhone Control Center |
| Siri volume request | Lower listening volume by voice | iPhone with Siri enabled and available |
| Bluetooth Device Type | Correct accessory classification | iOS 27 settings for compatible third-party accessories |
| Headphone warning history | Review previous warnings | Health |
| Headphone Level meter | View headphone audio levels | iOS 27 Control Center |
| Family volume restriction | Prevent changes to the volume limit | iOS 27 family Screen Time |
| Noise alerts through iPhone | Turn off environmental alerts | Paired iPhone Watch app for watchOS 27 |
| Noise threshold adjustment | Change when environmental alerts trigger | watchOS 27 or its paired iPhone |
| Measurements through iPhone | Stop environmental monitoring | Paired iPhone Watch app for watchOS 27 |
| Measurements on Apple Watch | Stop environmental monitoring | watchOS 27 Noise settings |
| Noise app removal | Remove the app | Apple Watch with watchOS 9.4 or later |
| Ordinary alert volume | Lower notification sound volume | iOS 27 Sounds & Haptics |
| Silent mode | Silence ordinary alerts, with exceptions | iOS 27 controls or model-specific hardware |
| Individual app notifications | Turn off an app’s notifications | iOS 27 Notifications |
Turn off headphone exposure warnings
On current iPhone software, including iOS 27, open Settings, select Sounds & Haptics, then choose Headphone Safety. Turn off Headphone Notifications to disable headphone exposure warnings.
If regional restrictions prevent you from turning off the setting, lower your listening volume or turn on Reduce Loud Audio to limit loud playback. These controls reduce your exposure while leaving headphone warnings enabled.
Limit loud headphone playback
On iOS 27 or iOS 26, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety. Turn on Reduce Loud Audio, then adjust its slider. This limits loud headphone playback without disabling Headphone Notifications.
For an immediate adjustment, press Volume Down while headphone media is playing. You can also open Control Center and drag the volume slider downward while listening. Both methods change playback volume.
With Siri enabled and available, activate Siri while listening and say Turn down the volume. Use this request to lower listening volume; use Headphone Notifications to control exposure warnings where permitted.
Turn off Apple Watch environmental noise alerts
For an Apple Watch with Noise support, you can turn off environmental alerts through its paired iPhone. In the watchOS 27 companion app layout, open Watch, select My Watch, then choose Apps > Noise > Noise Threshold. Tap Off.
Apple says you can also adjust Noise notifications directly on a supported Apple Watch. On the watch, open Settings > Noise to manage them.
To keep environmental alerts but change when they trigger, choose a threshold instead of Off. On the watch, open Settings > Noise > Noise Threshold and select a threshold. On the paired iPhone, open Watch, select My Watch, then choose Apps > Noise > Noise Threshold and select a threshold.
Stop environmental sound measurements
To stop environmental monitoring through the paired iPhone in the watchOS 27 layout, open Watch, select My Watch, then choose Apps > Noise. Turn off Environmental Sound Measurements. This stops monitoring rather than merely changing when alerts trigger.
On an Apple Watch with Noise support running watchOS 27, open Settings > Noise > Environmental Sound Measurements. Turn off Measure Sounds. If you only want to change environmental alerts, adjust Noise Threshold instead.
Make ordinary notification sounds quieter
If everyday notification sounds are too loud, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics on iOS 27. Under Alerts and System Sounds, turn off Match Ringtone Volume, then lower the slider.
To silence ordinary alert sounds on iOS 27, open Control Center and tap the Silent mode button. Alternatively, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics and turn on Silent mode. This mode silences ordinary alerts with exceptions; for headphone exposure warnings, use the dedicated Headphone Notifications setting.
If your iPhone has an Action button assigned to Silent mode, press and hold the Action button. On a model with a Ring/Silent switch, flip it toward the back of the iPhone.
To turn off an app’s notification alerts on iOS 27, open Settings > Notifications. Select the app under Notification Style, then turn off Allow Notifications. This controls that app’s ordinary notifications.
Correct a Bluetooth accessory’s device type
If a third-party speaker or car stereo is incorrectly classified, you can correct its type for audio accuracy on iOS 27. Open Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the button next to the accessory’s name. Tap Device Type and choose the accessory’s actual type.
This option applies to third-party Bluetooth accessories that have a Device Type setting. Correcting the classification is not a guaranteed way to stop warnings. If your accessory lacks that setting, use Headphone Safety to manage headphone warnings and playback limits.
Review warnings and monitor headphone levels
To review previous headphone warnings in the current interface, open Health > Browse > Hearing > Headphone Notifications. This screen shows warning history rather than switching notifications off. On iOS 26, open Health > Search > Hearing > Headphone Notifications instead.
To view headphone levels on iOS 27, open Control Center and tap the Add button. Select Add a Control > Hearing Accessibility > Hearing. Tap the Hearing Devices button to view the Headphone Level meter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you turn headphone notifications back on?
Open Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety and turn on Headphone Notifications. This restores headphone exposure alerts.
Which headphones give the most accurate audio level measurements?
Apple says headphone level measurements on iOS 27 are most accurate with Apple or Beats headphones. The headphones you use therefore matter when you review the Headphone Level meter.
Can you prevent a family member from changing the headphone volume limit?
You can restrict changes after setting up family Screen Time on iOS 27. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Reduce Loud Sounds, then select Don’t Allow. This protects the volume limit from changes; it does not override mandatory headphone notifications.
Can you delete the Noise app from Apple Watch?
You can delete Noise on watchOS 9.4 or later, although removal is not a guaranteed way to stop every hearing-related notification. The following steps remove the Noise app from your watch. Press the Digital Crown to display apps, touch and hold an app, then tap the Delete button on Noise and tap Delete App. Press the Digital Crown to finish.
Can you change an app’s alerts without turning off all its notifications?
For supported apps on iOS 27, open Settings > Notifications and select the app under Notification Style. Choose Sounds to change the alert sound or Customize Notifications to control notification categories.