During WWDC 2024, Apple revealed iOS 18, set to launch this fall with exciting new features like a customizable home screen and enhanced Messages. But did you know that iOS 16.4, released over a year ago, included a feature that can make your phone calls sound much clearer?
In March 2023, Apple introduced iOS 16.4, which brought Voice Isolation to phone calls. While Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum were initially added to FaceTime calls with iOS 15 in 2021, only Voice Isolation is available for regular phone calls now.
Voice Isolation minimizes distracting background noises during your calls, ensuring that you can communicate clearly even in noisy environments. This means that whether you’re on a professional call or chatting with friends, sounds like barking dogs or construction work won’t disrupt your conversation.
To activate Voice Isolation, you need to be on an active call. This feature isn’t located in Settings but can be accessed via the Control Center. Once enabled, Voice Isolation remains active for all calls until you turn it off.
Here’s how to enable and disable Voice Isolation for phone calls:
How to Enable Voice Isolation:
- Start or answer a phone call.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Center.
- Tap Mic Mode in the top-right corner.
- Select Voice Isolation.
Pro Tip: To enable this feature without disturbing someone else, call yourself and activate Voice Isolation using the steps above.
To disable Voice Isolation, repeat the steps and select Standard in Mic Mode to return to the default microphone setting.
Understanding Wide Spectrum: Wide Spectrum, found next to Voice Isolation in Mic Mode, enhances background sounds without affecting your voice. This feature is useful for calls with multiple people on the same line, ensuring everyone can be heard clearly.
Currently, Wide Spectrum is only available for FaceTime calls. However, since it still appears in Mic Mode during regular phone calls, it’s possible that this feature might be extended to phone calls in the future.