How to Use FaceTime Wide Spectrum Audio & What It Does

Wide Spectrum mode on FaceTime lets your friends hear environmental sounds like music recitals, concerts, and more with clear and crisp audio.

By Elisabeth Garry Updated 12/22/2021

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Have you ever tried to share a recital or conduct a music lesson over FaceTime? If so, iOS 15's new Wide Spectrum mode may be for you. Wide Spectrum mode brings in and enhances all the background noise around you so your friends or family can hear things with better quality.

Why You'll Love This Tip

Share music or conversations going on around you with better audio quality.
Let whomever you're FaceTiming with feel like they're really in the room with you.

Important: Wide Spectrum Audio works on iPhone XR, XS or XS Max and newer, running iOS 15 or later. If you have an earlier software version you will need to update to iOS 15 before using this tip.

How to Use FaceTime Wide Spectrum Mode on iPhone in iOS 15

Use this microphone mode to bring background noise to the forefront during a FaceTime call. To master more FaceTime and iOS 15 features, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

Open FaceTime.
Swipe down from the upper-right corner to open the Control Center. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
Tap the Mic Mode button.
Tap Wide Spectrum.

Now you can share the concert you're listening to with your FaceTime partner, or conduct a music lesson as though you're in the room together. These steps show you how to enable Wide Spectrum in FaceTime before you start a call, but you can also turn on Wide Spectrum Audio while already on a FaceTime call.

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Author Details

Elisabeth Garry

Elisabeth Garry is an Associate Editor for iPhone Life. Formerly of Gartner and Software Advice, she has four years’ experience writing about technology for everyday users. As a former college writing instructor, she is passionate about effective, accessible communication, which is perhaps why she loves helping people make the best use of the strongest communication tools they have available: their iPhones. She has a degree in Russian Literature and Language from Reed College.

When she’s not writing for iPhone Life, she’s probably either reading (19th-century Russian literature or fantasy novels), writing fiction, or spending time with her adorable dog, Moosh.

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