When my wife and I travel, we usually download shows to watch on our flight. But when we watch these shows, we must always divide a set of AirPods so that we each have a earpiece. This means that one of our ears is to enjoy the show while the other is forced to endure everything that is happening in the plane, which can be a little distracting. But thanks to the Apple audio sharing function, we can each enjoy a show together while using our own airpod sets.
Audio sharing was introduced with iOS 18 and iPados 18 in 2024. It allows two pairs of compatible airpods or beaten helmets to associate with a single iPhone or iPad. So you and another person can immerse yourself in music, films or a TED conversation without disturbing those around you.
Find out more: Everything that Apple announced on WWDC 2025
Here’s how to share the audio with another set of Airpod or Beats Headphones.
How to enjoy music and podcasts together
You can share your audio with another pair of headphones by pressing your own helmet control.
1 and 1 Open music, podcasts, spotify or any similar application with your airpods in your ears and connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2 Start playing music or a podcast.
3 and 3 Open your control center by sliding in the upper right corner of your screen.
4 Access your Audio Controls page – It is your second default control center page.
5 Press the AirPods logo near the bottom of your screen.
6. Faucet Share audio.
7 Bring the other pair of AirPods in their case or beats headphones near your device. You may need to press the button at the back of your AirPods case to go into twinning mode.
8 Faucet Share audio When your device detects other airpods or bats.
You can control the volume of the two headphones from the connected device.
Each pair of headphones can modify its own volume via helmet controls, or you can change the volume for each pair via the connected device. But you can enjoy a podcast or another music together without dividing a pair of airpods or disturbing people around you.
How to watch a movie or show with separate headphones
Combining another set of headphones on your device to watch a movie or a television series is similar. Here’s how.
1 and 1 Open Apple TV, Netflix, YouTube or another streaming application with your headphones.
2 Start playing a film or a show.
3 and 3 Brow downwards of the upper right corner of your screen to open your control center.
4 Access your Audio Controls page – It is your second default control center page.
5 Press the AirPods logo near the bottom of your screen.
6. Faucet Share audio.
7 Bring the other pair of AirPods in their case or beats headphones near your device. You may need to press the button at the back of your AirPods case to go into twinning mode.
8 Faucet Share audio When your device detects other airpods or bats.
TAPPING SHARE AUDIO will allow you to connect to another set of headphones so that you and another person can listen or look at something together on the same screen.
Now you and another person can watch a video together without disturbing people around you and without dividing a pair of AirPods.
To find out more about iOS 18, here is what you need to know about iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4, as well as our iOS 18 cheat sheet. You can also consult what you need to know about iOS 26.
Look at this: The small but powerful characteristics of iOS 26
