Apple Sound Recognition: Features & Requirements

Features

Unless noted, features apply to iPhone and Apple Watch.

Audio input & output

Supported: Audio inputsDevice microphoneiPhone · iPad only
Conditional: Live outputs⁷On-screen textiPhone only

Compatibility

Conditional: Required hardware^{8, 9}Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 · iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) · iPhone 15 or later (listed models) · CarPlay-enabled vehicle

Sound alerts

Conditional: Environmental-sound alerts¹⁰iPhone · iPad only
Conditional: Watch notifications^{11, 12}

Availability & access

Conditional: Initial model download^{1, 2}iPhone · iPad only

Privacy & data

Conditional: Data storage³None
Conditional: Audio retention⁴0 days
Not supported: Audio sent off device⁵
Conditional: Local-only mode⁶

Apple says you may need to wait for iPhone to download the available sounds after turning Sound Recognition on.
Apple says you may need to wait for iPad to download the available sounds after turning Sound Recognition on.
Apple Watch Sound Recognition workflow only (Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 11 or later / iPhone SE 2nd gen or later on iOS 27); documented in Apple's Audio Intelligence article. Applies to audio: Audio Intelligence features create no audio recordings.
Apple Watch Sound Recognition workflow only (Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 11 or later / iPhone SE 2nd gen or later on iOS 27); documented in Apple's Audio Intelligence article. Refers to the transient processing buffer in the Secure Exclave, deleted immediately after processing.
Stated for the Apple Watch Sound Recognition workflow (Audio Intelligence); Apple's iPhone/iPad guides say only that recognition uses on-device intelligence.
Apple Watch Sound Recognition workflow only (Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 11 or later / iPhone SE 2nd gen or later on iOS 27); documented in Apple's Audio Intelligence article. Processing is always on device; no separate mode to choose.
Sound Recognition in CarPlay: a notification appears on the CarPlay touchscreen; supported iPhone models only; CarPlay is not available in all countries or regions.
Only for the Apple Watch Sound Recognition workflow; the iPhone must run iOS 27. Minimum OS: iOS 27.
Only for Sound Recognition in CarPlay; available on iPhone 15 and later models listed by Apple (including iPhone 16e, 17e, Air and Duo).
Requires a supported device and selected sound types. Do not rely on phone recognition as a dedicated alarm system.
Only Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4; enabled from the paired iPhone's Settings (Detect using Apple Watch).
Requires Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4 paired with iPhone 11 or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later), running iOS 27. Works even when the iPhone is not with you. Minimum OS: iOS 27.