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Frequently Asked Questions

What devices are compatible with OndaHear?
OndaHear works on iPhone running iOS 15 or later. Translation Mode requires iOS 26 or later. The app also includes an Apple Watch companion app for quick controls from your wrist. OndaHear works with any wired headphones, Bluetooth earbuds (including AirPods and AirPods Pro), and external USB microphones connected via a Lightning or USB-C adapter.
Does OndaHear work on iPad?
OndaHear is designed for iPhone. While it may run on iPad through iPhone app compatibility, it is optimized for and tested on iPhone. For the best experience, use it on an iPhone with iOS 15 or later.
Why do I need headphones or earbuds?
Headphones are required to prevent audio feedback (the loud squealing sound that occurs when a microphone picks up its own output from a speaker). When you use the iPhone's built-in microphone and speaker together, the amplified sound from the speaker gets picked up by the microphone, creating a painful feedback loop. Headphones eliminate this problem by keeping the amplified audio contained in your ears, away from the microphone. Any headphones will work: wired earbuds, AirPods, AirPods Pro, over-ear Bluetooth headphones, or bone conduction headphones.
How do I get the best audio quality?

For the best results:

  • Use quality earbuds or headphones. AirPods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation work especially well in noisy environments.
  • Position your iPhone close to the sound source. Even a few feet closer can make a big difference.
  • For significantly better pickup, use an external USB microphone with a Lightning or USB-C adapter. External mics are more sensitive than the built-in iPhone mic.
  • Adjust the Volume Boost slider to a comfortable level. Start low and increase gradually.
  • In noisy environments, point the microphone toward the speaker and away from the noise source.
  • Minimize background noise when possible (turn off fans, close windows, move away from crowds).
What is Listen Mode?
Listen Mode turns your iPhone into a personal hearing amplifier. Sound is captured through your iPhone's microphone (or an external USB mic), amplified in real-time, and played through your earbuds. You can adjust the volume boost to your preferred level. You can also enable Live Captions to see a live text transcription of what is being said, which is helpful in noisy environments or when you miss a word. Listen Mode continues working in the background when your phone is locked or you switch to another app.
What is Translation Mode?
Translation Mode (requires iOS 26 or later) provides real-time speech translation. Speak in one language, and OndaHear will transcribe what you say and translate it into another language on screen. It can also read the translation aloud. This is ideal for travel, multilingual families, international business meetings, or communicating with someone who speaks a different language. Translation happens entirely on your device for maximum privacy. You need to download language packs for offline use (see the question about supported languages below).
What is Conversation Mode?
Conversation Mode allows two iPhones to connect for two-way communication. This is perfect for situations where one person has hearing difficulties. Both parties can speak normally, and the audio is transmitted between devices with amplification and optional captions. One device acts as the remote microphone, picking up sound and sending it to the other device's earbuds.
What is Transmit Mode?
Transmit Mode lets you broadcast audio from your iPhone to other nearby devices. This is useful in group settings such as classrooms, meetings, or tour groups, where one person speaks and multiple people need to hear the amplified audio on their own devices. The speaker's device captures audio and transmits it, while listeners connect from their own phones.
How do I save and export transcripts?
When Live Captions are enabled, a "Save Transcript" button appears on screen. Tap it to save the current conversation. You can access your saved transcripts from the main menu. Each transcript includes the date, time, and duration of the conversation. Free users can save up to 3 transcripts. Premium subscribers have unlimited transcript storage. You can share transcripts via the standard iOS share sheet (email, messages, notes, etc.).
Does OndaHear work in the background?
Yes. OndaHear continues to amplify audio even when your phone is locked or when you are using other apps. The audio processing runs in the background so you can text, browse, or use any other app while still hearing amplified audio through your earbuds. Live Captions require the app to be visible on screen.
How much does OndaHear cost?

OndaHear offers a generous free tier and several premium subscription options:

Free tier (no payment required):

  • 30 minutes per day of listening
  • 15 minutes per day of translation
  • Up to 3 saved transcripts

Premium plans (unlimited everything):

  • Weekly: $2.99/week
  • Monthly: $9.99/month
  • Yearly: $89.99/year (approximately $7.50/month) — Best Value

All premium plans include unlimited listening time, unlimited translation, unlimited transcript storage, and access to all features on both iPhone and Apple Watch. Subscriptions are managed through your Apple ID and can be cancelled at any time.

What is the difference between Free and Premium?

Here is a comparison:

Feature Free Premium
Listen Mode 30 min/day Unlimited
Translation Mode 15 min/day Unlimited
Conversation Mode Included Included
Transmit Mode Included Included
Live Captions Included Included
Saved Transcripts Up to 3 Unlimited
Background Audio Included Included
Apple Watch App Included Included
How do I cancel my subscription?

Subscriptions are managed through your Apple ID, not through the OndaHear app. To cancel:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
  3. Tap Subscriptions.
  4. Find and tap OndaHear.
  5. Tap Cancel Subscription.

Your premium access will continue until the end of your current billing period. After that, you will revert to the free tier. You will not be charged again after cancelling. If you do not see OndaHear in your subscriptions, you may be signed in with a different Apple ID than the one used to subscribe.

Is my audio data private?

Yes, absolutely. All audio processing happens entirely on your device. Here is exactly what that means:

  • Audio amplification: processed locally on your iPhone. No audio data is ever transmitted anywhere.
  • Speech recognition (Live Captions): uses Apple's on-device speech recognition. Your speech is never sent to any server.
  • Translation: uses Apple's on-device translation framework. Translations happen locally after you download the language packs.
  • Saved transcripts: stored only on your device.

We do not record, store, transmit, or have access to your audio, transcripts, or translations. Your conversations remain completely private. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

What can I do with the Apple Watch app?
The OndaHear Apple Watch companion app gives you quick controls from your wrist. You can start and stop listening sessions, adjust volume, and see your listening status without pulling out your phone. The Watch app communicates with the iPhone app, which does the actual audio processing. Your iPhone needs to be nearby and connected for the Watch app to work.
What languages are supported for translation?

Translation Mode supports 19 languages:

English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Hindi, Indonesian, Polish, Thai, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

These are the languages supported by Apple's on-device translation framework. We cannot add additional languages beyond what Apple provides. If a language is not in this list, it is not available for translation in OndaHear.

Can I use translation offline?

Yes. Translation works completely offline once you have downloaded the necessary language packs. To download language packs:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone (the system Settings, not OndaHear settings).
  2. Go to General > Dictionary or search for Translate.
  3. Under Downloaded Languages, tap the download button next to the languages you need.
  4. Wait for the download to complete (requires Wi-Fi, packs are typically 100-200 MB each).

Once downloaded, translation will work without an internet connection. We recommend downloading language packs before traveling.

Troubleshooting

No sound coming through

If you are not hearing any amplified audio through your headphones, work through these steps in order:

  1. Make sure headphones or earbuds are connected. Check that they appear as the active audio output in Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner, long-press the audio controls, and check the output device).
  2. Turn up the device volume using the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone.
  3. Inside OndaHear, make sure the Volume Boost slider is turned up (not set to zero).
  4. Make sure you have tapped the Start/Play button. The app does not amplify audio until you start a session.
  5. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your headphones.
  6. Close OndaHear completely (swipe up from the app switcher) and reopen it.
  7. Restart your iPhone.

Audio is too quiet or distorted

Check this first — iOS Headphone Safety:

iOS has a Headphone Safety setting that can dramatically reduce headphone volume. If audio is much quieter than expected through your earbuds or headphones, go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Headphone Safety → Reduce Loud Audio and turn this switch OFF. This is often the single biggest cause of quiet audio and is not something the app can override.

⚠️ Turn your device volume down first. Without this limit, the maximum volume becomes much louder and can damage your hearing if audio was already turned up. Start low and raise it gradually.

If audio is still too quiet:

  • Increase the Volume Boost slider in the app. Start at a moderate level and increase gradually.
  • Make sure your device volume (physical buttons) is turned up.
  • Move your iPhone closer to the sound source. Even moving 2-3 feet closer can make a significant difference.
  • Consider using an external USB microphone for much better pickup sensitivity.

If audio sounds distorted or clipped:

  • Reduce the Volume Boost slider. Distortion occurs when the boost is set too high for the input volume.
  • Move the microphone slightly further from the sound source if the speaker is very loud.
  • If using an external mic, check that it is firmly connected and the adapter is fully seated.

External USB microphone not detected

If your external USB microphone is not being recognized:

  1. Make sure you are using a compatible Lightning-to-USB or USB-C adapter (Apple's official Camera Adapter or a quality third-party equivalent).
  2. Disconnect and reconnect the adapter and microphone.
  3. Try connecting in this order: plug the adapter into the iPhone first, then plug the mic into the adapter.
  4. Some USB microphones require more power than the iPhone can supply through the adapter. If your mic has its own power supply, use it.
  5. Close OndaHear, reconnect the mic, then reopen OndaHear.
  6. Try a different USB microphone or adapter to isolate the problem.

External microphone stops working or switches to internal mic

This is a known issue. iOS sometimes switches the audio input back to the built-in microphone, especially after interruptions (phone calls, Siri, notification sounds). If this happens:

  1. Stop the current listening session in OndaHear.
  2. Disconnect and reconnect the external microphone.
  3. Start a new session.

This usually resolves the issue. If it keeps happening frequently, check that your adapter connection is firm and not loose.

Bluetooth earbuds not connecting or audio routing incorrectly

If your Bluetooth earbuds are not working correctly with OndaHear:

  1. Make sure your earbuds are paired and connected in Settings > Bluetooth.
  2. Open Control Center and check the audio output device. Tap the audio routing icon (the triangle with circles) to select your earbuds as the output.
  3. If audio is routing to the earbuds but the mic is using the earbud mic instead of the iPhone mic: this is expected behavior for some Bluetooth profiles. OndaHear will use the best available microphone. For better pickup, use an external USB mic alongside your Bluetooth earbuds for output.
  4. If your Bluetooth earbuds have high latency (noticeable delay), this is a limitation of Bluetooth audio. Wired headphones provide the lowest latency.
  5. Try forgetting the device in Bluetooth settings and re-pairing it.
  6. Restart your iPhone if Bluetooth is behaving erratically.

Live Captions not appearing or inaccurate

If Live Captions are not showing up:

  1. Make sure the Live Captions toggle is enabled in the app.
  2. Check that you have granted Microphone permission: Settings > OndaHear > Microphone (must be enabled).
  3. Check that you have granted Speech Recognition permission: Settings > OndaHear > Speech Recognition (must be enabled).
  4. Make sure the correct language is selected. Speech recognition works best when the language setting matches the language being spoken.
  5. Speak clearly and at a normal volume. Very quiet speech or heavy background noise will reduce accuracy.

If captions are appearing but are inaccurate:

  • Verify the correct language is selected.
  • Move the microphone closer to the speaker.
  • Reduce background noise if possible.
  • On-device speech recognition accuracy varies by language and accent. It generally works best with clear, moderately-paced speech.

Translation not working or language pack issues

If Translation Mode is not working:

  1. Check your iOS version. Translation Mode requires iOS 26 or later. Go to Settings > General > About to check your version. If you are on an earlier version, you need to update.
  2. Download the language pack. Translation requires language packs to be downloaded. Go to iPhone Settings > General > Dictionary (or search for "Translate") and download the languages you need. This requires Wi-Fi.
  3. Check that both languages are supported. OndaHear supports exactly 19 languages for translation (see the supported languages question above). If you selected an unsupported language, translation will fail.
  4. Restart the translation session. If translation freezes or stops producing results, stop the session and start a new one.
  5. Restart the app. Close OndaHear completely and reopen it.

If a language pack download fails:

  • Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi (language packs are large and cannot be downloaded over cellular).
  • Check that you have enough free storage on your device (packs are typically 100-200 MB each).
  • Try again later. Apple's download servers can occasionally be slow.

Audio feedback (squealing or howling noise)

Feedback is the loud squealing or howling sound that occurs when a microphone picks up its own amplified output. To fix this:

  1. Use headphones or earbuds. This is the primary solution. Feedback happens when you use the phone speaker with the microphone. Headphones keep the output away from the mic.
  2. If you are using headphones and still hearing feedback, your volume may be so high that sound is leaking from the earbuds back to the mic. Turn down the Volume Boost slider.
  3. If using over-ear headphones, make sure the ear cups form a good seal. Open-back headphones will leak more sound.
  4. Move the phone further from your head/ears if you are experiencing minor feedback.

App crashing or freezing

If OndaHear crashes or becomes unresponsive:

  1. Force-close the app: swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button on older iPhones), find OndaHear in the app switcher, and swipe it up to close it.
  2. Reopen OndaHear.
  3. If the app keeps crashing, restart your iPhone.
  4. Make sure you are running the latest version of OndaHear from the App Store.
  5. Make sure your iPhone has enough free storage space (at least 500 MB free is recommended).
  6. If the problem persists after all of the above, delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store. Your subscription will be restored automatically through your Apple ID.

Battery drain

Audio processing uses your iPhone's processor continuously, so some battery drain is normal. To minimize battery usage:

  • Disable Live Captions when you do not need them. Speech recognition uses significantly more processing power than audio amplification alone.
  • Close OndaHear completely when you are done using it (do not just leave it running in the background).
  • For long sessions (lectures, conferences, religious services), keep your phone plugged in or bring a portable battery pack.
  • Lower your screen brightness when using the app.
  • Using an external USB microphone may slightly increase power consumption since the adapter draws power from the phone.

Apple Watch app not syncing or not working

If the Apple Watch companion app is not connecting or syncing with your iPhone:

  1. Make sure OndaHear is open on your iPhone (it can be in the background, but it needs to be running).
  2. Confirm that your Apple Watch and iPhone are connected. Look for the green phone icon in Control Center on your Watch, or check the Watch app on your iPhone.
  3. Make sure the OndaHear Watch app is installed. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll down to find OndaHear, and make sure it is set to install.
  4. If the Watch app shows stale data or does not respond to taps, force-close it: press the side button on your Watch, find OndaHear in the app list, swipe left, and tap the X to close it. Then reopen it.
  5. Restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone.

Subscription not recognized or features locked

If you have a premium subscription but the app is showing the free tier limits:

  1. Restore purchases: Open OndaHear, go to the subscription/paywall screen, and tap "Restore Purchases."
  2. Check your Apple ID: Go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions and verify that OndaHear appears as an active subscription. If it does not, you may be signed in with a different Apple ID than the one you used to subscribe.
  3. Check your internet connection. Your subscription works offline for up to 7 days, but an occasional internet connection helps keep things in sync with the App Store.
  4. Close and reopen OndaHear after restoring purchases.
  5. If none of the above works, wait a few minutes and try again. Sometimes it takes a moment for the App Store to confirm the subscription status.
  6. As a last resort, contact us at support@ondahear.com with your Apple ID email and approximate purchase date, and we will help resolve it.

Microphone permission denied

OndaHear requires microphone access to function. If you accidentally denied the permission, or if the app is not picking up any audio:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap OndaHear.
  3. Make sure the Microphone toggle is turned on (green).
  4. Return to OndaHear and start a new session.

If OndaHear does not appear in Settings, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app. You will be prompted for microphone access again on first launch.

Speech recognition permission denied

Live Captions and Translation require speech recognition permission. If these features are not working:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap OndaHear.
  3. Make sure the Speech Recognition toggle is turned on (green).
  4. Return to OndaHear and try enabling Live Captions or starting a translation session.

Note: Speech recognition permission is separate from microphone permission. You need both enabled for captions and translation to work.

Quick Setup Guides

First Time Setup Checklist

  1. Download OndaHear from the App Store and open it.
  2. Grant permissions when prompted. Tap "Allow" for both Microphone and Speech Recognition. These are required for the app to function.
  3. Connect headphones or earbuds. Plug in wired headphones or connect Bluetooth earbuds before starting a session. The app will remind you if no headphones are detected.
  4. Choose a mode. Tap Listen Mode to get started with basic hearing amplification.
  5. Adjust the volume. Tap Start, then use the Volume Boost slider to find a comfortable level. Start low and increase gradually.
  6. Try Live Captions. Toggle on Live Captions to see a text transcription of what is being said.
  7. Explore other modes once you are comfortable with Listen Mode.

External Microphone Setup

  1. Get a USB adapter. You need a Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter (for Lightning iPhones) or a USB-C adapter (for USB-C iPhones). Apple's official adapters work best.
  2. Connect the adapter to your iPhone first.
  3. Plug in your USB microphone to the adapter.
  4. Open OndaHear and start a session. The app will automatically detect and use the external microphone.
  5. Connect headphones via Bluetooth (since the Lightning/USB-C port is in use). Alternatively, use an adapter with a passthrough charging port, or a USB-C hub that has both USB and headphone ports.

Tip: For the best results, see our recommended hardware page for compatible microphones and adapters.

Apple Watch App Setup

  1. Make sure OndaHear is installed on your iPhone.
  2. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  3. Scroll down to the list of available apps and find OndaHear.
  4. Tap Install (if it is not set to install automatically).
  5. Wait for the app to install on your Watch. This may take a minute.
  6. Open OndaHear on your Watch. You can now control listening sessions from your wrist.

Still need help?

If you have gone through the FAQ and troubleshooting above and your issue is not resolved, we are happy to help. Please include a description of the problem, what you have already tried, your iPhone model, and your iOS version. We typically respond within 24 hours.

support@ondahear.com