The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Configure and Use Noise Alerts on Apple Watch

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
watchOS 11.4 - Apple Watch Series 10
You will need
Apple Watch Series 4 or later, iPhone running iOS 18 or later

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Enable Noise Monitoring

    Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch and scroll down to select Noise. Toggle the Noise Measurements switch to the ON position to begin tracking environmental sound levels.

    Note: Enabling this feature does not record or save actual audio files, only decibel levels.
  2. 1 min

    Set Your Noise Threshold

    Within the same Noise menu, tap Environmental Sound Measurements. Select Noise Threshold and choose the decibel level that will trigger an alert. Recommended thresholds start at 80 decibels.

    Note: Consistent exposure to sounds above 80 decibels for extended periods can impact long-term hearing.
  3. 30 sec

    Check Real-Time Decibel Levels

    Press the Digital Crown to return to your watch face and open the Noise app from the app grid. The interface displays current decibel levels in real-time with a visual indicator of the surrounding noise intensity.

    Note: If the circle is green, the environment is generally considered safe for your hearing.
  4. 30 sec

    Analyze History in Health App

    Open the Health app on your paired iPhone and navigate to the Browse tab. Select Hearing, then tap Environmental Sound Levels to view daily, weekly, or monthly noise exposure trends.