quick answer
The Apple Watch noise notification warns users of potentially dangerous levels of ambient noise in their current environment.
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What is an audible alert?
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Using your device’s microphone, Apple Watch measures ambient sounds around you. Depending on the noise levels your watch detects, you may get a noise notification. Apple classifies ambient noise levels into two categories:
- Yes Noise represents sounds below 80 decibels. Noise at this level will appear green in the Noise app.
- Aloud Noise represents sounds above 80 decibels. Noise at this level will appear in yellow.
Long-term repeated exposure to sounds at 80dB or higher can cause temporary or permanent damage. To protect your ears, Apple Watch can alert you when noise reaches dangerous levels.
What does your Apple Watch send you a noise notification mean?
If you get a noise notification, your Apple Watch detects that the decibel level of sound in your environment is too high. You will receive this alert if the average noise level reaches or exceeds a certain decibel over a three minute period. You can customize your settings to choose which notification you want to receive in terms of decibels. Depending on the decibel level you select, Apple will warn you if the noise reaches that level and provide insight into how long-term exposure affects your hearing.
What should you do?
If possible, when ambient noise levels exceed 80dB, Apple suggests using hearing protectors or moving to a quieter area. Apple also provides specific guidelines for exposure to different levels of noise on a weekly basis. For example, 5 hours and 30 minutes of exposure to 80 decibel noise can temporarily impair hearing. Apple suggests a weekly limit of 40 hours of noise exposure at this level.
See recommendations in the Noise app for safe exposure amounts of 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100dB. Apple’s daily recommendations follow recommendations from the World Health Organization.
How to set up the Noise app
Set up the Noise app on your Apple Watch to track sound levels in your environment.
- open the Noise application on Apple Watch and tap Can to perform monitoring.
- Enable noise alerts by opening a file Settings application.
- Scroll down and tap Noise.
- Faucet Noise notificationsthen tap the notification you want to receive: 80dBAnd 85dBAnd 90dBAnd 95 decibelsor 100dB.
If you are in a noisy environment, you can measure the noise on demand. Just open the Noise app for an instant read.
Read more: Common Apple Watch problems and how to fix them
Questions and answers
The Apple Watch Noise app samples and measures sound levels in your environment. It does not record or store any sounds for these measurements.
open the Settings application on your Apple Watch. Scroll down and tap Noise. Faucet environmental noise measurements and press the next switch button Measure grades to disable the feature.
