The Accidental Audio Recording
Within the iOS Messages app, Apple included a specialized accessibility feature called “Raise to Listen.” By default, if you receive an audio message from a friend, you do not have to tap the play button. You can simply lift the iPhone to your ear (exactly like answering a traditional phone call), and the screen proximity sensor will detect the motion, instantly playing the audio message privately through the earpiece. While clever, this feature has a highly frustrating secondary function: if you are already inside a text thread and raise your phone to your ear, it immediately begins recording a new audio message to send to that person. If you fidget with your phone while texting, you will likely send dozens of blank, accidental audio recordings to your contacts. You should disable this feature to prevent embarrassment.
How to Turn Off Raise to Listen
You can completely disable the proximity sensor trigger within the main iOS Messages settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down the main list and tap on Messages.
- Scroll almost all the way to the bottom of the page, looking for the section labeled “Audio Messages.”
- Locate the toggle switch labeled Raise to Listen.
- Tap the switch to turn it Off (the green background will disappear).
What Changes?
The next time you receive an audio message, you will be forced to manually press the blue triangle “Play” button on the screen, and the audio will play out loud through the bottom speaker. More importantly, lifting the phone to your ear while staring at a chat thread will do absolutely nothing. You can only record audio messages intentionally by pressing and holding the dedicated microphone icon next to the text box.