The Robotic Reader
By default, if you are wearing AirPods or compatible Beats headphones, iOS utilizes a feature called “Announce Notifications.” Whenever you receive a text message, an iMessage, or a reminder, Siri will physically lower the volume of your music and begin reading the message aloud into your ears. While this allows for hands-free communication, it is incredibly jarring if you are trying to focus on an audiobook or relax with an ambient playlist. If you demand that your headphones remain strictly dedicated to the media you manually select, you must completely silence this automated voice assistant.
How to Turn Off Announce Notifications
You can permanently lock Siri out of your headphone audio stream via the Notifications settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Notifications.
- Under the “Siri” section, tap on Announce Notifications.
- Locate the master toggle switch labeled Announce Notifications at the very top of the screen.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position (the green background will disappear).
Uninterrupted Audio
The change takes effect instantly. The iPhone will completely terminate the background audio-ducking daemon. The next time you are wearing your AirPods and a text message arrives, your music will continue playing at its normal volume, completely uninterrupted. You will simply hear a standard, subtle “ding” (if your phone is off silent mode), guaranteeing that a robotic voice never again ruins the drop of your favorite song.