Make audio more accessible with these apps

Your Android phone is home to innovations – designed by and for people with disabilities – that can help you engage with your world, your way. Sound Amplifier and Live Transcribe are two tools that can make conversations more accessible for people who are deaf and those who experience some degree of hearing loss.

Note: Instructions and settings may vary by manufacturer and model.

Available in over 80 languages and dialects, Live Transcribe provides instant transcription, enabling two-way conversation for people who are deaf and those who can’t or don’t want to speak. See real-time captions for the world around you on your phone, with words appearing on screen as they’re spoken.

To access this text-to-speech tool on most devices, open your phone settings and select “Accessibility,” then “Live Transcribe” (or tap Accessibility > Hearing enhancements > Live Transcribe if you’re using a Samsung device).

You can use external microphones found in wired headsets, Bluetooth headsets, and USB mics for better audio reception and transcription accuracy.

Turn on Sound Notifications to receive visual and haptic alerts for all sorts of audio, including dogs barking, smoke alarms, water running, and a baby crying. You can even add custom sounds for your appliances, so you’re alerted when they go off.

Adjust the kind of alert you receive for specific sounds, choosing from options like vibrate, flashing light, and sending visual push notifications to your phone and connected watches.

Use Sound Amplifier on your Android device (called “Amplify ambient sound” on Samsung devices) with wired or Bluetooth headphones to augment and amplify important sounds in your environment. You can filter out background noise, boost quiet sounds, and amplify high or low frequency sounds to customize how you hear. Easily apply these settings to the left and right ear independently.

You can find Sound Amplifier by opening your phone settings, selecting “Accessibility,” and then tapping “Sound Amplifier.” Or if you’re on a Samsung device, just go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements > Amplify ambient sound.

To use Sound Amplifier as a remote microphone, place your phone near a TV or speaker, then use your Bluetooth headphones. You’ll hear audio in your headphones while the sound remains at a comfortable volume for others.