Apple is set to release iOS 26 on Sept. 15, and it will bring call screening and more to your iPhone then. But you don’t need the latest iOS update to use Voice Isolation, an iPhone feature that can make your calls clearer for the person you’re talking with.
Apple introduced Voice Isolation in 2023 with iOS 16.4. The tech company added the feature, alongside Wide Spectrum, to FaceTime calls with iOS 15 in 2021, but only Voice Isolation is available for regular phone calls at this time.
When Voice Isolation is enabled, it muffles distracting background noises that interrupt your calls. That way, if you’re on a business call or catching up with friends, you won’t be interrupted by your dog’s barking or construction outside your home.
To enable Voice Isolation, you have to be on an active phone call, as the feature isn’t located in Settings. Once activated, Voice Isolation will remain on for all future calls unless you manually turn it off.
Here’s how to activate and disable Voice Isolation for phone calls. You can also check out everything to know about iOS 26.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
How to enable Voice Isolation
1. Tap your Phone app.
2. While in a phone call, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to access your Control Center.
3. Tap Phone Controls near the top of your screen.
4. Tap Voice Isolation.
To disable Voice Isolation, follow the same steps above and tap Standard in Phone Controls. This will return your microphone back to its default setting.
What are Wide Spectrum and Automatic?
Near Voice Isolation in Phone Controls, you’ll also find Wide Spectrum and Automatic. These are different mic modes you can enable.
Unlike Voice Isolation — which muffles background sounds — Wide Spectrum amplifies background sounds without affecting your voice. Wide Spectrum is useful for calls with multiple people on one phone line. That way, everyone can be heard, not just the person holding the phone. Currently, Wide Spectrum is only available for FaceTime calls. Since the feature is still present in Phone Controls, it could become available for phone calls in the future.
Automatic will choose that mode is best for your call. “For example, Automatic uses Voice Isolation to block ambient noises during calls using the receiver, and it uses the Standard mic mode for calls using the speakerphone,” Apple writes online.
For more on iOS 26, here are my first impressions of the beta, how to enable call screening in the update and all the new features Apple said it will bring to your device on Sept. 15. You can also check out our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
Read the full article here