Apple's new iPhone feature alerts you when someone calls your name

It often happens that we are listening to music with headphones on, or are so busy with something that we do not notice when someone calls out to us. A new feature for iPhone users aims to fix this problem.

Apple has introduced a new accessibility feature called Name Recognition for iOS 26 and later updates. The feature enables the iPhone to continuously listen for your name. As soon as someone calls out to you, the phone immediately sends a notification to alert you. The key advantage is that users do not need to keep watching the phone screen at all times.

Name Recognition is actually part of a broader accessibility feature that allows the phone to recognise certain sounds around it. Besides sounds such as doorbells, sirens and alarms, it also has the option to recognise a person's name being called out on certain occasions.

The feature can be especially useful in places with a lot of noise or activity, or when headphones are in your ears. For instance, if there is considerable noise around you and someone calls out your name, the iPhone can recognise the sound and notify you.

The feature can be turned on by opening Settings on the iPhone, then going to the Accessibility section. There, an option related to Audio and Visual or Sound Recognition will appear; its exact location may vary depending on the iOS version. Sound Recognition then needs to be turned on, and the relevant option can be chosen from the available sound categories. If newer options for recognising specific sounds or names are available on the iPhone, they can also be set up from the same section.

This feature will benefit those who use headphones constantly the most, since surrounding sounds are harder to hear while listening to music. However, it is important to note that the feature does not guarantee 100 percent accuracy. Its ability to recognise sounds can be affected by heavy noise, several people speaking at once, or a voice coming from far away.