Richard Crouse writes in about audio balance:
I have hearing loss in my right ear. If I turn up the volume to hear in my right ear, the left ear is dangerously loud.
Apple has offered a left/right audio balance for several iOS releases, but it doesn’t make it obvious where to find it. It’s not in Sounds, but in Accessibility (Settings > General > Accessibility). Swipe down to the Hearing section, and you’ll find a number of options. All iOS devices can adjust left/right balance.
iOS hides its very useful left/right audio balance control in Accessibility settings.
But you’ll also see settings for working with Bluetooth-connected and other hearing aids, for mono audio, and to remove phone noise cancellation, which can affect the quality of calls negatively in some cases.
Accessibility is a misnomer, because the section is full of useful customization and controls that are useful for everyone, not just people with a specific lacuna, like a visual or hearing impairment.
As a general tip, if you’re looking for whether a setting exists, Settings has a slightly hidden search feature. Swipe down slightly from the top, and you can tap in any potential keyword. Enter “bal” and the nested balance setting appears as a match. Tap, and you leap right to it.
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Author: Glenn Fleishman, Senior Contributor
Glenn Fleishman’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and iPadOS Privacy and Security, Take Control of Calendar and Reminders, and Take Control of Securing Your Mac. In his spare time, he writes about printing and type history. He’s a senior contributor to Macworld, where he writes Mac 911.