Support

Getting started with eyeHear

Set up eyeHear and start captioning your first conversation in just a few minutes.

Set up and start captioning

  1. Download eyeHear

    Get eyeHear free from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. It runs on iOS or iPadOS 18.6 or later.

  2. Open the app and grant permissions

    On first launch, eyeHear asks for Microphone and Speech Recognition access. Tap Allow for both, since eyeHear needs them to hear speech and turn it into captions. Without them, captions can’t appear.

  3. Start captioning

    Press and hold the screen to begin, and keep holding for as long as you want to listen. eyeHear listens through your device’s microphone and displays what it hears as large, easy-to-read text in real time. Using VoiceOver or Switch Control? The screen works as a single “Start captioning” button. No holding required. VoiceOver users can also start from anywhere on the screen with a two-finger double-tap.

  4. Read along

    Captions scroll as the conversation continues. Hold your device so the microphone faces the person speaking, and keep it within a few feet of them for the best accuracy.

  5. Stop when you’re done

    Lift your finger to stop listening. eyeHear saves the session to your on-device history so you can read it again later. Using VoiceOver or Switch Control? The same button reads “Stop captioning” once eyeHear is listening, so activate it again the same way you started. VoiceOver users can also stop from anywhere on the screen with a two-finger double-tap.

Make eyeHear your own

  • Review your history

    Every captioning session is saved to History on your device. Open a past session to re-read it, or share it using the iOS share sheet. Your history never leaves your device unless you choose to share it. See our privacy policy for how we handle your data.

  • Clear history anytime

    You’re in control of what’s stored. Clear individual sessions or your entire history from within the app whenever you like.

  • Pick a theme

    Switch between Light and Dark to match your surroundings and what’s most comfortable to read.

Tips for the best captions

  • Reduce background noise where you can; quieter rooms produce more accurate captions.
  • Keep the device close to the speaker, with nothing covering the microphone.
  • Make sure your device language matches the language being spoken.
  • Ask people to speak at a natural, steady pace rather than rushing.

Ready to try it?

eyeHear is free on iPhone and iPad. Download it and caption your first conversation today.

Download on iOS

Run into trouble? See troubleshooting or the FAQ.