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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not know that you can use apple AirPods to eavesdrop from another room??

24 replies

crazycadetmum · 30/04/2020 21:48

My husband over heard a conversation between my daughter and myself....he claimed to have been nearby but we both know he wasn’t...I assumed he had activated the dog webcam to listen in but I’ve now been told you can use apple AirPod and other similar ones to eavesdrop from another room...I wasn’t sure this was possible so googled and found it is indeed possible! The invasion of my privacy by his listening in is a whole other thread!

OP posts:
CrumbsThatsQuick · 30/04/2020 21:50

Yes... my daughter discovered this the other day and was mucking around, showing me how she could listen in from another room.

Lightofthephoenix · 30/04/2020 21:54

I never knew that!

FourEyesGood · 30/04/2020 22:16

How does that work? Do you leave your phone in the room and sit next door with your AirPods in? That’s bizarre!

AcrossthePond55 · 30/04/2020 22:18

I did not know this!!

Is there a way to look at the screen and tell if it's been activated and is 'listening'?

This might explain a few things to a friend of mine.

Original poster
crazycadetmum · 30/04/2020 22:19

I’m not certain how..I don’t have a pair myself..but google tells me it’s possible

OP posts:
tensmum1964 · 30/04/2020 22:28

I would be interested to know how as I have just ordered some for my daughter.

PlayerOneReady · 30/04/2020 22:30

How do you do it? Does anyone know?

lotusbell · 30/04/2020 22:32

Is this only if you have an iPhone?

DKanin · 30/04/2020 22:32

I was thinking about ordering some after seeing the good recommendations on a thread about them earlier. How on earth can people listen in through them? I'd like to know so no one can do that to me without me realising!!

Bluntness100 · 30/04/2020 22:34

It was a function made for hearing impaired people. But it’s enabled on the AirPods. You pair the pods then in setting press live listen. You can then walk away from the phone and hear anything it hears.

Nat6999 · 30/04/2020 22:36

I would imagine leave your phone switched on in the room you listen to, switch earphones on & they link up to phone microphone. To stop it happening, switch microphone off or turn bluetooth off.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 30/04/2020 22:36

There's a feature on iPhones called listen in, you turn that on, leave your phone near what you want to hear and then use your EarPods to listen.

It was designed as an accessibility feature for people with hearing impairments and essentially turns your phone into a mic.

Original poster
crazycadetmum · 30/04/2020 22:37

Least now I know to check the room carefully for phone or ear pods before trying to have a private conversation . I thought taking the dog webcam out was sufficient...clearly not.

OP posts:
Fedhimtotigers · 30/04/2020 22:38

Least now I know to check the room carefully for phone or ear pods before trying to have a private conversation

If the trust in your relationship is at this point I'd say the relationship is over.

I'm so sorry he did this to you.

BBCONEANDTWO · 30/04/2020 22:41

So - if you have an iPhone - you buy these earphones things - leave your phone on in a room (any room) - say go to the loo or an office and you can hear what people are saying through these earphones - that sounds incredibly scary. What range can you hear from ?

heartsonacake · 30/04/2020 23:07

Do you not trust your husband? Confused

Original poster
crazycadetmum · 30/04/2020 23:12

My daughter is currently staying during lockdown..she was moaning to me about her dad..he knew she would be moaning to me and obviously wanted to know what was being said..I think he used the dog webcam as I know he wasn’t in earshot but I’ve been informed you can use the AirPods too...I’m not sure which method he used but I’m still very cross that I can’t have a private conversation in my own home.

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 30/04/2020 23:29

Outside of this feature of air pods why is your husband treating family life as some sort of M16 spy operation?

AcrossthePond55 · 01/05/2020 15:01

Defo going to tell my friend about this. There have been times her 'd'H has said things to her in passing conversations that have made her wonder because she was sure she never mentioned them. Not anything 'horrendous', just minor things that she's sure she's never mentioned to him, some of them things that other people (including me) have told her about. I don't think he suspects her of anything. He just can't stand knowing that she might know something he doesn't!

Yes, she needs to get rid of him. And yes, she knows it.

SteeperThanHell · 01/05/2020 15:03

My middle child discovered it last night!

BBCONEANDTWO · 01/05/2020 18:04

I think if your husband leaves his iPhone in the room check to see if it's on or not - or can you do that I don't have an iPhone.

BubblyBarbara · 01/05/2020 23:10

Why are you having sneaky conversations you don’t want your husband to know about?

Fedhimtotigers · 01/05/2020 23:50

@BubblyBarbara are you serious?
Her daughter wanted a private conversation with her mother? What is the problem?

CoronaIsComing · 02/05/2020 08:19

OMG I know this is terrible for you but this could be life changing for my DH who loves his AirPods but has had hearing loss for over 11 years and won’t wear a hearing aid!

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