To record stereo sound on an iPhone 11, open Settings, tap Camera, and turn on Record Stereo Sound. Every video you record after that uses the phone’s multiple microphones to capture separate left and right audio. Apple says iPhone models earlier than the iPhone 16 record video in stereo, so the switch may already be on. Voice Memos has its own stereo setting, covered further down.
This guide follows Apple’s Change video recording settings on iPhone and Change sound recording options on iPhone pages in the iPhone User Guide.
What You Need Before You Start
Stereo sound has two channels, left and right, so a voice on one side of the camera sounds like it comes from that side when you play the video back. Mono sound has one channel, so both ears or speakers get the same thing.
- An iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple’s iPhone 11 technical specifications list stereo recording under video recording. The same switch appears on other models older than the iPhone 16.
- Any recent iOS version. The setting has been in the same place since iOS 13, and Apple lists the iPhone 11 among the iPhone models compatible with iOS 27.
- No extra hardware. Stereo video sound uses the built-in microphones. An external microphone is optional.
The setting only affects videos you record from now on. It does not change the sound in videos that are already in your Photos library.
How to Record Stereo Sound on an iPhone 11
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Camera.
- Turn on Record Stereo Sound. The switch is green when it is on.
There is nothing to save. Close Settings, and the next video you record uses stereo sound. To undo the change, go back to Settings > Camera and turn Record Stereo Sound off.
Turn On Stereo Sound for the iPhone 11 Camera (Guide with Pictures)
These screenshots were taken on an iPhone 11 running iOS 13. The Settings app looks a little different in newer iOS versions, but the menu names are the same.
Step 1: Open the Settings app. It is the gray gear icon on the Home Screen.
Step 2: Scroll down and choose Camera. If you can’t find it, pull down on the Settings screen and type “Camera” in the search field.
Step 3: Tap the switch next to Record Stereo Sound to turn it on. Expect green shading around the switch when stereo recording is enabled.
How to Record a Stereo Video and Check the Result
With the switch on, record a video the usual way. These steps come from Apple’s Record a video with your iPhone camera page.
- Open the Camera app.
- Tap Video to switch to Video mode.
- Tap the Record button, or press either volume button, to start recording.
- Tap the Record button again to stop. The video saves to the Photos app.
Apple notes that video recording isn’t available during a phone or FaceTime call.
The Camera app does not show a stereo label, so the practical way to confirm it worked is to listen. Record a short test clip with a sound source clearly off to one side, then play the clip through headphones. With stereo, the sound should be stronger in one ear than the other. A single small speaker makes the difference hard to hear, which is why headphones are the better test.
The iPhone 11 specifications also list Audio zoom, a feature that ties the recorded sound to the zoom level of the video. Apple’s user guide does not describe a separate switch for it, so there is nothing extra to turn on.
How to Record Stereo Sound in Voice Memos on an iPhone 11
The Camera switch only covers videos. Audio-only recordings in the Voice Memos app use a different setting, and Apple says older iPhone models record memos in mono unless you change it.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then tap Voice Memos. On versions older than iOS 18, Voice Memos is in the main Settings list instead.
- Tap Recording Mode and choose Stereo. On some iOS versions this is a single switch named Stereo Recording instead; turn it on.
Apple’s Make a recording in Voice Memos page explains that with stereo selected, the app records with multiple microphones and separate right and left channels. The waveform on screen looks the same as before, so don’t use it to judge whether stereo is working. Listen through headphones instead. Apple also notes that stereo recording isn’t available on all devices, and that Spatial Audio isn’t available on all iPhone models, so an iPhone 11 may not show every option in the list.
For the basics of making, renaming, and sharing a memo, see how to record audio on an iPhone.
How to Choose Stereo on iPhone 16 and Later
Newer iPhones replaced the single switch with a menu. Use these steps if you have upgraded from an iPhone 11 and can’t find the old setting.
- Open Settings and tap Camera.
- Tap Record Sound.
- Choose Stereo (playback separated between left and right ears), Spatial Audio (immersive from all directions on supported playback devices), or Mono (the same in both ears).
Apple says iPhone 16 and later record Spatial Audio by default. Wind noise is reduced automatically with Spatial Audio or Stereo unless you turn off Wind Noise Reduction. Neither Spatial Audio recording nor the Wind Noise Reduction switch is part of the iPhone 11 setting.
Troubleshooting Stereo Recording on an iPhone 11
- You don’t see Record Stereo Sound. Make sure you are in Settings > Camera, not Settings > Sounds & Haptics and not the Camera app itself. The switch sits on the main Camera settings screen, not inside Record Video. If you see Record Sound instead, you are using an iPhone 16 or later.
- The video still sounds the same on both sides. Check that the clip was recorded after you turned the switch on. Then listen with headphones, because one speaker can’t show left and right separation.
- Playback is mono on every video, even ones from other people. A separate accessibility option can combine the left and right channels during playback. See how to turn mono audio on or off on an iPhone.
- The sound is muffled or one-sided. Stereo depends on more than one microphone, so a case, a finger, or pocket lint covering a microphone opening can change the result. Uncover the openings and record another test clip.
- A voice memo is still mono. The Camera switch doesn’t apply to Voice Memos. Change the Voice Memos setting described above, then make a new recording.
- You are using an external microphone. Apple says you can record in stereo with an external stereo microphone or audio interface that works with iPhone, and suggests looking for the “Made for iPhone” or “Works with iPhone” logo. A single-channel microphone records one channel no matter how the switch is set.
Other Video Recording Settings to Check
Apple’s video recording settings page lists more options under Settings > Camera > Record Video. Which ones you see depends on your model:
- Auto FPS: lowers the frame rate to 24 fps in low light to improve quality. Apply it to 30-fps video, to both 30- and 60-fps video, or turn it off.
- HDR Video: on supported models, iPhone records in HDR and shares an SDR version with devices that can’t play HDR.
- Lock Camera: on supported models, stops the iPhone from switching cameras while you record. It is off by default. See how to lock the camera lens when recording video on an iPhone.
Resolution and frame rate are on the same screen. For those, see how to record 4K video on an iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stereo recording on by default on an iPhone 11?
Apple’s guide says iPhone models earlier than the iPhone 16 record video in stereo, and it describes the Record Stereo Sound switch as something you turn off. So it is normally already on, but it takes only a few seconds to check in Settings > Camera.
What is the difference between stereo and mono?
Apple describes stereo as audio playback separated between your left and right ears, and mono as playback that is the same in both ears. Stereo gives a video a sense of direction. Mono does not.
Should I ever turn Record Stereo Sound off?
Most people can leave it on. Turning it off makes sense if an app or editing workflow you use expects single-channel audio, or if you simply prefer the same sound in both ears. Apple does not publish a file size difference for the two modes.
Can I change a video from mono to stereo after recording it?
No setting on the iPhone 11 does that. The stereo switch applies only to new recordings. Apple’s Audio Mix editing tool in Photos works with videos recorded in Spatial Audio, which is a recording option on iPhone 16 and later.
Does Record Stereo Sound affect Voice Memos or phone calls?
No. It is a Camera setting for video. Voice Memos has its own setting under Settings > Apps > Voice Memos, and phone calls are not affected by either one. The same Voice Memos screen is also where you can stop voice memos from being named after your location. When a recording is ready, you can share the voice memo in a text message.
Does the iPhone 11 record Spatial Audio?
Apple’s guide lists Spatial Audio video recording for iPhone 16 or later. On an iPhone 11 the choice for video sound is the Record Stereo Sound switch.
Next Step
Open Settings > Camera, confirm that Record Stereo Sound is on, and record a ten-second test clip with a sound off to one side. Play it back with headphones before you film anything you want to keep.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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