Mobile App Tutorial

Getting Started on Mobile

The Background Noises mobile apps are available now on the App Store and Google Play, with several mobile-exclusive capabilities beyond the core web features. This tutorial covers the features unique to the mobile experience.

Mobile Navigation

The mobile app uses a bottom tab bar with four main sections:

Hidden Screens

Several screens are accessed via navigation rather than the tab bar:

Stream to External Devices

Cast your meditation audio to speakers, TVs, and other devices on your network. Casting continues even if you navigate away from the Player — Netflix-style background playback.

AirPlay (iOS)

1. 1Tap the AirPlay icon in the Player control bar
2. 2Select your AirPlay device (Apple TV, HomePod, AirPlay speakers)
3. 3Your phone and the device must be on the same Wi-Fi network
4. 4Audio streams to the device. Control playback from your phone
5. 5Video backgrounds won't display during AirPlay — audio only

Chromecast (iOS & Android)

1. 1Tap the Cast (TV) icon in the Player control bar
2. 2Select your Chromecast or Android TV device from the list
3. 3Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network
4. 4If no devices appear, check that Wi-Fi is enabled and both devices are on the same network
5. 5Audio streams to the device. Control playback from your phone

Tips

Download Tracks for Offline Use

Save tracks to your device so you can listen without an internet connection — perfect for flights, commutes, remote areas, or anywhere with spotty Wi-Fi.

How to Save to Device

1. 1Open a track in the Player
2. 2Tap the "Save to device" button below the playback controls
3. 3A progress indicator shows the download status
4. 4Once complete, a green checkmark and "Saved to device" confirms the track is available offline
5. 5The track will play from local storage even without internet

Auto-Save

Enable Auto-Save in Account > Storage to automatically download every track you create. This ensures your library is always available offline.

Managing Storage

Post-Play Nudge

After finishing a track, Background Noises may suggest saving it for offline use. This is especially useful for tracks you enjoyed and might want to replay during travel.

Organize Your Tracks

Group related tracks into playlists for continuous, hands-free listening. Create playlists for different purposes like "Sleep Routine", "Morning Focus", or "Meditation Practice".

Creating a Playlist

1. 1Go to your Library
2. 2Tap "Create Playlist" and give it a name
3. 3Add tracks by tapping the + icon on any track card
4. 4Arrange tracks in your preferred order

Playback Features

What is Health Integration?

Background Noises integrates with Apple Health (iOS) and Health Connect (Android) to log your mindful minutes. Every listening session of 1 minute or longer is automatically recorded as a mindful session. That’s all we track — no sleep, heart rate, or other health data.

How to Enable

1. 1Go to Account > Health
2. 2Toggle Apple Health (or Health Connect) on
3. 3Grant the requested permissions
4. 4Background Noises will begin logging mindful minutes automatically

Mindful Minutes

Every listening session of 1 minute or longer is automatically logged as a Mindful Session in Apple Health / Health Connect. This includes the start time, end time, and duration. Minutes are logged accurately regardless of how you exit the player (track completion, pausing, navigating away, or closing the app).

Practice Stats

The Health screen shows your meditation practice overview:

Privacy

We only write mindful minutes to Apple Health / Health Connect. We do not read sleep, heart rate, HRV, steps, or any other health data. All health data stays on your device and is never uploaded to our servers.

Gentle Vibrations While You Breathe

While your track is generating, the breathing guide provides subtle haptic feedback on your phone. A firmer vibration accompanies each inhale, and a lighter pulse follows each exhale. This physical anchor helps you stay present and follow the breathing rhythm without looking at the screen.

Toggling Haptics

Breathing haptics are enabled by default. To turn them off, go to Account > Preferences and toggle "Breathing Haptics" off. The breathing circle animation continues to work with or without haptic feedback.

Background Playback

Meditation audio continues playing when you leave the Player, switch to other apps, or lock your screen. This is essential for sleep tracks and long sessions.

Lock Screen Controls

When a track is playing, standard media controls appear on your lock screen and notification center. You can play, pause, and skip from there.

Keep Screen Awake

During active playback, Background Noises keeps your screen from dimming. This is useful when watching the breathing circle or mood video backgrounds. When you pause, normal screen timeout behavior resumes.

Combining Features

The most powerful mobile experience combines multiple features: