Plug in. Start the sender. Listen.
Streaming audio to an iPhone from a PC usually means a Wi-Fi app, a Bluetooth workaround, or an adapter. Tether Audio skips all of that and uses the cable you already own.
Plug in the USB cable
Start Tether Sender on the PC
Sound comes out of the iPhone
Everything you need to stream PC audio to an iPhone.
The same quality the computer produces.
The stream is uncompressed 16-bit PCM at 44.1 or 48 kHz in stereo. No Bluetooth codec, no lossy re-encoding.
Pick a latency mode to match the job.
A buffer meter on the main screen shows how much audio is queued and the estimated end-to-end delay, so you can see the effect of each setting as you change it.
Screen locked, app in the background.
Lock screen controls pause and resume playback, and each press is also sent to the computer as a media key so the music there stops too. Phone calls and Siri pause playback automatically, and it resumes when they finish.
Unplugged? It keeps listening.
If the cable is unplugged or the sender restarts, the app keeps listening for a period you choose and reconnects without being reopened. The default is 60 seconds; staying ready indefinitely is optional and uses more battery.
Tuned by you.
Listening port, latency preset, how long to stay ready after a disconnect, mixing with other apps, and pausing when headphones are unplugged.
Check the link.
A statistics panel reports underruns, dropped packets, and drift correction for anyone who wants to check the quality of the link.
The best way to stream audio to an iPhone from a PC is the cable.
An iPhone cannot receive audio over Bluetooth or AirPlay, and Wi-Fi streaming apps add delay and depend on your router. A USB cable is the one link every iPhone and PC already have in common.
| Method | Typical delay | Audio quality | Needs a network | Works with iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tether Audio over USB | 20–80 ms, your choice | Lossless 16-bit stereo PCM | No | Yes, iOS 17 or later |
| Bluetooth from the PC | 100 ms or more | Compressed (SBC, AAC) | No | No. An iPhone can send Bluetooth audio, but cannot receive it. |
| Wi-Fi streaming apps | Varies, often 100 ms or more | Often compressed | Yes, same Wi-Fi network | Depends on the app; subject to router congestion |
| AirPlay | About 2 seconds | Lossless | Yes | No. An iPhone is not an AirPlay receiver, and Windows has no built-in AirPlay sender. |
Your iPhone, as the PC's speaker, headphones, or monitor.
Use your iPhone as a PC speaker
A PC with no speakers, a broken audio jack, or a headless mini PC still has a USB port. Plug in the phone and play through it.
Use AirPods with a Windows PC
Pair AirPods or any Bluetooth headphones to the iPhone as usual. The PC's audio reaches them through the phone, with no Windows Bluetooth pairing.
Watch video with the sound in sync
The Low preset holds delay at about 20 ms, close enough that lips and sound line up on screen.
Listen where there is no Wi-Fi
Planes, hotels, and locked-down office networks do not matter. The cable is the only link.
Private listening at a shared desk
Route the PC to the phone, the phone to your earbuds, and keep the PC's own speakers silent.
Wired instead of wireless
If you have fought Bluetooth dropouts or Wi-Fi stutter, a cable that just carries the audio is a relief.
How to stream PC audio to your iPhone in five steps.
You need an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, a USB cable, and the Tether Sender program on the computer.
- iPhone on iOS 17 or later
- A USB cable (Lightning or USB-C)
- Tether Sender on the Windows PC
- The Apple Devices app or iTunes, for the USB driver
Install the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows
Either one provides the USB driver the sender needs to see your iPhone.Download and start Tether Sender
Free, from GitHub (v1.0.0). It runs from the system tray.Install Tether Audio and plug in the cable
Open the app. It shows "Playing from" your computer's name once the link is up.Pick a latency preset
Low for video, Normal for everyday use, Stable when the USB bus is shared with other devices. Watch the buffer meter as you switch.Optional: send all of the computer's audio
To send everything, including on a PC without speakers, the sender can capture from a virtual audio cable and make it the default output device.
Questions about streaming PC audio to an iPhone
Something missing? Visit the support page or write to [email protected].
Install the free Tether Sender program on your Windows PC, install Tether Audio on your iPhone, and connect the two with a USB cable. Tether Sender captures what the PC is playing and sends it down the cable; the app plays it on the iPhone in real time. No Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or network setup is involved.
Yes. That is exactly what Tether Audio does. The PC's sound comes out of the iPhone's speaker, or out of whatever is connected to the iPhone, including wired headphones, AirPods, or a Bluetooth speaker paired to the phone.
No. Audio travels only over the USB cable. The app never uses Wi-Fi or cellular data, so there is nothing to pair and no network to configure.
An iPhone cannot receive audio over Bluetooth from a PC; it can only send it. Bluetooth audio is also compressed and typically adds 100 ms or more of delay. Tether Audio uses the USB cable instead, which carries uncompressed 16-bit stereo with a delay of 20 to 80 ms.
No. The stream is uncompressed 16-bit PCM at 44.1 or 48 kHz in stereo, the same quality the computer produces.
About 20 ms on Low, 40 ms on Normal, and 80 ms on Stable. The buffer meter on the main screen shows the estimated end-to-end delay for the current setting.
Yes. Playback continues with the screen locked or the app in the background. Lock screen controls pause and resume it, and each press is also sent to the computer as a media key.
The app keeps listening for a period you choose and reconnects without being reopened. The default is 60 seconds. Staying ready indefinitely is optional and uses more battery.
The Apple Devices app or iTunes must be installed for the USB driver. Either one works.
No. Any data-capable USB cable that connects your iPhone to the computer works, including the one that came with the phone. Lightning and USB-C iPhones are both supported.
Tether Sender, the program that captures and sends the audio, is available for Windows today. The Tether Audio app runs on any iPhone with iOS 17 or later.
Yes. The sender can capture from a virtual audio cable and make it the default output device, so everything the computer plays goes to the phone.
Your PC's audio, playing on your iPhone.
Tether Audio is a subscription. Tether Sender is free and open source.