Wireless Audio for
In-Flight Entertainment
Connect your Bluetooth headphones to any IFE system. No more tangled wires at 30,000 feet.
Download on the App StoreWant the latest features? Join the TestFlight beta (free)
The Problem
Wired IFE Systems
Most airlines still use 3.5mm jacks for their in-flight entertainment. Your wireless headphones? Useless.
Tangled Cables
Wired headphones get tangled during meals, bathroom breaks, and when you're trying to sleep.
Laggy Adapters
Many Bluetooth adapters introduce significant audio delay, causing poor lip-sync that ruins your viewing experience.
Annoying Adapters
Bluetooth adapters need charging, require pairing with your headphones, and often deliver lower quality audio than wired connections.
Expensive Transmitters
Dedicated Bluetooth transmitter dongles cost $30-80+. IFE Bridge works with inexpensive USB audio adapters that cost under $15. See adapters →
Broken Seat Audio
Damaged IFE jacks, malfunctioning speakers, or seats with mono-only audio can ruin your flight. Hardware adapters can't fix these problems—they just pass through the broken signal. Seat Doctor can fix this →
The Solution
IFE Bridge transforms your iPhone or iPad into a wireless audio bridge. Simply connect your device to the IFE system with a USB audio adapter, pair your Bluetooth headphones, and enjoy wireless freedom.
| Feature |  IFE Bridge App |
Bluetooth Adapter |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Doctor™ - Channel Fixes | ✓ Mirror left/right, swap channels, fix mono seats |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Doctor™ - Noise Gate | ✓ Remove background hiss from damaged seats |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Doctor™ - Auto-Volume | ✓ Dynamic range compression balance levels, protect against loud announcements |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Doctor™ - Hum Removal | ✓ Remove electrical hum (50Hz/60Hz) filters ground loop hum and buzz from IFE power |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Doctor™ - Voice Boost | ✓ Enhance dialogue clarity 5 adjustable strength levels |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Doctor™ - Sleep Timer | ✓ Auto-stop after 15/30/45/60 min perfect for falling asleep |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Surgeon™ - Volume Limiter | ✓ Brick-wall limiter (10-100%) blocks loud announcements |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Surgeon™ - Parametric EQ | ✓ 3-band parametric EQ professional frequency control |
✗ Not available |
| Seat Surgeon™ - Stereo Width | ✓ Adjust stereo separation (0-200%) from mono to wide stereo |
✗ Not available |
| Recording Function | ✓ Record to WAV files | ✗ Not available |
| Integration with iOS Features | ✓ Widgets, Siri, Control Center, Background mode, Now Playing |
✗ No iOS integration |
| Software Updates | ✓ Regular app updates (new features & improvements) |
✗ Fixed hardware features |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | ✓ Uses iPhone's latest Bluetooth | ⚠️ Varies by model (many older) |
| Audio Codec Support | AAC, SBC, aptX, LDAC (all iOS-supported codecs) |
Usually SBC only (some support aptX) |
| Ultra Low Latency | ✓ Optimized audio pipeline (~100-150ms typical) |
⚠️ Varies (150-300ms+) (often noticeable lag) |
| Volume Control | ✓ iPhone controls + input gain (up to 10x boost) |
⚠️ Limited or none |
| Needs Battery Charging | ✗ No - uses iPhone power | ✓ Yes - must charge separately |
| Simultaneous Charging & Listening | ✓ With passthrough adapter | ✗ Rare on most models |
| Multiple Headphones | 1 headphone (2 with iOS audio sharing) |
⚠️ Some support 2 headphones |
| Stereo/Mono Support | ✓ Full stereo audio | ⚠️ Usually stereo (some cheap models mono) |
| Cost | $10-15 (USB adapter only, TestFlight beta is free) |
$30-80+ (dedicated device) |
| Setup Complexity | Simple: Plug & tap Start | Requires: Charge, pair, configure |
| Extra Hardware to Carry | Just a small USB adapter | Separate device + charging cable |
USB-C & Lightning Compatible
Works with both USB-C (iPhone 15+, iPad Pro, iPad Air) and Lightning (iPhone 14 and earlier, older iPads) devices. Connect to the IFE system using a compatible USB audio adapter. See tested adapters →
Bluetooth Output
Audio is routed from the USB input to your already-paired Bluetooth headphones with minimal latency.
Low Latency
Optimized audio pipeline ensures lip-sync stays perfect, even during action scenes.
Key Features
Seat Doctor™ & Seat Surgeon™
Fix broken seat audio! Mirror or swap channels for mono seats, remove electrical hum and hiss, balance audio levels, boost dialogue clarity, and use advanced features like sleep timer, volume limiter, parametric EQ, and stereo width control. Hardware adapters can't do this. Learn more about Seat Doctor →
Input Gain Control
Boost line-level inputs up to 10x for quiet IFE systems. Perfect for devices like the Sonos USB-C adapter.
Recording
Record IFE audio to WAV files. Great for capturing in-flight announcements or that movie you want to watch later.
Real-Time Metrics
Monitor audio levels, latency, sample rates, and buffer health. See exactly what's happening.
Background Mode
Runs in background so you can use other apps while listening. Widget and Siri support included.
High-Quality Bluetooth Audio
A2DP stereo audio output for the best quality listening experience.
Advanced Controls
Adjustable buffer size, sample rate selection, and diagnostic tools for power users.
How It Works
Setup (One Time)
- Pair your Bluetooth headphones with your iPhone or iPad in Settings
- Get a compatible USB audio adapter with microphone input support:
- USB-C devices (iPhone 15+, iPad Pro, iPad Air): Sonos USB-C Line-in Adapter (best quality), Biaze USB C Sound Card, or UGREEN CM722
- Lightning devices (iPhone 14 and earlier, older iPads): Lightning to USB Camera Adapter + one of the above USB adapters
- See full compatibility list →
- Download IFE Bridge from the App Store
On the Plane
- Connect your USB audio adapter to the IFE headphone jack (3.5mm cable)
- Plug the adapter into your device (USB-C or Lightning)
- Open IFE Bridge and tap "Start Bridge"
- Adjust input gain if audio is too quiet (or use Seat Doctor™ auto-volume)
- Got a broken seat? Use Seat Doctor™ to fix:
- Mono/Dead Channel: Mirror left or right channel to both ears
- Swapped Channels: Fix reversed stereo with channel swap
- Background Hiss: Enable noise gate to remove static
- Inconsistent Volume: Use auto-volume compression
- Enjoy wireless audio! 🎉
Ready to Go Wireless?
Download IFE Bridge now and transform your in-flight entertainment experience.
Download on the App StoreiOS/iPadOS 16.6+ • TestFlight beta (free) • Have questions?