---
title: kAudioSessionCategory_AmbientSound
framework: audiotoolbox
role: symbol
role_heading: Global Variable
path: audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_ambientsound
---

# kAudioSessionCategory_AmbientSound

For an app in which sound playback is nonprimary—that is, your app can be used successfully with the sound turned off.

## Declaration

```swift
var kAudioSessionCategory_AmbientSound: Int { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion This category is appropriate for “play along” style apps, such as a virtual piano that a user plays over iPod audio. When you use this category, audio from other apps mixes with your audio. Your audio is silenced by screen locking and by the Silent switch (called the Ring/Silent switch on iPhone). This category is equivalent to the ambient category provided in the AVFoundation framework.

## See Also

### Constants

- [kAudioSessionCategory_SoloAmbientSound](audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_soloambientsound.md)
- [kAudioSessionCategory_MediaPlayback](audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_mediaplayback.md)
- [kAudioSessionCategory_RecordAudio](audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_recordaudio.md)
- [kAudioSessionCategory_PlayAndRecord](audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_playandrecord.md)
- [kAudioSessionCategory_AudioProcessing](audiotoolbox/kaudiosessioncategory_audioprocessing.md)