AirPods Pro as a Hearing Aid: Setup, the iOS Hearing Test & Fixes

The short version

The AirPods Pro 2 (and the newer Pro 3), paired with an iPhone or iPad on iOS 18 or later, can act as a clinically validated, FDA-authorized over-the-counter hearing aid for adults with perceived mild-to-moderatehearing loss. You take a five-minute hearing test in the Settings app; the AirPods then amplify the specific pitches you've lost. At roughly the price of the earbuds themselves, it's the lowest-cost entry into the entire OTC hearing-aid category.

How to set it up, step by step

1. Update your iPhone/iPad to iOS 18 or later, and update your AirPods firmware (keep them in the case, connected to power and Wi-Fi for a while; Apple pushes firmware automatically).
2. Put the AirPods in and run the ear-tip fit test if prompted — a good seal matters for an accurate test.
3. Open Settings, tap your AirPods at the top of the screen, then open Hearing Health.
4. Tap Take the Hearing Test and follow the prompts in a quiet room (about five minutes). It builds a personal hearing profile.
5. When the test finishes, turn on the Hearing Aid feature. The AirPods now amplify the frequencies you're missing, and you can adjust overall amplification, tone, and balance any time in the same menu.

You can also import a hearing test you already have. If you have a recent audiogram, our audiogram interpretercan help you read it and confirm you're in the mild-to-moderate range these devices serve.

Fixing it when the Hearing Aid feature is greyed out or missing

If you can't find or tap the feature, work through these in order — they cover nearly every case:

• Check the model. Only AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 support it. The original AirPods Pro (1st gen), standard AirPods, and AirPods Max do not.
• Update everything. The feature needs iOS/iPadOS 18 or later and current AirPods firmware. Outdated firmware is the most common cause of a missing option.
• Check your region. Apple has rolled the feature out country by country; if it isn't available where your device is set, the option won't appear.
• Confirm your age setting. It's an adult (18+) feature, tied to the Apple ID in use.
• Fix the fit. A poor ear-tip seal can stop the hearing test from completing — swap to a tip size that passes the fit test.

Is it a "real" hearing aid?

Yes. In September 2024 the FDA authorized Apple's Hearing Aid Feature as the first over-the-counter hearing aid software, for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. That is a real regulatory clearance — it is nota PSAP (a personal sound amplifier that isn't an FDA hearing aid). In our guide to the FDA pathways, AirPods Pro fall under the software (SCR) hearing-aid clearance — the same category of genuine OTC device, just delivered through earbuds you may already own.

Where AirPods stop and a dedicated hearing aid begins

AirPods are a superb, low-risk way to find out whether amplification helps you — but they aren't a full substitute for a dedicated hearing aid. Battery life is a few hours rather than all day, the earbud form is more noticeable and less comfortable for continuous wear, and, like every OTC device, they only serve perceived mild-to-moderate loss. If the hearing test confirms you benefit and you want all-day wear or a more discreet, longer-lasting device, a dedicated open-fit OTC hearing aid is the natural next step — see our picks below. And see a doctor first if your hearing loss came on suddenly, is in one ear only, or comes with dizziness or ear pain.