Use AirPods as Hearing Aids (2026)

Here is a clear breakdown of which AirPods models work as hearing aids in 2026:

✅ AirPods Pro 2 (2nd generation, model A3048): Fully supported as an FDA-cleared hearing aid with iOS 18+.

✅ AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation: Supported as an FDA-cleared hearing aid with iOS 18+.

✅ AirPods Pro 3 (2025): Supports full hearing aid mode with enhanced H2 chip processing.

❌ AirPods Pro 1st generation: Not supported — lacks the required hardware.

❌ AirPods 3rd generation (standard): Not supported for hearing aid mode.

❌ AirPods 2nd generation: Not supported.

❌ AirPods 1st generation: Not supported.

What about AirPod 3 hearing aid mode? AirPods 3 (standard, not Pro) do not support the FDA-cleared hearing aid feature, although they do support some Accessibility audio features like Live Listen. AirPods Pro hearing aid mode is only available on Pro 2 and Pro 3. AirPods Pro 1 hearing aid support is not available despite the model having some transparency features.

AirPods Pro 2 is currently the most popular choice for users who want to use AirPods as hearing aids. Thanks to the H2 chip and six-microphone system, AirPods Pro 2 deliver personalised sound amplification based on your audiogram. The in-ear silicone tips provide passive noise isolation, making them especially effective for people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

To use AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid: connect them to your iPhone, go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices, select your AirPods Pro 2, then tap "Use as Hearing Aid" and complete the hearing test. The setup for AirPods Pro 2nd generation hearing aid takes about 10 minutes in total. Once complete, AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid mode activates automatically whenever you wear them.

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation is the only non-Pro model to support the FDA-cleared hearing aid feature. Unlike AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 use an open-ear design — there are no silicone ear tips. This makes AirPods 4 more comfortable for extended wear but slightly less effective at blocking ambient noise. The AirPods 4 hearing aid feature is identical in scope to AirPods Pro 2: full audiogram-based personalisation, Conversation Boost, and Live Listen.

How to use AirPods 4 as hearing aids: connect to iPhone with iOS 18+, go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices, select AirPods 4, and tap "Use as Hearing Aid". The Apple AirPods 4 hearing aid setup takes under 10 minutes. Note: standard AirPods 4 (without ANC) do not support the hearing aid mode — you must have the ANC variant.

Setting up AirPods as hearing aids is a straightforward process you can complete entirely on your iPhone. Here is a full step-by-step guide to the Apple AirPods hearing aid setup:

Step 1: Make sure your AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 (ANC) are fully charged and connected to your iPhone via Bluetooth.
Step 2: Update your iPhone to iOS 18 or later (Settings → General → Software Update).
Step 3: Open Settings → Accessibility.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap Hearing Devices.
Step 5: Your AirPods should appear under “MFi Hearing Devices”. Tap their name.
Step 6: Tap “Use as Hearing Aid”.
Step 7: Follow the prompts to start the built-in hearing test.
Step 8: Put on your AirPods and tap Start — the test plays tones in each ear separately.
Step 9: Tap the screen each time you hear a tone. The test takes about 5 minutes per ear.
Step 10: Once complete, iOS saves your audiogram in the Health app and applies a personalised sound profile.

When setting up AirPods as hearing aids, make sure you are in a quiet room for the hearing test to get accurate results. How to set up hearing aids on AirPods works the same way for all three supported models.

After setup, you can fine-tune your AirPods hearing aid settings at any time. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices → your AirPods to access all controls. Available adjustments include:

• Amplification level: increase or decrease overall volume boost
• Tone balance: adjust bass and treble independently for each ear
• Ambient noise reduction: filter out background sounds more aggressively
• Conversation Boost: enhances the voice of the person directly in front of you
• Follow iPhone: when enabled, your audio settings follow what's playing on your iPhone

To access these settings quickly, add a Hearing shortcut to your Control Center (Settings → Control Center → add Hearing). How to get the hearing aid feature on AirPods after setup: just open Control Center and tap the Hearing icon — it gives you a live readout and quick toggles without opening Settings.

The AirPods hearing aid feature is a full, clinically validated hearing assistance system built into iOS. Here is what the AirPods hearing aid function does in practice:

1. Live Sound Amplification: The microphones on your AirPods capture surrounding audio and amplify it in real time, filtered through your personal audiogram to boost only the frequencies you struggle to hear.
2. Conversation Boost: When you enable this mode, the AirPods Pro hearing aid feature focuses amplification on the person speaking directly in front of you — useful in restaurants, meetings, or noisy environments.
3. Live Listen: Streams audio from your iPhone's microphone directly to your AirPods. You can place your iPhone near a speaker and hear them clearly from across the room.
4. Personalised Audiogram Profile: All amplification is shaped by your hearing test results — the AirPods Pro hearing aid function boosts mid or high frequencies more if your test shows loss in those ranges.
5. Real-Time Adjustment: You can adjust amplification levels live without pausing. How does the hearing aid feature work on AirPods? It runs continuously in the background — once Hearing Aid Mode is on, you simply wear your AirPods and the enhancement happens automatically. 

Does AirPods have a hearing aid function comparable to a traditional device? Yes — but with some differences. AirPods Pro 2 and Pro 3 are FDA-cleared as Class II medical devices for mild-to-moderate hearing loss. This means they meet the same regulatory standards as traditional OTC hearing aids.

Compared to dedicated hearing aids, AirPods offer:

✅ Much lower cost (AirPods Pro 2 retail around $249 vs $1,000–$5,000 for dedicated aids)

✅ Dual use as music/call headphones

✅ Seamless iPhone integration

❌ Shorter battery life than some dedicated aids

❌ Less effective for severe or profound hearing loss

❌ In-ear fit may not suit all users

How do AirPods work as hearing aids differently from a prescription device? The main difference is that prescription hearing aids are fitted by an audiologist and programmed to a detailed audiogram. AirPods use a self-administered test and apply automatic processing — which is excellent for mild-to-moderate loss but not a substitute for professional fitting in cases of significant hearing impairment. The Media Assist feature also helps balance hearing during media playback.

iOS 18 introduced the native Hearing Aid mode for AirPods, making the setup process entirely on-device. If you are using iOS 18 for the first time after updating, your iPhone may prompt you automatically to set up your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 as hearing aids when you connect them.

If you missed the prompt: Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices → your AirPods → Use as Hearing Aid.

How to use Apple AirPods Pro as hearing aids on iOS 18 specifically:

1. Update to iOS 18 (Settings → General → Software Update)
2. Unpair and re-pair your AirPods Pro 2 for a clean setup
3. Follow the Hearing Aid setup wizard

iOS 18.1 and later also added support for retaking the hearing test with updated results and comparing audiograms over time.

All three models — AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4 (ANC) — support hearing aid mode, but they are not identical. Here is how they compare:

AirPods Pro 2 (recommended for moderate hearing loss):
• In-ear silicone tips for passive noise isolation
• 6-microphone system for precise spatial audio capture
• Best-in-class Conversation Boost
• Retail price: ~$249

AirPods Pro 3 (best overall for hearing aid use in 2026):
• Upgraded H2 chip for better low-frequency amplification
• Improved wind noise reduction
• Same in-ear design as Pro 2
• Retail price: ~$279

AirPods 4 with ANC (best for comfort and light hearing loss):
• Open-ear design — no ear tips, more comfortable for all-day wear
• Same FDA-cleared hearing aid mode as Pro models
• Slightly less effective at blocking background noise
• Retail price: ~$179

How to use AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid vs AirPods 4? The setup steps are identical. The difference is purely in fit and isolation — Pro 2 and Pro 3 suit users who need more amplification in noisy settings, while AirPods 4 suits mild loss in quieter environments.

** Some images in this article were generated using artificial intelligence.