Accessibility & Vision · Quick guide
How to Pair Hearing Aids with an iPhone (Made for iPhone & Bluetooth LE)
Pairing hearing aids to an iPhone is genuinely easy once you know it does not happen in Bluetooth settings. Here is the right path.
By Suzy Ahn
Hearing aids do not pair through iPhone's standard Bluetooth menu. They have their own dedicated screen, and the setup steps depend on whether the hearing aids are "Made for iPhone" or use newer Bluetooth LE Audio. Here is how to tell them apart and pair either kind.
Made for iPhone vs. Bluetooth LE — which do you have?
Look at the hearing-aid box or the manufacturer's product page. If it says Made for iPhone or shows the "MFi" logo, follow the first set of steps below. If it advertises Bluetooth LE Audio or Auracast, follow the second set. Most hearing aids from 2018 onward are Made for iPhone; most from late 2024 onward are Bluetooth LE.
Pairing a Made for iPhone hearing aid
- Make sure the hearing aids are charged and turned off.
- On iPhone, open Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices.
- Turn the hearing aids on. Most models enter pairing mode for one minute right after powering on.
- Wait for the name of the hearing aids to appear on the iPhone screen. Tap it.
- You will see two pairing requests (one per ear). Tap Pair on both.
Once paired, the hearing aids appear under "Devices" at the top of the Hearing Devices screen. From there you can adjust volume per ear, switch programs, and turn on Live Listen (which uses the iPhone microphone as a remote mic).
Pairing a Bluetooth LE hearing aid
Bluetooth LE hearing aids pair in two places: first through the manufacturer's app (Phonak, Oticon, Starkey, ReSound), then automatically registered with iOS. Install the manufacturer app from the App Store first, sign in or skip account creation, and follow its on-screen pairing wizard. iPhone will pick up the connection automatically afterward and show it in Hearing Devices.
When pairing fails
- Hearing aids do not appear: Turn them fully off, wait 30 seconds, then turn them back on while the Hearing Devices screen is open on the iPhone.
- Pairs but no sound: Check Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices and confirm Audio Routing for Call Audio and Media Audio is set to "Hearing Devices."
- Connection drops constantly: Forget the device (tap the device name, then "Forget this Device") and re-pair from scratch. Then check for firmware updates inside the manufacturer's app.
For other accessibility wins worth turning on at the same time, see our guide to making iPhone text bigger.
Watch & learn
Recommended video: Vision and Hearing Settings Every Senior Should Know
A companion tutorial from AARP. We link to a YouTube search so you always get a current, working version.
Watch “Vision and Hearing Settings Every Senior Should Know” on YouTubeOpens a YouTube search in a new tab · AARPKey takeaways
- Hearing aids do not pair through iPhone's standard Bluetooth menu. Use Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices.
- Made for iPhone hearing aids pair directly. Bluetooth LE hearing aids pair through the manufacturer's app first.
- Most connection problems are fixed by forgetting the device and re-pairing — not by changing iPhone settings.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use any Bluetooth hearing aid with iPhone?
- Most modern hearing aids work with iPhone, but only Made for iPhone or Bluetooth LE Audio models pair through iOS's hearing-device system and offer per-ear volume, Live Listen, and battery monitoring.
- Why is sound only coming through one hearing aid?
- Open Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices and check the left/right volume sliders are balanced. If one slider is at zero, raise it. If the issue persists, forget the hearing aids and re-pair.
