AirPods Pro 2 can function as an FDA-cleared over-the-counter hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss. The feature is built into the software, so if you already own a pair, you can set it up in a few minutes with no extra cost. Here’s how to get it working and what to expect.
What You Need Before Starting
You need AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C model) or AirPods Pro 3 with the latest firmware, and an iPhone or iPad running the latest software. The hearing aid feature won’t appear on older AirPods Pro models with a Lightning case, even if the earbuds themselves look identical. To check your AirPods model and firmware, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info button next to your AirPods, and look at the model number and firmware version. If your firmware is outdated, keep the AirPods in the case, connected to your iPhone, and plugged into power for a while to trigger the update.
How to Set Up the Hearing Aid Feature
Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then go to Accessibility > Hearing. From there, you’ll find the option to set up Hearing Aid. The setup process walks you through Apple’s built-in hearing test, which takes about five minutes per ear. You’ll sit in a quiet room, keep your AirPods in, and respond to a series of tones at different volumes. The test builds a personalized audiogram, a map of which frequencies you hear well and which ones need a boost.
If you already have a recent audiogram from a hearing specialist, you can import it instead of taking the test. Be aware that the import feature has some accuracy limitations. A study published in the American Journal of Audiology found that about 71% to 73% of imported thresholds landed within 5 decibels of a clinical reference, with roughly 8% to 12% of data points missing entirely. Taking Apple’s built-in test may give more consistent results for the software to work with.
Once your audiogram is complete, the system creates a hearing profile and applies it automatically. You can also enable Media Assist during setup, which applies your hearing profile to music, movies, and phone calls so audio is adjusted to your specific hearing needs across everything you listen to.
Adjusting Amplification to Your Comfort
After setup, you can fine-tune how much amplification your AirPods apply. Open Control Center on your iPhone, press and hold the volume slider or the Hearing Control panel, and you’ll see an amplification adjustment. The default setting is conservative, designed so new users aren’t overwhelmed by suddenly hearing much more than they’re used to. You can increase or decrease amplification within a range of plus or minus 6 decibels from the baseline your audiogram established.
If sounds feel too quiet or voices still seem muffled, push the slider up gradually over a few days rather than jumping to maximum right away. Your brain needs time to readjust to hearing frequencies it may have been missing for years. Starting at a moderate level and increasing over a week or two tends to feel more natural.
How Well the Amplification Actually Works
Independent testing by The Hearing Review found that the AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid feature performs well in the mid-frequency range (where most speech sounds live, roughly 1,000 to 4,000 Hz), closely matching the amplification targets used by professional hearing aids. That’s the range that matters most for understanding conversations.
The picture is less ideal at the extremes. Low-frequency sounds get more amplification than clinical targets call for, producing a noticeable bass boost. High-frequency amplification falls short of targets, which could be a limitation if your hearing loss is concentrated in the higher pitches, common in age-related hearing loss. There’s also some peakiness between 6,000 and 8,000 Hz, likely caused by the shallow fit of the AirPods in the ear canal compared to custom-molded hearing aids that sit deeper.
In practical terms, most users with mild to moderate loss will notice a meaningful improvement in conversation clarity, especially in quieter environments. Noisy restaurants and crowded rooms remain more challenging, as they are for many entry-level hearing aids.
Using Hearing Aid Mode Day to Day
Once enabled, the hearing aid feature activates automatically whenever you put your AirPods in. You don’t need to open an app or toggle anything. The AirPods use Transparency mode’s external microphones to pick up the sounds around you and amplify them according to your hearing profile in real time. You’ll hear your own voice naturally, and environmental sounds come through clearly rather than being blocked.
You can switch seamlessly between hearing aid use and listening to music or taking phone calls. Media Assist adjusts audio content to your profile, so a podcast or phone conversation gets the same personalized frequency boost as live speech. When you remove one AirPod, the other continues working independently.
Battery Life in Hearing Aid Mode
This is the biggest practical limitation. Users report getting roughly 5.5 to 6 hours of continuous use with the hearing aid feature active, even without streaming any music. That’s significantly shorter than a full waking day. Traditional hearing aids typically last anywhere from 12 hours to several days on a single charge or battery.
The workaround is to rotate. Pop the AirPods back in their charging case for 15 to 20 minutes during a break, and you’ll get a meaningful top-up. Some users keep the case in a pocket and swap the AirPods in and out throughout the day. It’s manageable but requires more awareness than a dedicated hearing aid, which you can largely forget about until bedtime.
Who This Feature Is Best For
The FDA clearance covers mild to moderate hearing loss. If you struggle to hear conversations in moderately noisy rooms, frequently ask people to repeat themselves, or find yourself turning up the TV louder than others prefer, you’re likely in the target range. The built-in hearing test will tell you where you fall.
This feature works best as a first step for people who suspect they have hearing loss but haven’t yet visited an audiologist, or for those who’ve been told they need hearing aids but haven’t been willing to spend $1,000 or more on dedicated devices. At the retail price of AirPods Pro 2, you get a functional hearing aid plus everything else the earbuds already do. Because the AirPods Pro 2 carry an FDA clearance as a hearing device, they may also be eligible for purchase with HSA or FSA funds, though you should verify with your specific plan administrator.
If your hearing loss is severe, if you need amplification for more than six hours without a break, or if you work in consistently loud environments, dedicated hearing aids from an audiologist will still serve you better. But for the millions of people with mild to moderate loss who currently use nothing at all, AirPods Pro 2 offer a genuinely useful and far more accessible option.