How to Pair Hearing Aids to an iPhone or Android Phone

People search for how to pair hearing aids to iPhone or Android after unboxing new hearing aids, when they get a new phone and need to reconnect, or when pairing fails and they are stuck at a screen that says no devices found. Pairing is usually simple once you know the correct settings path for your phone and how to put your hearing aids into pairing mode, but the exact steps vary by phone platform, hearing aid brand, and Bluetooth protocol. This guide walks through pairing on iPhone and Android, how to disconnect or unpair, how to switch call audio back to the phone speaker when needed, and how to troubleshoot when pairing fails.

What to check before you pair: does your model support Made for iPhone, Android ASHA, or Bluetooth LE Audio?

Not all hearing aids support Bluetooth, and not all Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids work with all phones. Before you attempt to pair, confirm three things:

• Does your hearing aid model support Bluetooth streaming? Not every hearing aid has Bluetooth. Check your user guide or the manufacturer website for your specific model.
• Which Bluetooth protocol does your hearing aid use? The three main protocols are:
  • Made for iPhone (MFi): Apple's hearing device standard for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro. Check Apple's list of MFi hearing devices (Apple, List of Made for iPhone hearing devices).
  • Android Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA): direct streaming from Android 10 or later on phones where the maker has enabled it (GN Hearing, App support).
  • Bluetooth LE Audio: the Bluetooth standard that adds hearing aid support. Android 13 and later include it (Android Developers). For how LE Audio and Auracast differ from Classic Bluetooth, see our Bluetooth and Auracast guide.
• Is your phone OS version compatible? Apple lists MFi support for iPhone 4s or later using iOS 15.2 or later, and iPhone 11 or later for MFi hearing devices that support hands-free calls (Apple, List of Made for iPhone hearing devices). ASHA streaming requires Android 10 or later and Bluetooth 5.0, and the phone maker must enable it (GN Hearing, App support). Android 13 and later include built-in LE Audio support (Android Developers). If your phone is older, update it before you pair.

Your hearing aid manufacturer publishes a compatibility list on their website listing supported phone models. Check that list before you pair. If your phone or OS version is not listed, pairing may fail or streaming may not work reliably. For detailed phone compatibility and FCC hearing aid compatibility rules, see our hearing aid compatible phones guide.

How to pair hearing aids to iPhone

Apple's official pairing instructions are published in their support article Use Made for iPhone hearing devices. The steps below follow that guidance.

Step-by-step pairing on iPhone

1. Bring your hearing aids near your iPhone. If they are already paired with another nearby device, such as an iPad or Mac, turn off Bluetooth on that device first.
2. Put your hearing aids in pairing mode. The method depends on the model:
   • If your hearing aids use replaceable batteries, open the battery door on each hearing aid, then close it when you are ready to pair.
   • If your hearing aids have an on/off switch, turn them off and back on when you are ready to pair.
   • If your hearing aids are rechargeable with no on/off switch, take them out of the charger when you are ready to pair.
   • Your hearing aid's user guide explains the exact method for your model.
3. Open Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices on your iPhone. This is Apple's pairing path for Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing devices. Some brands that are not MFi, such as many Phonak models, pair through Settings > Bluetooth instead, so follow your hearing aid's own instructions if they differ.
4. Tap Pair MFi Hearing Device, then follow the onscreen instructions. Select your hearing device, then tap Pair.
5. If you don't see Pair MFi Hearing Device, tap the name of your hearing device when it appears in Hearing Devices settings, then tap Pair when you see one or more Bluetooth pairing requests.
6. Test the connection. Play a video, music, or make a test call to confirm audio streams to your hearing aids. You should hear the audio clearly in both ears (if you have two hearing aids).

If your hearing aids do not appear in the list

If your hearing aids do not appear in Hearing Devices settings, try these steps:

• Restart the hearing aids and re-enter pairing mode.
• Make sure the hearing aids are charged. Low battery can prevent pairing.
• Restart your iPhone.
• Check that your iPhone OS is up to date. Open Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
• Confirm that your hearing aids support Made for iPhone (or, for brands like Phonak, Bluetooth pairing with iPhone) and that your iPhone model is listed on the manufacturer compatibility page.

For complete troubleshooting steps, see the troubleshooting section below.

How to pair hearing aids to Android (ASHA and LE Audio)

Android pairing steps vary by phone manufacturer and Android version. Google's official guidance is published in their accessibility help article Connect hearing devices to your Android device. The steps below summarize that guidance.

Step-by-step pairing on Android (general path for most phones)

1. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Open Settings > Connected devices (or Settings > Bluetooth on some phones) and confirm Bluetooth is toggled on.
2. Put your hearing aids in pairing mode. Use the same method described in the iPhone section above: restart the hearing aids using the method for your model (battery door, on/off switch, or taking them out of the charger). Check your user manual for model-specific pairing mode instructions.
3. Open the pairing menu. The exact path depends on your Android phone:
   • First try Connected devices (works with all types of hearing devices): Open Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device, then choose your hearing device from the list.
   • Or use Accessibility (works best with ASHA hearing devices): Open Settings > Accessibility > Hearing devices > Pair new device, then choose your hearing device.
   • If you have two hearing aids, wait for the first to connect, then tap the second one in the list. Some of these steps work only on Android 14 or later.
4. Test the connection. Play a video, music, or make a test call to confirm audio streams to your hearing aids.

If you cannot find these menus, search your phone's Settings app for "hearing devices" or check your phone maker's user guide.

If your hearing aids do not appear in the list

If your hearing aids do not appear in the available devices list, try these steps:

• Restart the hearing aids and re-enter pairing mode.
• Make sure the hearing aids are charged.
• Restart your Android phone.
• Check that your Android OS is up to date. Open Settings > System > Software updates and follow the onscreen instructions (menu names can vary by phone maker).
• Confirm that your hearing aids support Android ASHA or Bluetooth LE Audio and that your phone model is listed on the manufacturer compatibility page.
• Try the other pairing path: if Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device did not work, try Settings > Accessibility > Hearing devices > Pair new device, or the reverse.

For complete troubleshooting steps, see the troubleshooting section below.

Pairing through the manufacturer app vs system settings

Some hearing aids require you to download the manufacturer smartphone app before pairing. Others pair directly through the phone's system settings (Accessibility on iPhone, Connected devices or Accessibility on Android) and then connect to the manufacturer app afterward for additional controls.

When to use the manufacturer app first

Check the quick-start guide or user manual that came with your hearing aids. If the instructions say "download the app and pair through the app," follow that sequence:

1. Download the manufacturer app from the Apple App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Common apps: myPhonak (Phonak), Oticon Companion (Oticon), ReSound Smart 3D (ReSound), Signia App or Signia One App (Signia), My Starkey or Thrive depending on the model (Starkey), and Widex Allure or Widex Moment (Widex).
2. Open the app and follow the in-app pairing wizard. The app will guide you through putting the hearing aids in pairing mode and connecting them.
3. Once paired through the app, the hearing aids should also appear in your phone's settings (Hearing Devices or Bluetooth on iPhone, depending on the brand; Connected devices on Android).

When to pair through system settings first

If the quick-start guide says "pair through your phone's Bluetooth or Accessibility settings," or if it does not mention the app at all, follow the iPhone or Android pairing steps above first. After pairing succeeds, download the manufacturer app. The app should recognize that the hearing aids are already paired and connect to them automatically.

Manufacturer apps provide additional controls beyond basic volume and streaming: program switching (restaurant, outdoor, music), treble and bass adjustment, tinnitus masking controls, and sometimes remote fitting sessions where your audiologist adjusts settings from their office while you are at home. The app is optional for basic streaming but recommended for full control. For more on hearing aid apps and accessories, see our hearing aid accessories guide.

How to disconnect or unpair your hearing aids from your phone

Disconnecting temporarily stops streaming without removing the pairing. Unpairing removes the hearing aids from your phone's paired devices list entirely, and you will need to re-pair from scratch to reconnect.

How to disconnect (temporary) on iPhone

Turn your hearing aids off (or open the battery door). Apple says paired hearing devices automatically reconnect to iPhone whenever they turn on, so turning them back on reconnects them without pairing again.

How to unpair (permanent removal) on iPhone

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.
2. Tap the name of your hearing device.
3. Tap Forget this device.
4. The hearing aids are now unpaired. To reconnect, you must pair from scratch using the pairing steps above.

How to disconnect or unpair on Android

1. To disconnect temporarily, open Quick Settings and use the hearing devices control to disconnect your hearing device.
2. To change settings or remove the pairing, open Settings > Connected devices and tap the Settings icon next to your hearing device's name. The option to remove the pairing is usually labeled Forget or Unpair, depending on your phone.
3. After removing the pairing, pair again from scratch using the steps above.

How to switch from hearing aids to phone speaker during a call on iPhone

When hearing aids are paired and you answer a phone call, the call audio streams to your hearing aids by default. To route the call audio back to your phone speaker (for example, if someone else needs to hear the call, or if you want to take the call on speaker for hands-free use), follow these steps during an active call:

1. During the call, tap the Audio button. If the call screen is minimized, swipe down on the call banner first.
2. Choose an audio destination: Speaker for speakerphone, iPhone to hold the phone to your ear, or your hearing device to go back.
3. To change where calls go by default, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing and choose an audio destination.

On Android, the call screen controls vary by phone maker. Google says you can choose whether ringtones, notifications, alarms, and media play through your hearing devices or the phone speaker under Settings > Accessibility > Hearing devices.

Troubleshooting when pairing fails: restart, re-enter pairing mode, forget and re-pair, battery, OS version

If your hearing aids will not pair to your phone, work through these troubleshooting steps in order. Each step fixes a common pairing failure cause.

1. Restart both the hearing aids and the phone

This is the most common fix. Restart the hearing aids using the pairing-mode method for your model (battery door, on/off switch, or taking them out of the charger), then restart your phone (see your phone's user guide if you are not sure how).

After restarting both devices, attempt pairing again from the beginning.

2. Make sure the hearing aids are in pairing mode

If the hearing aids do not appear in the available devices list, they may not be in pairing mode. Pairing mode is usually activated by restarting the hearing aids. Your hearing aid's user guide explains the exact method for your model. Common methods:

• If your hearing aids use replaceable batteries, open the battery door on each hearing aid, then close it when you are ready to pair.
• If your hearing aids have an on/off switch, turn them off and back on when you are ready to pair.
• If your hearing aids are rechargeable with no on/off switch, take them out of the charger when you are ready to pair.
• Your hearing aid's user guide explains the exact method for your model.

Manufacturer quick-start guides typically include a "how to enter pairing mode" section. If you do not have the manual, search the manufacturer website for your model name plus "pairing mode" or "Bluetooth pairing."

3. Forget the hearing aids from Bluetooth settings and re-pair from scratch

If the hearing aids were previously paired but are no longer connecting, the pairing data may be corrupted. Unpair (forget) the hearing aids, then pair again:

• On iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices, tap the name of your hearing device, then tap Forget this device. Then pair from scratch using the steps above.
• On Android: Settings > Connected devices, tap the Settings icon next to your hearing device's name, then choose the option to remove the pairing (usually labeled Forget or Unpair, depending on your phone). Then pair from scratch using the steps above.

4. Check battery charge in the hearing aids

Low battery can prevent pairing or cause pairing to fail partway through. Charge the hearing aids fully (see your user guide for charging time). For disposable-battery models, replace the batteries with fresh zinc-air batteries. Then attempt pairing again. For more on rechargeable vs disposable batteries, see our rechargeable vs. battery guide.

5. Update your phone OS to the latest version

Outdated phone software can cause Bluetooth pairing failures. Check for OS updates:

• On iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update. Install any available updates.
• On Android: Open Settings > System > Software updates and follow the onscreen instructions (menu names can vary by phone maker).

After updating, restart your phone and attempt pairing again.

6. Verify that your hearing aids are compatible with your phone

If pairing still fails after trying all the steps above, check the manufacturer compatibility list. Search the hearing aid manufacturer website for your model name plus "compatibility" or "supported devices." The list will name specific phone models and OS versions that are known to work. If your phone is not on the list, pairing may not be possible without a firmware update to the hearing aids or a phone OS update.

Common compatibility issues:

• MFi-only hearing aids will not pair to Android phones. If your hearing aids only support Made for iPhone and you have an Android phone, Bluetooth streaming is not possible. You would need hearing aids that support ASHA or LE Audio.
• ASHA-only hearing aids will not pair to iPhones. If your hearing aids only support Android ASHA and you have an iPhone, streaming is not possible. You would need hearing aids that support Made for iPhone, or that your hearing aid maker says pair with iPhone.
• Old phone OS versions may not support your hearing aid's protocol. MFi needs iOS 15.2 or later. ASHA needs Android 10 or later. Built-in LE Audio support starts with Android 13. If your phone cannot update to the required version, the hearing aids will not stream from it.

7. Contact your hearing care provider or the manufacturer

If you have tried all troubleshooting steps and pairing still fails, the hearing aids may need a firmware update, the Bluetooth radio may be malfunctioning, or there may be a setting in the hearing aid programming that prevents pairing. Contact your hearing care provider and explain what you have already tried. They can check the hearing aid firmware, verify that Bluetooth is enabled in the programming, and test pairing with a known-working phone to isolate the problem. For more on when to see your provider for fitting or repair issues, see our hearing aid fitting guide and hearing aid repair guide.

Frequently asked questions