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AirPods 2 not showing hearing test

Just purchased AirPods Pro 2 and wanted to use them as an additional hearing aid. iPhone has been updated to iOS 18 but when I go to the AirPods menu, there is no option to have them give me a hearing test. Is this not available yet? If so, where can I find that option.

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 4:44 PM

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Posted on Oct 28, 2024 10:33 AM

I have just updated my software to iOS 18.1 but still cannot access the hearing aid functionality on my AirPods pro 2. What could be the problem?

128 replies

Oct 28, 2024 3:02 PM in response to WildBillD

You need iOS 18.1 and the AirPods Pro 2 need to be running 7B19. I had iOS 18.1, but the brand new AirPods Pro 2 were running 6F8 or something like that. Once they updated to 7B19 the hearing test popped up.

When you run the hearing test make sure the room is very quiet. A dog walking by or the doorbell ringing will pause the test. You'll get a "It's too loud" alert, and won't be able to resume the test until the test detects it is quiet. Even heavy breathing will make the test pause.

Nov 3, 2024 9:23 AM in response to squilly

Not really. They were released and have had the hearing aid option since 2022 and they are very good BUT Apple didn’t have FDA approval as Over The Counter (OTC) hearing aids. In the UK there is no such thing. We have to go to an audiologist for hearing as do people from many other countries.


100 countries do have approval.


I am really happy with the Airpods but I stuck with IOS 17.7 and the geographical locks etc didn’t appear until IOS 18.1 appeared.

Nov 3, 2024 4:41 PM in response to Bethlatw

The only way you will them to work is to roll back your iPhone to pre IOS 18. I don't think that's possible from what I have read but maybe you can try a different iPhone that is running IOS 17.7 or earlier. I have been using the Airpods as hearing aids for over a month now but it's been available since 2022 without the latest restrictions.


Nov 4, 2024 5:42 PM in response to Bethlatw

If you haven’t updated to OS 18, 18.01 or 18.1 yet you can still use them as hearing aids. They are not available the UK either on IOS 18.1.


I am in the UK and I have been using them as hearing aids for over a month. They have worked since September 2022 when the Airpod Pro 2s were first launched. They work extremely well for me with my mild to moderate hearing loss.


If you have updated to IOS 18 of any flavour it may be possible to roll back to IOS 17.7 if you have a backup on iCloud or on your computer but it's better if you haven’t made the update.


I am running 17.7.1 and I won't be updating any time soon because i love my Airpods.


Nov 5, 2024 11:17 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

rasg wrote:

If you haven’t updated to OS 18, 18.01 or 18.1 yet you can still use them as hearing aids. They are not available the UK either on IOS 18.1.


No, you can't.


I am in the UK and I have been using them as hearing aids for over a month. They have worked since September 2022 when the Airpod Pro 2s were first launched. They work extremely well for me with my mild to moderate hearing loss.


The new Hearing Aid feature is not the same as Live Listen, which is what I suspect you've been using. The Hearing Aid function requires that your phone be updated to iOS 18.1. And it also hasn't been released in the U.K.

If you have updated to IOS 18 of any flavour it may be possible to roll back to IOS 17.7 if you have a backup on iCloud or on your computer but it's better if you haven’t made the update.

Downgrading is not supported and never has been.

I am running 17.7.1 and I won't be updating any time soon because i love my Airpods.

You will not lose Live Listen if you update your iPhone.


Well Idris, you are 100% WRONG.


I have NOT been using Live Listen.


Airpod Pro 2s have been available to use as hearing aids since September 2022 when they were released but Apple kept quiet about but probably gleaned a massive amount of data at the same time. There are many videos on YouTube explaining how to set them up as hearing aids and five weeks ago I did exactly that.


I have been using them using the Audiogram from my local Costco Hearing Centre but I also used the Mimi app for a couple of tests before the Audiologist sent it to me and they work REALLY well for me and I have spent a LOT of time getting to know them. How they work. Amount of noise cancelling that suits me etc and I now use Adaptive Mode for most things that I do.


IOS 18.1 has now localised the use of them as hearing aids to the countries that have been "approved" for the use of them but if any of them have a spare iPhone or iPad running 17.7.1 or earlier they can set them up as hearing aids.


I have been doing exactly that for five weeks.



AirPods 2 not showing hearing test

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