AirPods 2 Hearing Aid feature not available in UK despite iOS 18.2 update

Been reading about the Hearing aid app in the new Airbuds 2. My Daughter in Germany recommended them. So I bought a pair online, but there was nothing about Hearing aids. I have iOS 18.1 on my SE phone......went online to see what was wrong...and it seems Apple does not have regulatory approval in UK. Then I read that iOS 18.2 realesed 2 days ago, takes care of the problem in the UK......well it doesn't.......it gives you the Hearing Test......but not the actual Hearing Aid feature......Airpods are going back and the Retailer should warn customers about this problem.

They are not available in the UK yet BUT if you have an Apple iPad or an old iPhone running an older IOS than 18.1 you can get them working and they work very well.

You just set them up in a different way via Settings/Accessibility/Audio and video/Headphone accommodations.

I have been using them on an older IOS since September (17.7.1) but they have been available to use as hearing aids since the AirPod Pro 2s were launched in September 2022. IOS 18.1 stops them working im the UK with the geographical lock. Use the Mimi hearing test app from the app store for your test.

Hi seanfromsligo

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) Community.

Re: AirPods 2 Hearing Aid feature not available in UK despite iOS 18.2 update

Good to know the correct authorities in UK (like the TGA in US) have allowed the hearing test. Seems many Apple users have been waiting. People in some other countries, (eg: Australia) are still waiting for authorisation, although many countries have already provided theirs. No-one here knows how long the wait for approval of features may be, if it is coming.

Here's where the features show up, seemingly as countries approve them:

AirPods Pro 2 - Hearing Health Feature Availability - Apple

Eg: says:

"The Hearing Test and Hearing Aid features are regulated health features that require approval and will be offered after authorization is received".

All the best :-)

Unfortunately, I sent them back to the retailer. But you're the 2nd person who mentioned an older iOS......are they good as hearing aids?

They work really well for me and have done since September. They work better than the Jabra Enhanced hearing aids I tried at Costco.

I have seen an original SE for sale which seems to run up to iOS 15

I think the iPhone 12 is oldest iPhone that will work on the AirPod Pro 2s. That what I found from Googling a few weeks ago.

I have just found this:

https://vi.ie/airpods-pro-transparency-mode-settings-and-conversation-boost/

The original AirPods that first supported the hearing aid feature in 2019 used IOS 14 at that time. All you do is try. Which device are you trying to set up and can it be updated to a later IOS?