How to Use AirPods As Hearing Aids

Last Updated: March 5, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to use your Apple AirPods as a hearing assistant by enabling Live Listening. Live Listening removes the extra background noise from the sounds closest to your iPhone or iPad’s microphone, delivering only the speaker’s voice through to your AirPods. You’ll need iOS 12 or later to use Live Listening.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Connecting the AirPods to an iPhone or iPad

1
Unlock the screen of your iPhone or iPad. If your AirPods are already connected to your phone or tablet, skip to Enabling Live Listening.
2
Hold your AirPods close to your iPhone or iPad. In a few seconds, the ″AirPods″ window will appear on the screen.^{[1]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Tap Connect. The word ″Done″ will appear once the AirPods are connected.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Tap Done. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Enabling Live Listening

1
Open your Settings
. You’ll usually find it on the home screen.^{[4]
X
Research source}
2
Scroll down and tap Control Center. It’s in the third group of settings.^{[5]
X
Research source}
3
Tap Customize Controls.^{[6]
X
Research source}
4
Scroll down and tap Hearing. It’s under the ″MORE CONTROLS″ header. You can now quickly access Live Listening from the Control Center.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Live Listen in a Conversation

1
Open the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad. If you’re using an iPhone X, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. Other iPhone and iPad users should swipe up from the bottom of the screen.^{[8]
X
Research source}
2
Tap and hold the audio/music square. It’s the square at the top-right corner of the Control Center.^{[9]
X
Research source}
3
Tap the sound icon. It’s the triangle with several rounded lines at the top-right corner of the screen.^{[10]
X
Research source}
4
Select your AirPods. All sound on your iPhone or iPad will now be routed through your AirPods.^{[11]
X
Research source}
5
Tap a blank area on the screen to return to the Control Center.^{[12]
X
Research source}
6
Tap the Live Listen icon. It’s the ear icon at the bottom of the Control Center.^{[13]
X
Research source}
7
Tap Live Listen. Live Listen is now enabled.
8
Aim the bottom of your iPhone or iPad toward the sound or person you want to hear. Get as close as you can to the source of the sound. Now that the microphone is pointed at the source, your iPhone or iPad will strip out most other ambient sounds so you can hear the desired sound/conversation more clearly.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Use your iPhone or iPad’s volume controls to adjust the sound to your liking.
9
Disable Live Listen when you’re finished. To turn it off, return to the Control Center, tap the ear icon again, and then tap Live Listen.

Community Q&A

Question

Can AirPods be tied together so they don't get lost?

Community Answer

Yes, they can be linked together to prevent them from being lost. Go to the "Find My" app and see when and where your AirPods were last connected to your device.