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4 min read 6 stepsMay 11, 2026Verified May 2026

How to Take a Hearing Test with AirPods Pro and iPhone

AirPods Pro 2 and iOS 18 include a clinical-grade hearing test you can take at home in 5 minutes. Here is how to use it and what to do with the results.

At a Glance

Confirm you have the right AirPods

~29s

This feature requires AirPods Pro 2 (the second generation). You can check which model you have by opening the AirPods case near your iPhone — a card will appear on screen showing the model name. If it says "AirPods Pro" without a generation number, or if you have regular AirPods (not Pro), the hearing test is not available on your device.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: AirPods Pro 2 were released in September 2022. If you purchased AirPods Pro on or after that date, you almost certainly have the second generation.

Update to iOS 18 and update your AirPods firmware

~21s

The hearing test requires iOS 18 or later. To check, open Settings > General > About and look at "iOS Version." If it says 17 or lower, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the update. AirPods firmware updates automatically when the AirPods are connected and charging. You do not need to do anything for that.

Find the Hearing Test in Settings

~28s

With your AirPods in your ears and connected to your iPhone, open Settings > AirPods (your device name) > Hearing Test. If you do not see this option, make sure both the iPhone and AirPods are updated. Tap Start Hearing Test. You will be asked to confirm you are in a quiet room before beginning.

Warning

Take the test in the quietest room available — a bedroom or bathroom works well. Background noise from a TV, conversation, or air conditioner can affect the accuracy of your results.

Follow the on-screen instructions

~23s

The test plays a series of soft tones at different pitches and volumes through each AirPod. Each time you hear a tone, tap your iPhone screen. If you do not hear a tone, do not tap — that is information too. The test runs separately for each ear and takes about two to three minutes per ear. Try not to guess — only tap when you genuinely hear something.

Review your results

~22s

When the test finishes, your results appear as a chart with two colored lines — one for each ear. Normal hearing shows lines near the top. Lines that dip lower at certain pitches suggest reduced hearing at those frequencies. The app labels your results as: Normal, Slight, Mild, Moderate, Moderately Severe, Severe, or Profound. Your results are saved automatically in the Health app under Hearing > Audiogram.

Use Hearing Aid mode if results show a loss

~43s

If your results show mild or moderate hearing loss, the app will offer to turn on Hearing Aid mode. This is a clinical-grade feature that programs your AirPods Pro to amplify the specific frequencies where you have loss — similar to what an over-the-counter hearing aid does. Turn it on and walk around for a day to see if it helps. You can adjust the level in Settings > AirPods > Hearing Aid. If your results show moderate-severe or worse, see an audiologist — AirPods are not a substitute for professional hearing aids at that level.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Share your audiogram with your doctor by opening Health > Hearing > Audiogram and tapping the Share button. You can send it as a PDF to your doctor's patient portal or email it directly.

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Apple added a clinically-validated hearing test to AirPods Pro 2 in iOS 18 in late 2024. The test takes about five minutes and produces an audiogram — the same chart a hearing specialist creates in an office. You do the entire test at home, sitting quietly with your AirPods in.

The test is not a replacement for seeing a hearing doctor. But it is a useful first step. Many people who have hearing loss do not realize it, and the test can confirm whether a follow-up with an audiologist makes sense. The results are stored in the iPhone Health app alongside your other health data.

AirPods Pro 2 also include a feature called Hearing Aid mode (added in iOS 18) that uses the AirPods to amplify sounds in real time, similar to an over-the-counter hearing aid — useful if your test results show mild to moderate hearing loss.

Requirements: AirPods Pro 2 (second generation), iPhone with iOS 18 or later, a quiet room.

(Source: Apple Support — Take a Hearing Test with AirPods, support.apple.com)

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Official Resources

Medicare.gov MedlinePlus — Health Info AARP Health & Technology

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