Apple's AirPods Pro 2 now have a “hearing aid feature”: a hearing test and the ability to amplify sound for mild or moderate hearing loss, with a free software update.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 hearing health features are finally live. Here's how to accessing the features as well as some troubleshooting tips.

The hearing aid feature is available with AirPods Pro 2 models, and requires an iPhone or iPad to set it up. It starts with built-in tests that will help users determine if they have hearing loss, set up the feature if they do, and set personalized amplification levels.

Start by putting your AirPods Pro 2 in your ears and then open Settings. Tap on your AirPods (near the top of the Settings page) and look for the Hearing Health section. You’ll see options for Hearing Protection, Hearing Assistance, and Take a Hearing Test. Tap that to get started.

Now that iOS 18.1 is available to the masses, Apple’s new hearing aid feature is ready for use. The tool is one of three hearing health items the company announced alongside the iPhone 16 in September.

After years of neglecting loud environments and using AirPods all the way up, performing an AirPods Pro 2 hearing test revealed a harsh truth.

Learn how to activate the hearing aid feature on AirPods Pro 2, enhancing your auditory experience with iOS 18.1.

For now, the hearing aid feature is only available with the AirPods Pro 2 model. Users will need an iPhone or iPad to set it up. The feature setup starts with built-in hearing loss tests to determine whether or not users have hearing loss. If they do, they can then set up their own customized amplification levels.

Find a quiet room where you can take the hearing test undisturbed for about 5 minutes. As part of the test, the iPhone gauges whether

New interviews with Apple executives cover the M4, Apple Intelligence, AirPods Pro 2’s new hearing health features, and more.