Before You Get Your New Phone: What to Do First
A little preparation before switching phones makes the process much smoother.
- Write down or take a screenshot of your current hearing aid app settings — your custom programs, volume preferences, and any personalized adjustments.
- Note your hearing aid brand and model (usually on the hearing aids themselves or in the original paperwork).
- Make sure you know your Apple ID or Google account login — you will need it to reinstall the hearing aid app on your new phone.
- If your hearing aid app has a cloud backup or account feature, make sure it is enabled so your settings can be restored.
Tip: Many hearing aid apps store your settings in the cloud if you have an account. Check your app's settings for a "Backup" or "Cloud Sync" option before switching phones.
Step 1: Unpair Your Hearing Aids from Your Old Phone
Before pairing your hearing aids with a new phone, it is best to remove them from the old phone's Bluetooth settings. This prevents connection conflicts.
- 1On your old phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- 2Find your hearing aids in the list of paired devices.
- 3Tap the (i) icon next to them (iPhone) or the gear icon (Android).
- 4Select Forget This Device or Unpair.
- 5Also open your hearing aid app and disconnect or remove the hearing aids from within the app if the app has that option.
Step 2: Prepare Your Hearing Aids for Pairing
Most hearing aids need to be in pairing mode before they can connect to a new phone. The easiest way to do this is to put them in their charging case.
- 1Place your hearing aids in their charging case.
- 2Close the lid and wait about 10 seconds.
- 3Open the lid. Your hearing aids are now ready to pair.
Tip: If your hearing aids do not have a charging case, check your manual for how to put them in pairing mode. Some models require pressing and holding a button on the hearing aid itself.
Step 3: Pair Your Hearing Aids with Your New iPhone
iPhones have a dedicated section in Settings for hearing devices that makes pairing straightforward.
- 1On your new iPhone, go to Settings → Accessibility → Hearing Devices.
- 2Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- 3Your hearing aids should appear in the list. Tap their name.
- 4A pairing request will appear — tap Pair. If you have two hearing aids, you may need to tap Pair twice.
- 5Your hearing aids are now connected.
Step 4: Pair Your Hearing Aids with a New Android Phone
Android pairing varies slightly by phone brand, but the general process is the same.
- 1On your new Android phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- 2Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- 3Tap Pair new device or Scan.
- 4Your hearing aids should appear in the list. Tap their name to pair.
- 5Follow any prompts to complete the pairing.
Tip: Some Android phones have a dedicated Hearing Aids section under Accessibility settings that provides a more streamlined pairing experience.
Step 5: Reinstall and Set Up Your Hearing Aid App
Once your hearing aids are paired via Bluetooth, install the companion app and connect it to your hearing aids.
- 1Download your hearing aid brand's app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
- 2Open the app and sign in to your account if you have one.
- 3Follow the app's setup process to connect to your hearing aids.
- 4If the app has a cloud restore option, use it to restore your saved settings.
- 5If not, manually re-enter your preferred volume levels and program settings.
What to Do If Your Settings Are Lost
If your custom settings were not backed up and are lost, you have two options.
- Manually re-enter your preferences in the app — volume levels, program preferences, and equalizer settings.
- Contact your audiologist. They can re-program your hearing aids from scratch using their professional software, which gives you a more precise result than the app alone.