AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aids not available in Canada

The update to IOS and the AirPods firmware is not blocked in any way, shape, or form in Canada. What is blocked is the hearing aid functionality of the AirPods Pro by Apple because the sale of OTC hearing aids is still banned in Canada. We must assume that Apple considers the hearing aid functionality introduced with IOS 18.1 to qualify the AirPods Pro as a hearing aid under Canadian law. Therefore, because the sale of OTC hearing aids is still banned in Canada, Apple prevents Airpods Pro users from using this functionality.

I did just that to install the Sony app for iOS that must be used with their OTC ITE hearing aids. I created a US Apple ID, used a VPN, and downloaded the Sony app. I then used the Sony app to configure my hearing aids. The problem is that you can’t do this from a location in Canada with the Airpods Pro. We must assume that Apple determines your area based on GPS data extracted from your iPhone.

I believe someone could configure the AirPods Pro's hearing aid functionality from a US location. However, I’m not sure one would have to create and use a US Apple ID or perform this process using their Canadian Apple ID while in the US. For my part, I want nothing to do with the US since November 5, 2024...

I have iOS 18.1 on my iPhone, automatically updated by software update. I tried to find the hearing aid options but they are not there. Perhaps Apple iOS 18.1 updates to Canada don’t include the code for hearing, but everything else is normal?

The issue that needs to be clarified is whether Apple looks at GPS data to determine where you are located when you attempt to configure the AirPods Pro. I could log in to my US Apple ID using a VPN and then download the Sony app and configure my hearing aids—all that from my location north of Montreal. But I don’t know if the Apple process is the same. Remember that when you log in to a different Apple ID on one iPhone, you must first log out of your Canadian Apple ID. If you have the lockdown feature set, you have to wait an hour before being able to log in to your US Apple ID. It’s better to turn off lockdown mode before you begin this process. You can reactivate lockdown mode after you’re done.

I am pretty certain that it's to do with your Apple ID.

It's would have been so much easier if nobody had updated to IOS 18.1 and that's the foirst thing they did often after buying the Airpods specifically to use them as hearing aids.

The Airpods do a great job as hearing aids running any IOS as long as it's not 18.1 and they are not geographically locked. The other "lock" they have is that they will not work as hearing aids at all if your hearing test shows severe or profound hearing loss. It's something to be aware of and I think Apple has had to use the locks in order to get FDA approval in the US.

If you haven’t updated your iPhone to IOS 18.1 you can still use the Airpods as hearing Aids with an older IOS without the geographical lock and for me with mild to moderate hearing loss they work really well. I've been using them for five or six weeks. They won't help you if your hearing loss is severe or profound BUT I do know of a few people with severe loss using them for the music, TV, Facetime and phone call features simply because the sound quality is so good. They might just want a break from their normal hearing aids.

If you are not on IOS 18.1 you can set them up straight away. If you have an iPad or an older iPhone that is running an older IOS you could set them up on that. You will need to download the free Mimi app to take a hearing test OR you can download your audiogram by taking a photo of it.

I have read that rolling back to and older IOS is no longer possible as Apple is no longer signing the backdate but I would love to put it to the test by restoring a back up of my iPhoine but I don't want to mess things up.

The update to IOS and the AirPods firmware is not blocked in any way, shape, or form in Canada. What is blocked is the hearing aid functionality of the AirPods Pro by Apple because the sale of OTC hearing aids is still banned in Canada. We must assume that Apple considers the hearing aid functionality introduced with IOS 18.1 to qualify the AirPods Pro as a hearing aid under Canadian law. Therefore, because the sale of OTC hearing aids is still banned in Canada, Apple prevents Airpods Pro users from using this functionality.

I doubt it's Apple. It's the same with the UK, France, Spain and Australia. No OTC hearing aids in the Uk. Mine work as hearing aids as I am still running IOS 17.7.1 and they work really well for me.

I think you can purchase the Airpods Pro from Canada. What is important is to get the most recent firmware on the Airpods Pro.

It's not. They still work well in Adaptive or Transparency Mode and you can upload your audiogram. Any IOS that's older than 18.1 will work and there are NO locks. I've been using them for weeks as hearing aids and they work extremely well running IOS 17.7.1. Yes the volume can be slightly more in 18.1 but the hassle. For me it's not worth it. FYI I have mild to moderate in the medium and high frequencies.

Strangely mine are running the very latest firmware nut I doubt that 17.7.1 can take full advantage of it BUT it didn't stop them working.

So, trying to summarize. I have an iPhone 15. If I disable automatic upgrades, I stay with iOS 17.6 and buy the AirPods here in Canada, I should be able to install them on my phone and make them work as hearing aids, in your opinion?

No, this will not work. You have to upgrade to 18.1 to get the hearing aid function. The hearing aid function will only show up on your phone if you are physically in one of the supported countries.

So, trying to summarize. I have an iPhone 15. If I disable automatic upgrades, I stay with iOS 17.6 and buy the AirPods here in Canada, I should be able to install them on my phone and make them work as hearing

aids, in your opinion?

It's not my opinion. It's a fact!

I never upgrade automatically as there are always bugs to iron out.

I am happy to take you through it if you like when you have the Airpods.

Airpod Pro 2s.

No, this will not work. You have to upgrade to 18.1 to get the hearing

aid function. The hearing aid function will only show up on your phone

if you are physically in one of the supported countries.

Incorrect. The hearing aid function has been working since September 2022 and many people,have been using them. The difference was that Apple were not legally allowed to call them hearing aids.

I have been using them since September, I haven't upgraded to 18.1 because it will stop them working. Still on 17.7.1 and I did my hearing test with the Mimi app from the app store. Results were almost identical to my Costco Audiogram.

I think you can purchase the Airpods Pro from Canada. What is important is to get the most recent firmware on the Airpods Pro.

That is not correct. I have been using my Airpods as hearing aids since September running IOS 17.7.1.

The firmware has changed three times since I started using them. They have behaved exactly the same way through all three updates. I understand that the latest firmware will allow the Airpods to produce a higher volume but that's about it.

I am still using IOS 17.7.1 and will continue to do so until approval has been given in the UK.

They work really well for me with my mild to moderate hearing loss.

Do you think the same process would work if I buy the Air pods- create

an US Apple ID, etc? The Sony hearing aids sound great but they are

$1000 US.

They will work as hearing aids if you set them up with an iPad or iPhone with IOS 18.01 pr older.

I think this is the only officially supported way to get them to work.

That is true but they will work very well unofficially if you haven’t updated to 18.1.

I have been using them since September and they work very well for me. Why would I stop them working by updating to 18.1? Seriously?

FYI, I have tried to get the hearing features working in Canada by wiping my phone, setting up using a VPN, disabling location services and using a US account but it did not work. I guess they use your GPS location even if you don't allow it.

My next attempt will be a trip to the USA to see if that works.

What will work is if you set them up with an Apple device that is on IOS 18.01 or older.

It works. I have been using them since September and they work well for somebody with mild to moderate hearing loss. Music was a revelation and I am loving listening to music again.

Go to settings/accessibility/audio visual/headphone accommodations

Lucster wrote:

Some people here mistakenly label the AirPods Pro's transparency and noise cancellation functionalities as the hearing aid functionality. It’s like Live Listen, which has existed for a very long time, whereby you could use your iPhone to pick up sounds and relay them to your AirPods. These functionalities are fine but not the same as the hearing aid functionality.

The only way to get the hearing test and the hearing aid functionality is with IOS 18.1 and up and AirPods Pro firmware 7B19 and up, in a country that allows OTC sale of hearing aids.

I tried to set up my AirPods Pro 2 with firmware 7B21 with an older iPhone 1ù2 with IOS 17.7.1 yesterday, and YOU DO NOT GET the hearing test and the hearing aid functionality.

There is a lot of misinformation being spread here about this.

I tried to make that point early on in other threads. No one wanted to listen. Perhaps you'll have better luck. I hope so.