Re-Connecting Hearing Devices to an iPhone

With iOS 15.4, a reboot of an iPhone® (powering off and then on) can cause the hearing instruments to lose connection with the Oticon ON app. Users will start to experience this after updating to iOS 15.4 since a reboot of the phone is part of the updating procedure. It may also be experienced with any subsequent reboots.

What is the impact?

The connection between the ON app and the hearing instrument will not be available until the user unpairs and repairs the hearing instruments with the iPhone. The user will be unable to control the hearing aids through the app until this is done.

Please be assured that the hearing aid(s) will continue to function and stream normally, and users will still be able to control the hearing instruments through the iPhone’s MFI menu and perform other functions such as streaming and hands-free communication. Users will not be able to activate the shortcut for the MFI menu (triple click of power or home button), but the MFI menu can still be accessed through the Settings app.

What devices are impacted?

The issue can occur with Bluetooth® enabled hearing instruments that are paired with an iPhone with iOS 15.4.

A workaround is available

Until a fix is available from Apple, use the following steps after any iPhone restart. (Please note this will not restore the triple click shortcut functionality.)

1. Clear the pairing
   1. Open the iPhone and go to “Settings”
      
   2. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Then choose “Accessibility”
   3. On the “Accessibility” screen, choose “Hearing Devices”
   4. Tap on the MFI hearing devices that appear and choose “Forget this device”
   5. Tap “Forget” (or “Confirm”)
   6. The phone will begin to search for the hearing aids
2. Pair the hearing instruments again
   1. Reboot your instruments to put them in pairing mode
      1. For non-rechargeable hearing aids, open and close the battery drawer
      2. For rechargeable hearing aids, turn them off and on via the pushbutton to put them into pairing mode or place on the charger for 10 seconds and then remove them from the charger
      3. (Do this for each hearing aid if there are two, and place them close to your iPhone)
      4. The hearing aids will stay in pairing mode for three minutes
      5. The iPhone will detect the hearing aids for pairing
      6. Detected devices will appear on the iPhone screen
   2. Tap on the hearing instruments
   3. Confirm the pairing
      1. If you have two hearing aids, pairing confirmation is needed for each hearing aid
3. Pairing the hearing instruments to the Oticon On App again if needed
   1. Open the Oticon On App
      
      1. For rechargeable hearing aids, turn them off and on via the pushbutton to put them into pairing mode or place on the charger for 10 seconds and then remove them from the charger
      2. (Do this for each hearing aid if there are two, and place them close to your iPhone)
      3. Once you have the green check marks that your aids are ready, tap on Continue
      4. At the bottom of the screen tap on remote control