Auracast and Hearing Aids: A Plain-English Guide

Published October 29, 2026. Every fact below was checked on the maker's or standards group's own page on October 29, 2026. Written by Mark Shuffield.

You may have seen "Auracast" on a hearing aid box or in an app and wondered what it means, and whether it works with your phone. Here's the short version, then the details.

The short answer. Auracast lets a TV, a theater, an airport or a church send sound straight to many people's hearing aids or earbuds at once, a bit like tuning a radio.[1][2] Newer hearing aids from all five of the biggest hearing aid companies can receive it.[1] But support depends on your exact model, its software and your phone, and not many places broadcast it yet. Ask your hearing professional before counting on it.

What Auracast is

Auracast is a feature of the newest kind of Bluetooth, called Bluetooth LE Audio. Regular Bluetooth links one phone to one set of headphones. Auracast works more like a broadcast: one source sends audio, and anyone nearby with a compatible device can tune in without pairing first.[2]

The group that sets the Bluetooth standard says Auracast broadcasts can be picked up by compatible hearing aids, earbuds, headphones and assistive listening receivers, without the special equipment venues have needed in the past.[1] It names uses like airport announcements, houses of worship, university lectures, theaters and stadiums.[1]

Will it work with my hearing aids?

On October 22, 2026, the Bluetooth group said all of the "big five" hearing aid makers (Sonova, Demant, GN, WS Audiology and Starkey) now offer hearing aids that support Auracast.[1] That's the company level. Whether your pair works depends on the model and its software, so check the brand's own word:

What each brand's own page said on October 29, 2026. Not every brand is listed yet.
Brand	What the brand says	How you join
ReSound	Its Auracast Assistant works with ReSound Vivia, Savi and Nexia. Its compatibility page also lists Sensia and Enzo IA for LE Audio and Auracast.[3][4]	Auracast Assistant in the ReSound Smart 3D app, version 1.39 or later, on phones that work with that app.[3]
Oticon	Oticon Companion hearing aids that support Bluetooth LE Audio are compatible with Auracast.[2]	In the Oticon Companion app (Android 10 or later, iPhone with iOS 15.2 or later): Sound, then the three dots, then Auracast broadcast. On some Android phones running Android 15 or later, you can also join from the phone's Bluetooth settings.[2]
Starkey	"Compatible Starkey hearing aids" can join broadcasts. Starkey describes Omega AI+ as "Auracast-ready" and Edge AI as having Bluetooth LE Audio.[5]	The My Starkey app.[5] Ask your hearing professional whether your model and its software are compatible.
Phonak	You need an Audéo E or Audéo E-Sphere hearing aid or newer.[6] Phonak's app page says the Audéo EON includes Auracast.[11]	myPhonak app version 7.5 or newer. Phonak's instructions have you scan the broadcast's QR code, then tap Join broadcast.[6][7]
Signia	"Currently Signia hearing aids do not support Auracast."[8]	Not available yet, per Signia.[8]

Have a different brand, or an older pair? Ask your hearing professional or the maker. Oticon says its Auracast-compatible hearing aids are the ones with Bluetooth LE Audio support.[2] But LE Audio alone isn't always enough: Signia says Auracast needs extra hardware and software beyond LE Audio.[8]

Does it work with my iPhone?

This is the question we see most. The hearing aid makers we checked let iPhone users join through the hearing aid maker's app, not the iPhone's own settings. Oticon's in-app assistant works on iPhones with iOS 15.2 or later.[2] ReSound says its assistant works on any phone that runs its Smart 3D app.[3] Phonak's app runs on iPhone, and its join steps use a QR code.[7][11] So if you have an iPhone, start in your hearing aid app and look for "Auracast" or "broadcast."

What about Android phones?

Google's Android help pages say an Android phone that supports LE Audio can scan for and tune in to public broadcasts, and help your LE Audio hearing aids connect.[9]

Google Pixel: open the Camera app, scan the broadcast's QR code, then tap Listen.[9]
Samsung: in Quick Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the gear next to your hearing aids or earbuds, then tap Find a broadcast and pick one from the list.[9]

Menus vary by phone. Oticon notes that phone makers may call Auracast broadcasts by other names, such as "audio stream."[2]

How to join a broadcast, step by step

Look for a sign, or ask staff whether they have Auracast or another assistive listening system. You can also scan for broadcasts in your hearing aid app.[5]
Open your hearing aid app (or, on a supported Android phone, the Bluetooth settings) and find the Auracast or broadcast option.[2][3][5]
Pick the broadcast by name, or scan its QR code if the venue posts one.[2][7]
Enter a password if asked. Broadcasts can be public, or private and password-protected.[2][3]
Tap Join, then set the volume with the slider.[2]

Can't find a broadcast? Oticon's troubleshooting tips include turning on Location Services on Android, which audio sharing needs to find nearby broadcasts, and turning Bluetooth off and on again.[2]

Where can I use it?

Honestly, not many places yet. The Bluetooth group's own examples of venues using Auracast include a stadium and a theater in New Zealand and a cinema chain in Japan.[1] We haven't verified any public Auracast venues in Arkansas yet. We're building a list of hearing-friendly and Auracast places, starting in Northwest Arkansas, Hot Springs and Little Rock, and we'll only add a place after we confirm it.

For now, think of Auracast as a nice bonus when shopping for hearing aids, not the main reason to pick one.

Questions to ask your hearing professional

Do my hearing aids support Auracast now, or only after a software (firmware) update?
Is that update available, and can you install it at my next visit?
Does it work with my phone, and which app do I use to join a broadcast?
If broadcast sound is too quiet even at full volume, can you adjust my streaming settings? (Signia, for example, says a hearing professional can raise streaming levels.[8])

See a doctor if you notice these

Auracast is about sound streaming, not your hearing health. The FDA says to see a doctor, preferably an ear-nose-throat doctor (ENT), if you have sudden or fluctuating hearing changes in the past 6 months, worse hearing or ringing in only one ear, ear pain, fluid or blood from the ear, dizziness or vertigo, heavy earwax, or an ear deformity or injury.[10] Sudden hearing loss is urgent. Don't wait. See our full FDA red-flag list.

Shopping for hearing aids? Our OTC hearing aid comparison notes which models list Auracast, and our OTC vs. prescription guide explains the difference.

Sources

Bluetooth SIG blog, A new milestone for Auracast broadcast audio, and what it means for hearing aid users (Oct. 22, 2026). Checked October 29, 2026.
Oticon, How to listen to an Auracast broadcast. Checked October 29, 2026.
ReSound, ReSound Vivia (Auracast Assistant). Checked October 29, 2026.
ReSound, Compatibility. Checked October 29, 2026.
Starkey, Bluetooth and Auracast hearing aids. Checked October 29, 2026.
Phonak, What do I need to use Auracast Broadcast?. Checked October 29, 2026.
Phonak, How can I join an Auracast Broadcast stream?. Checked October 29, 2026.
Signia, Connectivity and pairing support (FAQ: Do Signia hearing aids support Auracast?). Checked October 29, 2026.
Google Android Help, Use multiple Bluetooth audio accessories at once on an Android device. Checked October 29, 2026.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, OTC Hearing Aids: What You Should Know. Checked October 29, 2026.
Phonak, myPhonak app page. Checked October 29, 2026.

Last verified October 29, 2026. Auracast support changes with software updates, so check the maker's page for the latest. No brand paid to be listed, and this page has no affiliate links.