For Android 16, we’re bringing a seemingly small yet impactful upgrade: Fast Pair now supports Bluetooth LE Audio hearing aids, making setup magnitudes faster with just a single tap. For millions of people who use hearing aids, the change takes away a long-time pain point — and makes the pairing experience more in line with what people expect from modern earbuds.
Support begins with devices from Demant’s brands, with other manufacturers to be added later. Google says it plans to support Starkey in early 2026, so look for a more expanded product shortly after the LE Audio ecosystem begins blooming.
- What’s Different With Fast Pair for Hearing Aids
- Who Gets It First: Early Hearing Aid Support Plans
- How It Works Under the Hood: Fast Pair and LE Audio
- Why It’s a Big Deal for Accessibility on Android
- Getting Started: Try One-Tap Pairing on Android 16
- What Comes Next for LE Audio and Hearing Aids on Android
What’s Different With Fast Pair for Hearing Aids
Until recently, anyone wanting to pair hearing aids with Android devices had a go at time-consuming accessibility settings or pairing each side independently — and also had to contend with manufacturers’ apps that weren’t always reliable. With Android 16, hearing aids enabled with LE Audio can cause a pop-up to appear as soon as they’re powered on in the vicinity. Tap it once, and the phone does the rest — pair both ears, restore settings and link it to your Google account so you can set up future phones faster.
This is the same “it just shows up” experience users are used to from Fast Pair headphones, but optimized for medical-grade audio devices where latency, reliability, and daily wear should not be compromised.
Who Gets It First: Early Hearing Aid Support Plans
The first wave includes hearing aids from Demant, which makes brands like Oticon, Bernafon and Philips-branded hearing solutions. These devices are already Bluetooth LE Audio capable, and they have strong potential to be the first devices that fit into the new pairing flow. Starkey is scheduled to support it early 2026, other manufacturers expected to do likewise as they implement more wide-ranging LE Audio compatibility.
Like all platform features, we expect availability to vary based on device firmware version, the kind of Android system image running (and thus APEX updates), and among other factors.
Note: users might also need the latest companion app from their hearing care brand provider to access all the features.
How It Works Under the Hood: Fast Pair and LE Audio
Fast Pair utilises Bluetooth Low Energy advertisements to find a device or housing case and a microphone to relay the data. Android 16 also broadens that stream further to hearing aids running the Hearing Aid Profile (HAP), which is a Bluetooth SIG standard for LE Audio hearing instruments. From there, Android approves the connection, negotiates a secure link and pairs right and left units as well as records pairing information onto the user’s account for easy re-pair in the future.
This advances years of Android workarounds such as Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA), which announced direct BLE streaming before LE Audio was finished. In both cases, thanks to LE Audio’s use of the LC3 codec and standardized profiles, it should be an easier and more interoperable experience from brand to phone.
Why It’s a Big Deal for Accessibility on Android
For people who wear hearing aids all day, setup friction is not a small irritant — it’s a wall. More than 5% of the world’s population suffers from disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. When every new phone or fresh device has to go through a complex pairing process, adoption and satisfaction can be sacrificed.
By making pairing as simple as can be, it can save a few minutes in the clinic room, cut down on support calls and make it easier for caregivers to help their loved ones. It also whittles away at the usability gap with rival ecosystems which have been hearing aid-compatible for a long time, and therefore brings Android ever closer to a genuinely inclusive experience.
Getting Started: Try One-Tap Pairing on Android 16
If you want to try single-tap pairing, make sure your phone is running Android 16 with the most recent Google Play services. Activate Bluetooth, put your hearing aids in pairing mode (usually by closing the battery door or taking them in and out of their charger), and hold them close to the phone. You should be shown a Fast Pair card; tap it once to connect. If you switch phones in the future, that same saved pairing info can have you reconnected again in seconds.
If the prompt does not appear, consult your hearing care professional or the manufacturer’s app for LE Audio support and current firmware.
What Comes Next for LE Audio and Hearing Aids on Android
Android’s LE Audio itinerary looks to richer experiences beyond pairing. With more hearing aids implementing HAP and features like broadcast audio (Auracast) taking hold in public spaces, users may soon be able to listen in on clearer sound at airports, theaters, houses of worship and schools — all from their hearing aids.
For now, the real win that matters is single-tap pairing. It’s respectful of people’s time, lowers the technical learning curve and makes Android feel more considerate for those who depend on hearing technology every waking hour.
