Man with laptop

How to connect your Mac to your hearing aids

Connecting your Mac computer to your hearing aids enables you to stream audio and have video or audio calls.

Before you start

1

The instructions you need depend on which Apple computer and which hearing aids you have.

    2

    Newer Mac computers running macOS 15 operating software or later can connect directly to modern Bernafon hearing aids.

      3

      For older Mac computers and some older Bernafon hearing aids, you will need a SoundClip-A accessory to connect your hearing aids to your Mac.

      Pairing directly with your Mac, without a SoundClip-A

      Bernafon hearing aids can be paired with selected M1 Mac computers and all M2 Mac computers. You can see which processor your Mac has by clicking About This Mac under the Apple menu.

      You will need macOS 1 or later and:

      iMac 2023 or later 
      MacBook Pro 2021 or later 
      MacBook Air 2022 or later 
      Mac Studio 2022 or later
      Mac Pro 2023 or later

      1

      On your macOS computer, press the Apple logo in the top left corner to open the Apple menu.

      2

      Ensure Bluetooth® is turned on.

      Go to System Settings > Bluetooth.

      3

      Select Hearing Devices.

      Go to > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.

      4

      Restart your hearing aids to put them in pairing mode.

      Your hearing aids will remain in pairing mode for three minutes. Your Mac should detect your hearing aids.

      Detected hearing aids will appear in Available Devices under Hearing Devices.

      5

      Select your hearing aids by clicking Connect.

      Note:

      When you turn off your hearing aids on your iPhone, they will no longer be connected. To connect them again, turn on your hearing aid(s). The hearing aid(s) will then automatically reconnect to your device.

      Tip:

      For easier access to hearing aid controls such as volume control through your Mac computer, you can add the 'Hearing' menu as a shortcut to the Menu Bar and Control Center. On your macOS computer, open 'System Settings' under the Apple menu and click on Control Center. Enable the shortcuts under 'Other Modules'.

      The SoundClip-A displayed from two different angles on a black background.

      Pairing via SoundClip-A

      1

      Ensure SoundClip-A is powered off.

      Press and hold the multi-button for approximately six seconds, until the power indicator is off.

      2

      Turn your hearing aids off.

      • For hearing aids with disposable batteries, open the battery drawer
      • For rechargeable hearing aids, turn them off by pressing the lower button of each hearing aid for three seconds
      3

      Turn your hearing aids on.

      • For hearing aids with disposable batteries, close the battery drawer
      • For rechargeable hearing aids, turn them on by pressing the lower button of each hearing aid for two seconds

      The hearing aids are now ready to connect with the SoundClip-A. You now have three minutes to complete the pairing.

      4

      Turn SoundClip-A on.

      Press and hold the multi-button for approximately three seconds, until the power indicator shows steady green.

      SoundClip-A will now search for your hearing aids. The status indicator will blink yellow.

      5

      Establish a connection.

      Place SoundClip-A close to your hearing aids, at a maximum distance of 20 cm.

      A successful connection is achieved when the status indicator shows steady yellow.

      Next, connect the SoundClip-A to your Mac computer

      1

      Turn on your SoundClip-A.

      Press and hold the multi-button for approximately three seconds, until the power indicator shows steady green.

      2

      Establish a connection.

      Go to the Bluetooth menu on your computer.

      Select SoundClip-A and connect to it.