Pairing Phonak Audio RL With iPhone 16S: Tips, Specs and Setup

Pairing Phonak Audéo P-RL hearing aids with an iPhone lets you hear phone calls, music, videos, and other audio through your hearing aids. The process uses the iPhone’s built-in Bluetooth settings, while the optional myPhonak app gives you more control over your listening experience.

This guide covers the iPhone 16 family, including the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e. It also explains how to fix common pairing problems and improve call quality.

Get Your iPhone Ready to Pair With Phonak Audéo P-RL

Before pairing your hearing aids, make sure your iPhone has Bluetooth enabled and both hearing aids have enough battery power. You do not need to install myPhonak just to receive phone calls or stream music.

Phonak identifies the rechargeable hearing aids covered here as Audéo P-RL, part of the Audéo Paradise family. These include P90-RL, P70-RL, P50-RL, and P30-RL models.

Apple does not list an iPhone 16S model. If you are unsure whether you own an iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, or 16 Pro, open Settings > General > About and check Model Name. You can compare it with Apple’s official iPhone model list.

Prepare your devices as follows:

1. Charge both hearing aids if their batteries are low.
2. Keep your iPhone close to your hearing aids during setup.
3. Open Settings on your iPhone.
4. Tap Bluetooth and switch it on.
5. Keep the Bluetooth settings screen open while you restart the hearing aids.

Audéo P-RL hearing aids use built-in rechargeable batteries. They do not have the replaceable battery doors found on some other Phonak models.

Restart Your Phonak Audéo P-RL Hearing Aids

Restarting your Phonak hearing aids makes them discoverable to your iPhone. Once switched on, they enter Bluetooth pairing mode for approximately three minutes.

The easiest method is to use the compatible charger:

1. Make sure your Phonak charger is connected to power or has sufficient battery charge.
2. Place both hearing aids in the charger for at least 10 seconds.
3. Remove both hearing aids from the charger.
4. Watch for the green indicator light as the hearing aids switch on.

You can also restart the hearing aids using their buttons. Press the lower part of the multifunction button until the indicator light turns red. Then press it again until the light turns green.

The official Audéo P-RL user guide explains these controls, charging requirements, and the separate procedure for rebooting an unresponsive hearing aid.

If you use a different Phonak hearing aid with replaceable batteries, open its battery doors for five seconds, then close them. This method does not apply to the rechargeable Audéo P-RL.

If the hearing aids are completely unresponsive: Press and hold the lower multifunction button for at least 15 seconds. Then place each hearing aid in a powered charger until its indicator light blinks green. This is a reboot procedure, not a factory reset, and it does not erase saved hearing programs.

Find Your Phonak Audéo P-RL in iPhone Bluetooth Settings

Once your hearing aids enter pairing mode, their Bluetooth name should appear on your iPhone. Select that name to establish the connection for phone calls and media.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone.
2. Look under the available Bluetooth devices.
3. Find a name such as R-Phonak hearing aid or L-Phonak hearing aid.
4. Tap the hearing aid name.
5. Accept any Bluetooth pairing request displayed on your iPhone.
6. Listen for a confirmation beep from your hearing aids.

R means right and L means left. Your hearing care professional may have assigned a different name.

Even if you wear two hearing aids, only one standard Bluetooth pairing is needed for calls and audio streaming. Your connected hearing aid communicates with the other so audio can play through both.

The initial pairing can take up to two minutes. If the devices are not discovered within the three-minute pairing window, restart them and repeat the search.

These steps follow Phonak’s official iPhone Bluetooth pairing instructions.

After pairing, make a short test call or play some music. If you hear the sound through your hearing aids, the audio connection is working.

Troubleshoot iPhone and Hearing Aid Connections

If your Phonak hearing aids will not connect to your iPhone, the problem is often a Bluetooth setting, an expired pairing window, a competing connection, or an incomplete app setup.

Start with simple fixes before removing saved connections or resetting the app.

Common Connection Issues

The following problems can prevent your hearing aids from connecting or streaming properly.

• Bluetooth is disabled: Open Settings > Bluetooth and turn it on.
• Pairing mode expired: Restart both hearing aids to open a new three-minute pairing window.
• Battery power is low: Charge the hearing aids before trying again.
• Another device is connected: Temporarily turn off Bluetooth on a nearby phone, tablet, or computer previously paired with the hearing aids.
• Wireless interference: Move your phone closer and away from obstacles or other electronic equipment.
• Outdated software: Check for available iPhone and myPhonak updates.
• Flight mode on the hearing aids: Restart the hearing aids to restore their wireless functions.

Check whether the hearing aids work normally without Bluetooth. If they are also failing to amplify everyday sounds, the issue may involve charging, earwax blockage, or the hearing aids themselves.

Pairing Troubleshooting Steps

If the simple checks fail, reset the Bluetooth connections in a controlled order. This is especially useful when the hearing aids appear in Bluetooth settings but refuse to connect.

1. Close myPhonak and any other open apps that may be using Bluetooth audio.
2. Turn Bluetooth off and back on in the iPhone Settings app.
3. Restart your iPhone.
4. Restart both hearing aids using the charger.
5. Try pairing again from Settings > Bluetooth.

If the connection is still unsuccessful, you may need to remove the old Phonak Bluetooth entries and pair again.

On older Phonak generations such as Audéo P-RL, an iPhone with myPhonak installed may show three entries:

• R-Phonak or L-Phonak for calls and audio streaming.
• LE_R-Phonak for the right hearing aid’s app connection.
• LE_L-Phonak for the left hearing aid’s app connection.

The LE entries use Bluetooth Low Energy for communication with the myPhonak app. They are not the main audio streaming connection.

For a complete repair, Phonak recommends removing the related entries through the information button in Settings > Bluetooth, then choosing Forget This Device. In myPhonak, go to Devices > Product Information and select Forget my devices before repeating app setup.

See Phonak’s Bluetooth and app troubleshooting instructions for the reset sequence used with Paradise-generation hearing aids.

Pair Your Phonak Audéo P-RL With the myPhonak App

The myPhonak app lets you adjust compatible hearing aid settings, manage listening programs, and check device information from your iPhone. It uses a different Bluetooth connection from the one used for phone calls and music.

To connect your hearing aids to myPhonak:

1. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
2. Download myPhonak from the Apple App Store.
3. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
4. Open myPhonak and complete or skip the introductory screens.
5. Choose Pair hearing aids on the app’s home screen.
6. Restart both hearing aids when prompted.
7. Wait until both hearing aids appear in the app.
8. Tap the green Pair button.
9. Accept the iPhone’s Bluetooth pairing request for each hearing aid separately.

After pairing, the app should confirm that your hearing aids are connected.

For Audéo P-RL and other earlier Phonak generations, pairing with myPhonak does not automatically complete the separate connection for phone calls and music.

If the app offers See instructions or Optional settings, follow those prompts to finish setting up Bluetooth audio streaming.

Phonak provides a separate myPhonak pairing guide for rechargeable hearing aids on iPhone.

If the app detects only one hearing aid, confirm that both are charged and switched on. Then restart the missing hearing aid and repeat the app’s search.

Enhance Call Clarity Through iPhone Audio Settings

Once your Phonak Audéo P-RL hearing aids are connected, the right audio settings can make phone conversations easier. Start by checking where your iPhone sends call audio.

If calls are playing through the iPhone instead of your hearing aids, open:

Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing > Bluetooth Headset.

This setting tells your iPhone to prefer a Bluetooth headset for compatible calls. Apple’s Call Audio Routing instructions explain the available choices.

You can also change the audio destination during a call by tapping Audio on the call screen and selecting the connected Phonak hearing aids.

Use Voice Isolation When Background Noise Is a Problem

Voice Isolation is an iPhone microphone feature that reduces unwanted background noise so the person receiving your call can hear your voice more clearly.

1. Start a phone call.
2. Swipe down from the upper-right corner to open Control Center.
3. Tap the controls for the active calling app.
4. Under Audio & Video, select Voice Isolation.

Voice Isolation is supported for phone calls on iOS 16.4 or later. It mainly changes the sound transmitted to the other person, not the volume of their voice in your hearing aids.

Apple explains the feature in its Voice Isolation and microphone mode guide.

For better call quality, keep your iPhone within Bluetooth range and avoid placing thick obstacles between the phone and hearing aids. A weak mobile signal can also affect call quality independently of Bluetooth.

Discover Phonak Hearing Aid Compatibility With iPhones

Phonak Audéo P-RL hearing aids support wireless phone calls and audio streaming through standard Bluetooth technology. They can work with compatible iPhones without requiring a separate streaming accessory.

For phone calls and music, Phonak uses Bluetooth profiles that support hands-free calling and audio playback.

For myPhonak, the phone also needs Bluetooth Low Energy support and a compatible operating system.

Phonak’s current myPhonak compatibility requirements specify iOS 16.0 or newer.

This means there are two separate compatibility checks:

• Bluetooth calls and music: Your iPhone must support the standard Bluetooth audio profiles used by the hearing aids.
• myPhonak controls: Your iPhone must meet the app’s operating system and Bluetooth Low Energy requirements.

Once paired, Audéo P-RL hearing aids normally reconnect automatically when they are switched on and the previously paired phone is within range.

The P-RL user guide also states that the hearing aids can store pairings with up to eight Bluetooth devices and maintain connections with up to two devices. However, that does not mean they can play different audio streams simultaneously.

Stream Audio From Your iPhone to Phonak Hearing Aids

After Bluetooth audio pairing is complete, your hearing aids can play music, videos, podcasts, and phone call audio directly from your iPhone.

To test streaming, open a music or video app and start playback. The hearing aids should switch to the appropriate Bluetooth streaming program when audio begins.

If you hear sound through the iPhone speaker instead, open the playback controls and select your Phonak hearing aids as the audio output device.

Remember that a successful myPhonak app connection alone does not guarantee music streaming on Audéo P-RL. Make sure the standard R-Phonak or L-Phonak Bluetooth audio connection is also established.

Notifications, keyboard sounds, and other system alerts can temporarily interrupt streaming. If these sounds become distracting, you can reduce them through Settings > Sounds & Haptics and the notification settings for individual apps.

For a better listening experience, use myPhonak to select or adjust available hearing programs. The exact controls depend on your hearing aid model and how your hearing care professional configured it.

Maintain Your Phonak Audéo P-RL for Optimal Performance

Regular care helps prevent sound problems that can be mistaken for Bluetooth connection failures. Earwax, moisture, dirty charging contacts, and low battery power can all affect hearing aid performance.

Use this maintenance checklist:

• Inspect the earpieces daily: Check for earwax and moisture.
• Clean the surfaces: Use a soft, lint-free cloth suitable for hearing aids.
• Check the wax protection: Replace the wax filter when needed, following your device instructions.
• Keep charging contacts clean: Remove visible dirt from the hearing aids and charger.
• Charge correctly: Make sure both the charger and hearing aids are clean and dry before charging.
• Store the devices carefully: Avoid excessive heat, direct sunlight, and unsuitable storage conditions.
• Keep software current: Update your iPhone and myPhonak app when compatible updates are available.

Avoid household detergents, soap, and direct water rinsing when cleaning your hearing aids. Water resistance does not mean every cleaning method is safe.

Firmware updates for the hearing aids may require assistance from your hearing care professional. The myPhonak app alone should not be assumed to install every device firmware update.

Battery information and hearing aid status can be checked through supported features in myPhonak. If charging or battery readings become unreliable, inspect the charger connection before seeking professional support.

Quick Fixes for Common Pairing and Usage Problems

Some connection problems appear only after the initial setup. Knowing the difference between Bluetooth audio streaming and myPhonak app connections can make these issues easier to solve.

Why Does Only One Phonak Hearing Aid Appear in Bluetooth?

Seeing only one Phonak hearing aid in the standard Bluetooth audio list is normal for Audéo P-RL. The phone pairs with one designated hearing aid to send calls and media to both.

However, the myPhonak app needs a separate connection with each hearing aid. If only one appears inside the app, check the power and Bluetooth status of the missing device.

Why Does Audio Stop or Switch While Streaming?

Audio may stop when your iPhone receives a notification, another paired device becomes active, or the Bluetooth connection is interrupted.

If your hearing aids stop receiving music, check the selected audio output on the iPhone. Also confirm that another nearby phone or computer has not taken over the active connection.

When Should You Reset Bluetooth Pairing?

Reset Bluetooth pairing when ordinary restarts and connection checks no longer work. Repeated disconnections, failed automatic reconnection, or missing app connections are common reasons to try this step.

Remove old pairings only when necessary because doing so requires another setup. If you remove both the audio and app connections, pair the hearing aids again for calls and streaming as well as myPhonak controls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What iPhone Settings Affect Hearing Aid Use?

Bluetooth, Call Audio Routing, and microphone modes can affect how Phonak hearing aids work with an iPhone. Bluetooth handles the connection, Call Audio Routing determines where call sound goes, and Voice Isolation can reduce background noise sent to the other caller. Notification settings can also reduce unwanted interruptions.

What Are the Compatibility Requirements for the myPhonak App?

The myPhonak app requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled Phonak hearing aid and an iPhone running iOS 16.0 or newer. The phone must support Bluetooth Low Energy. An internet connection is useful for downloading the app and completing initial setup. Some features depend on the hearing aid model.

Will Phonak Hearing Aids Work With an iPhone?

Yes, compatible Phonak hearing aids work with iPhones for phone calls and audio streaming through Bluetooth. Phonak Audéo P-RL can connect to the iPhone 16 family without a separate streaming accessory. The myPhonak app provides additional controls when the phone and hearing aids meet its compatibility requirements.

Can I Answer the Phone Using My Phonak Hearing Aid?

Yes, you can answer calls using the multifunction button on a paired Phonak Audéo P-RL hearing aid. A short press accepts an incoming call. P90-RL and P70-RL models also support answering with a double tap near the top of the ear when Tap Control is enabled. You can always answer directly on your iPhone.

Conclusion

Pairing Phonak Audéo P-RL hearing aids with an iPhone is usually straightforward once Bluetooth is enabled and the hearing aids are restarted correctly. Remember that phone calls and music use a separate connection from the myPhonak app.

If pairing fails, check the batteries, restart both devices, and review existing Bluetooth connections before attempting a full re-pair. Once connected, test a phone call and audio playback to confirm everything works as expected.

Sources

1. Apple Support: Identify Your iPhone Model: Official iPhone model identification and naming.
2. Phonak Audéo P-RL User Guide: Model information, pairing, controls, rebooting, maintenance, and phone call features.
3. Phonak: Pair Hearing Aids With an iPhone: Bluetooth pairing procedure and connection confirmation.
4. Phonak: Troubleshoot Bluetooth and App Connections: Connection repairs, removing previous pairings, and app reset procedures.
5. Phonak: Connect Rechargeable Hearing Aids to myPhonak: App pairing and separate streaming setup.
6. Phonak: myPhonak Phone Compatibility Requirements: Supported iOS versions and Bluetooth requirements.
7. Apple Support: Route and Automatically Answer Calls: Call Audio Routing settings.
8. Apple Support: Voice Isolation and Microphone Modes: Background noise reduction and supported iOS versions.

Related reading

• I Can Connect iPhone With Phonak for Calls: Complete Guide
• Phonak I90 Sphere Connect With iPhone 15: Key Facts and Tips
• Infinite Pairing Phonak on iPhone: Everything Explained
• Phonak Audio Sphere Connected to iPhone How to Stream