How to Hear Calls Better: Captions and Hearing Aids

What this helps with: Seeing words on screen during calls and videos, and connecting hearing aids to your phone.

iPhone: turn on Live Captions

Live Captions works on iPhone 11 and newer, in some languages and countries.

Open Settings.
Tap Accessibility, then Live Captions.
Turn on Live Captions.
Tap Appearance if you’d like bigger or bolder caption text.
Now, during a FaceTime call or a video, a caption box appears with the words as they’re spoken. You can drag the box to move it.

Good to know: Captions aren’t perfect. Don’t rely on them in an emergency.

Live Caption works on Pixel and many other Android phones.

Press a volume button on the side of the phone.
Under the volume slider, tap More (three dots), then tap Live Caption.
- If you don’t see it: open Settings, search for Live Caption, and turn it on.
Captions appear for videos and, on many phones, phone calls. The first time, connect to Wi-Fi so the phone can download the language.

Check that your hearing aids work with phones. Your hearing aid’s paperwork or your audiologist can tell you.
iPhone: Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Hearing Devices. Put your hearing aids in pairing mode (often by opening and closing the battery doors, or turning them off and on). Tap Pair MFi Hearing Device, then follow the steps on screen.
Android: Open Settings, tap Connected devices, then Pair new device, and tap your hearing aids’ name. Some hearing aids use their maker’s own app instead.

No captions appear. Turn the volume up a little. Captions need clear sound to work.
My hearing aids don’t show up. Restart the phone and the hearing aids. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Ask your audiologist for the right steps for your model.
Captions use extra battery. That’s normal. On Android, Live Caption turns off in Battery Saver.

Last checked: Oct 15, 2026

This is general help, not medical advice or personalized tech support. For hearing concerns, talk with your doctor or an audiologist.