Good analysis. Thanks. I do wonder if $apple will discover that the user is always not in the US region after activation and hence, disable the functionality?
Unfortunately many MANY people no longer use X and refuse to. Could updates be posted elsewhere so we can know what’s happening with this important workaround?
This is impressive. The features are still not working in Czech Republic too. There is a simple hack to run Hearing Test without hassle: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/3130205a8ecc4203818a164316f938ae - just run the Shortcut. Could this work for enabling Aid too?
EDIT: it worked until the last beta, not working anymore.
Hi there. I'm a tech journalist from South Africa who got the hearing aid working on my pair. However, someone shared this article to me as they cannot get it to work. I just want to add, not sure if relevant now, that I purchased my AirPods Pro 2 in California and the feature is working on my iPhone 16 Pro from SA, set to SA region and SA English (for Apple Intelligence).
Great job! I followed your instructions in France for my AirPods and it works! I didnt'use a microwave, just a Faraday bag. As it was impossible to completely block the signals, I removed the SIM card before proceeding, and cut of the WiFi of my box, connecting my MBP with an ethernet cable to the box.
In a bag if you put an ESP32 module it dies immediately (too hot I suppose). So I used an ESP32 with an external antenna, and put just the antenna in the bag, with the iPhone.
On the console i had a US localisation at a moment, but quickly it returned to 'FR'. I didn't think it was a success before getting off the iPhone from the bag, but it was ! The iPhone was set to an US location, and the clock did match this location. Finally I could configure the hearing assistance.
Hi JP I’m trying to reproduce in Brazil and thought about using the bag as well… glad to hear positive results… unfortunately my ESP32 do not have external antena but I was thinking in going to a subway station to try as there are no WiFi’s underground.
I was also trying to modify the arduino file to reflect other locations. Were you able to do that or use the existing one to match FB HQ?
Hi Ricardo, you can't do it in a parking or the subway because you need to have an ethernet connection to your Internet box and to connect your iPhone to your Mac with an internet share via usb.
For getting other locations, you can visit https://wigle.net/index, search for a location and you get 100 sssid/bssid. Then you have to replace the values of the arduino script with your own values. Don't forget to change the length of the ssids in the script.
JP thanks for the fast reply! Subway line has 5G signal, so my plan is get my cel, share internet to Mac using usb-c cable, start vpn on Mac, then share vpn connection to iPad using another usb-c cable and try it out…
As for other SSIDs location I tried to run the arduino script with those SSIDs but no luck.. I’m not a big python expert so not sure what was going on there. My idea was to create a new arduino file with somewhere in Paris to try to use the same methodology to try to free sideloading from Brazil which is only available inside EU countries.
BTW when you successfully able to do your hearing aid, were u on which iOS version?
Do you get an error when you compile the arduino script? If compilation is a success, you have no syntax error. If the 100 BSSIDs match the 100 SSIDs, and the 100 lengths match the SSIDs, it is possible that the manipulation fails for another reason.
Perhaps side-loading is limited to your country by a method other than that used for the hearing aid.
As far as I read, sideloading taking into consideration several aspects such as: gps, vpn usage, Apple ID, billing location, etc
I believe you can bypass all expect the location when using iPad without gps…
I was planning to try it out but no luck compiling the arduino with those SSIDs…
I could give more info on twitter or telegram if you want to exchange users. My user on both x and telegram is @ratoxico if you don’t mind help me there
Anyone have a setup in Hyderabad. I have also purchased the AIPP2 hoping that the hearing aid feature will come. I have hard of hearing and really need this. Please let me know if anyone could help
this is awesome. My mom in india (Bhubaneswar) has hearing loss and I sent a new Pro and my wife who was visiting upgraded my mom's iphone12 and I was remotely watching the frustration of not finding this feature. I honestly do not know when India regulatory body will allow this for Apple to enable, and really want this to be unlocked.
How do you make your iPad turn on and off automatically? with Xcode ?
I checked my endpoint is in US and I setup an esp32 and used the fb.combined json to simulation WIFI SSID ( from modified github) in shielding room , but still fail ...
Hey would you be able to share your script to reboot and enable networking? Im trying to do the same with my iPhone 16 in my DIY faraday cage but when I try to re-enable console logging it manages to get a signal before I can put it back in the cage! Any help very much appreciated :)
However, I'm a bit confused about the Faraday cage part - as in.
You have a non-cellular iPad (i.e. Wifi only).
This goes inside the Faraday cage - so that it can't see any nearby Wifi SSIDs. The ESP32 that's broadcasting California SSIDs also goes into the Faraday cage as well.
However, you mention a laptop that's connected to the iPad, and gives it internet access. I assume this is *not* inside the Faraday cage? Or do you mean there's an Ethernet cable (or some other hardwired internet connection to the laptop), and that also needs to be blocked from RF signals?
Is there a requirement for the iPad to have internet access in order to activate the hearing aid features? If there isn't - then you could just do this whole setup in a place without any wifi signals, right?
Or if the iPad needs to be blocked from Wifi - but it still needs an internet connection - would giving it a internet connection via a USB-C Ethernet dongle work?
There's a USB-C cable connecting the iPad (in the cage) to the macbook (outside the cage) for 2 reasons:
- Seeing logs to make sure the region has changed - there's a 10-min cache so this tells us if we have to wait a bit
- for providing internet - reverse tethering over usb provides internet that's routed through a US VPN. This is required because there's another IP address based check that the iPad makes to https://gspe1-ssl.ls.apple.com/pep/gcc
>would giving it a internet connection via a USB-C Ethernet dongle work?
It should, but usb cable also gives us logs so we went with that.
However, with a Faraday cage if you have a cable (e.g. USB-C) coming out of it - does that not let some of the signal out?
E.g. 5Ghz wifi RF has a wavelength of 6cm, so the aperture sizes would need to be tiny (60mm/10 = 6mm hole sizes or less) - and that's assuming no leakage at seams etc.
How were you able to get the USB-C cable out of the Faraday cage, without any leakage?
Good analysis. Thanks. I do wonder if $apple will discover that the user is always not in the US region after activation and hence, disable the functionality?
Unfortunately many MANY people no longer use X and refuse to. Could updates be posted elsewhere so we can know what’s happening with this important workaround?
This is impressive. The features are still not working in Czech Republic too. There is a simple hack to run Hearing Test without hassle: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/3130205a8ecc4203818a164316f938ae - just run the Shortcut. Could this work for enabling Aid too?
EDIT: it worked until the last beta, not working anymore.
You can actually launch it directly by navigating to this URL: x-apple-health://HearingAppPlugin.healthplugin/HearingTest
Yes but won't work ,it just does the test
Yep, that's correct.
Awesome!! Really inspiring 🤩
Hi there. I'm a tech journalist from South Africa who got the hearing aid working on my pair. However, someone shared this article to me as they cannot get it to work. I just want to add, not sure if relevant now, that I purchased my AirPods Pro 2 in California and the feature is working on my iPhone 16 Pro from SA, set to SA region and SA English (for Apple Intelligence).
I am in bangalore, is there a way I can get the feature unblocked in the airpod pro 2?
Hi
Great job! I followed your instructions in France for my AirPods and it works! I didnt'use a microwave, just a Faraday bag. As it was impossible to completely block the signals, I removed the SIM card before proceeding, and cut of the WiFi of my box, connecting my MBP with an ethernet cable to the box.
In a bag if you put an ESP32 module it dies immediately (too hot I suppose). So I used an ESP32 with an external antenna, and put just the antenna in the bag, with the iPhone.
On the console i had a US localisation at a moment, but quickly it returned to 'FR'. I didn't think it was a success before getting off the iPhone from the bag, but it was ! The iPhone was set to an US location, and the clock did match this location. Finally I could configure the hearing assistance.
Hi JP I’m trying to reproduce in Brazil and thought about using the bag as well… glad to hear positive results… unfortunately my ESP32 do not have external antena but I was thinking in going to a subway station to try as there are no WiFi’s underground.
I was also trying to modify the arduino file to reflect other locations. Were you able to do that or use the existing one to match FB HQ?
Hi Ricardo, you can't do it in a parking or the subway because you need to have an ethernet connection to your Internet box and to connect your iPhone to your Mac with an internet share via usb.
For getting other locations, you can visit https://wigle.net/index, search for a location and you get 100 sssid/bssid. Then you have to replace the values of the arduino script with your own values. Don't forget to change the length of the ssids in the script.
JP thanks for the fast reply! Subway line has 5G signal, so my plan is get my cel, share internet to Mac using usb-c cable, start vpn on Mac, then share vpn connection to iPad using another usb-c cable and try it out…
As for other SSIDs location I tried to run the arduino script with those SSIDs but no luck.. I’m not a big python expert so not sure what was going on there. My idea was to create a new arduino file with somewhere in Paris to try to use the same methodology to try to free sideloading from Brazil which is only available inside EU countries.
BTW when you successfully able to do your hearing aid, were u on which iOS version?
I was on iOS 18.2 I think.
Do you get an error when you compile the arduino script? If compilation is a success, you have no syntax error. If the 100 BSSIDs match the 100 SSIDs, and the 100 lengths match the SSIDs, it is possible that the manipulation fails for another reason.
Perhaps side-loading is limited to your country by a method other than that used for the hearing aid.
As far as I read, sideloading taking into consideration several aspects such as: gps, vpn usage, Apple ID, billing location, etc
I believe you can bypass all expect the location when using iPad without gps…
I was planning to try it out but no luck compiling the arduino with those SSIDs…
I could give more info on twitter or telegram if you want to exchange users. My user on both x and telegram is @ratoxico if you don’t mind help me there
Anyone have a setup in Hyderabad. I have also purchased the AIPP2 hoping that the hearing aid feature will come. I have hard of hearing and really need this. Please let me know if anyone could help
Thanks in Advance
Great post guys, loved this
this is awesome. My mom in india (Bhubaneswar) has hearing loss and I sent a new Pro and my wife who was visiting upgraded my mom's iphone12 and I was remotely watching the frustration of not finding this feature. I honestly do not know when India regulatory body will allow this for Apple to enable, and really want this to be unlocked.
Any help on how to get this done in Bhubaneswar?
Hi Sir ,
How do you make your iPad turn on and off automatically? with Xcode ?
I checked my endpoint is in US and I setup an esp32 and used the fb.combined json to simulation WIFI SSID ( from modified github) in shielding room , but still fail ...
kindly ask , what is the major step i missed ?
And also any idea if it’s possible to use an iPhone 16 in airplane mode with WiFi enable?
Is the Apple Store region required to be changed in the end?
Hey would you be able to share your script to reboot and enable networking? Im trying to do the same with my iPhone 16 in my DIY faraday cage but when I try to re-enable console logging it manages to get a signal before I can put it back in the cage! Any help very much appreciated :)
This is pretty cool!
However, I'm a bit confused about the Faraday cage part - as in.
You have a non-cellular iPad (i.e. Wifi only).
This goes inside the Faraday cage - so that it can't see any nearby Wifi SSIDs. The ESP32 that's broadcasting California SSIDs also goes into the Faraday cage as well.
However, you mention a laptop that's connected to the iPad, and gives it internet access. I assume this is *not* inside the Faraday cage? Or do you mean there's an Ethernet cable (or some other hardwired internet connection to the laptop), and that also needs to be blocked from RF signals?
Is there a requirement for the iPad to have internet access in order to activate the hearing aid features? If there isn't - then you could just do this whole setup in a place without any wifi signals, right?
Or if the iPad needs to be blocked from Wifi - but it still needs an internet connection - would giving it a internet connection via a USB-C Ethernet dongle work?
There's a USB-C cable connecting the iPad (in the cage) to the macbook (outside the cage) for 2 reasons:
- Seeing logs to make sure the region has changed - there's a 10-min cache so this tells us if we have to wait a bit
- for providing internet - reverse tethering over usb provides internet that's routed through a US VPN. This is required because there's another IP address based check that the iPad makes to https://gspe1-ssl.ls.apple.com/pep/gcc
>would giving it a internet connection via a USB-C Ethernet dongle work?
It should, but usb cable also gives us logs so we went with that.
Thanks for the info!
However, with a Faraday cage if you have a cable (e.g. USB-C) coming out of it - does that not let some of the signal out?
E.g. 5Ghz wifi RF has a wavelength of 6cm, so the aperture sizes would need to be tiny (60mm/10 = 6mm hole sizes or less) - and that's assuming no leakage at seams etc.
How were you able to get the USB-C cable out of the Faraday cage, without any leakage?