How to set up Auracast on Android for broadcasting or listening

On Android, set up Auracast according to what you want to do: broadcast audio, join a stream with a compatible receiver, or use Oticon Companion with compatible Oticon hearing aids. Oticon documents native listening on selected Bluetooth LE Audio devices running Android 15 or later; its Companion app assistant supports Android 10 or later with compatible, paired hearing aids. Oticon’s instructions describe the receiver steps.

Auracast uses Bluetooth LE Audio to send one stream to multiple compatible receivers. Each listener can join the broadcast without being conventionally paired to the transmitting phone.

Check which Auracast path your devices support

Bluetooth version numbers alone do not establish Auracast support. The phone and audio equipment need the relevant Auracast function implemented and enabled. A phone may offer broadcasting without supporting native reception, or the reverse.

For native Android listening, Oticon’s guidance covers selected Bluetooth LE Audio devices on Android 15 or later. Its illustrated settings are from a Pixel 9, and menu names can vary by manufacturer. Oticon Companion is a separate route: the app’s Auracast assistant supports Android 10 or later, but requires compatible Oticon hearing aids with Bluetooth LE Audio paired to the phone. The app’s Android 10 threshold does not describe native Android listening.

A reported broadcast trial used a Pixel 10 Pro running Android 17 with EarFun Air Pro 4+ earbuds, according to How-To Geek. That setup is an example, not a guarantee that other phone and accessory combinations support the same functions.

Broadcast audio from Android

The following sequence reflects a reported accessory setup, not a universal requirement. How-To Geek’s reported Pixel 10 Pro trial used EarFun Air Pro 4+ earbuds; the suggested codec and gaming-mode changes were specific to that setup.

1. Connect the audio accessory. Use an accessory that supports the Auracast function you intend to use.
2. Adjust the accessory’s audio settings if needed. In the reported EarFun setup, LDAC or aptX and gaming mode were turned off when available, then the accessory was reconnected.
3. Enable Bluetooth LE Audio in the accessory’s Bluetooth details. Look for the control on the connected device’s details screen; its location depends on the phone and accessory.
4. Open the phone’s audio-sharing controls. Give the stream a name and set a password if you want to restrict access.
5. Share the stream’s QR code. A listener can scan it to find the broadcast. A private stream may require its password.

Join an Auracast broadcast

On a compatible native Android receiver, start from the connected earbuds’ or hearing aids’ Bluetooth details. The exact menu label can differ by device.

1. Open Bluetooth settings and select the connected compatible audio device.
2. Choose the option to find or listen to an audio stream.
3. Select a nearby broadcast or scan its QR code.
4. Enter a password if prompted, then join the stream.

Oticon’s Pixel 9 example uses a “Find an audio stream” control. Its native instructions apply to selected Bluetooth LE Audio devices running Android 15 or later. A separate Ampetronic demonstration shows stream discovery on a Samsung phone with Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

If a nearby stream does not appear

For its receiver workflow, Oticon says location services must be enabled to detect nearby streams. If a stream appears but will not connect, Oticon suggests using the Companion app. Its troubleshooting guidance also recommends toggling Bluetooth or restarting the hearing aids when connection problems persist.