How to Use Tinnitus Relief App in 5 Minutes (Step-by-Step)
How do I use Tinnitus Relief App? Open the app, tap a sound (white noise is the free default), and press play. Use the frequency slider to match the pitch of your ringing — takes about 60 seconds. Set volume so tinnitus is still faintly audible. The sound keeps playing automatically during phone calls, Zoom, and YouTube. No account required.
How long does setup take? About two minutes from download to playing your first sound.
How to Use Tinnitus Relief App – Step-by-Step Guide
What you need: your phone, with or without headphones. That is all. No extra devices, no cables, no Wi-Fi after the initial download.
The app does 2 things. First, it lets you find the exact frequency of your tinnitus — you slide a dial until the app tone matches your ringing. Takes about a minute. Then, it plays a background sound — rain, fan, white noise — that blends with your tinnitus and makes it less noticeable. Both on your phone, with or without headphones.
Step by Step: From Download to Relief
Download the app
Open the app shop on your phone. On iPhone it is the App Store (blue icon with a white "A"). On Android it is Google Play (colourful triangle icon).
Type "Tinnitus Relief App" in the search bar. Tap the app when it appears. Tap "Get" or "Install".
It is free. You do not need a credit card for the free version.
Open the app
Tap the app icon on your home screen. It opens immediately. There is no account to create, no email to enter, no password to set up. You go straight to the app.
Choose a sound and press play
You will see the sound library. Start with White Noise — it is free and works well for most types of tinnitus. Tap it. Tap play.
You should hear a steady, gentle hissing sound. This is the sound that will blend with your tinnitus and make it less noticeable.
Set the volume
Use your phone's volume buttons or the slider in the app. Set it so the sound is just noticeable — enough to blend with the ringing, but not loud.
A good test: you should still be able to hear someone speaking to you at a normal distance. If they have to raise their voice, turn it down.
Match your tinnitus frequency (optional but helpful)
Go to the frequency matcher. You will see a slider bar. Slide it slowly — the app plays a tone that changes pitch as you move the slider.
Move it until the tone from the app blends with or covers the ringing in your ears. When the two sounds seem to merge, you have found your approximate frequency.
This takes about 60 seconds. It helps the app target your specific tinnitus more precisely.
Set a sleep timer (bedtime use)
If you are using the app to help you sleep, tap the timer icon. Choose 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, or "all night."
The sound will fade out slowly when the timer ends — no sudden silence that wakes you up.
Use during phone calls and daily life
Here is what makes this app different: the sound keeps playing even while you watch YouTube, take a phone call, or join a Zoom meeting. The background sound does not pause.
You do not need to do anything special. It happens automatically. This feature is free for all users. No other tinnitus app does this.
Which Sound Should I Choose?
There is no single "best" sound. It depends on your tinnitus and what feels soothing to you. Here is a quick guide:
White Noise
Covers the widest range of frequencies. Good starting point for most people. Sounds like radio static or a steady hiss. Free.
Pink Noise
Softer and warmer than white noise. Easier on the ears for long listening. Sounds like steady rainfall. Good for sensitive ears.
Brown Noise
Deep, low rumble. Ideal for sleep and relaxation. Sounds like distant thunder or heavy wind. Popular at bedtime.
Rain / Ocean / Nature
Natural soundscapes that many people find calming. Good for sleep and focus. Choose whichever feels most soothing.
Fan / Cabin / Café
Familiar everyday sounds. Fan hum is popular for sleep. Café buzz helps with focus and work.
Advanced Therapy
Binaural beats, theta pulses, solfeggio tones. For people who want to explore structured sound therapy. Premium.
Not sure? Try three sounds for five minutes each and keep the one that makes you feel calmest. Read the full comparison in our white, pink, and brown noise guide.
What to Expect Over Time
Think of your nose. It is always in front of your eyes. Every moment of every day. But your brain learned to ignore it long ago — so you never really "see" it any more. The app does the same thing with your tinnitus. By sending the right frequency and a background sound, your brain gradually learns the ringing is not dangerous. It pushes it into the background. You notice it less and less.
This is not instant magic. It is a gradual process called habituation. Here is what most people experience:
The ringing feels softer while the sound is playing. This is immediate masking. It works from the first session. When you stop the sound, the ringing comes back — that is normal.
Sleep often improves. The bedtime routine of sound + timer starts to signal "safe" to your brain. You may fall asleep faster and wake less often.
Habituation of reaction begins. You still hear the ringing, but it bothers you less. The emotional charge — the anxiety, frustration, anger — starts to fade. You think about it less often.
Habituation of perception. Your brain begins filtering the tinnitus out of conscious awareness. You go hours without noticing it. When you do check, it is still there — but it feels unimportant. Like the hum of a fridge you forgot was on.
Everyone is different. Some people feel significant relief in days. Others take months. Published research suggests consistent daily use of 3–6 hours supports the process. The key is regularity, not intensity. Read more about how habituation works.
Using the App with Hearing Aids
If you wear hearing aids, the app works alongside them — not instead of them. Three options depending on your setup:
Bluetooth hearing aids: The app sound streams directly to your hearing aids. No extra headphones needed. Open the app, press play, and the sound comes through your aids automatically.
No Bluetooth: Use your phone speaker. Place it on your bedside table at night or in your pocket during the day.
Headphones over hearing aids: If you prefer headphones, over-ear models work well worn on top of behind-the-ear hearing aids.
Talk to your audiologist about the best setup for your specific hearing aids. More details in our app features guide.
Common Questions
Start with white noise. If it feels too sharp, try pink noise (softer) or brown noise (deeper). Rain and ocean are popular for sleep. Try three sounds for five minutes each and keep the one that makes you feel calmest.
That is perfectly normal. Not everyone can match precisely. Skip the frequency matching and use a masking sound instead. You will still get relief. The frequency matcher improves targeting but is not required.
As low as possible while still noticing relief. You should be able to hear someone speaking to you at a normal distance. If they have to raise their voice, it is too loud. Lower volume is safer and often more effective for long-term habituation.
Published research suggests 3 to 6 hours daily to support habituation. But any consistent use helps. Start with whatever feels natural and build from there. Regularity matters more than duration.
Yes. Premium users can combine sounds from different categories — for example, white noise plus rain plus a fan — to build a personalised soundscape. Each layer has its own volume control.
Yes. Once downloaded, everything works fully offline. No internet needed. No data sent anywhere. Everything stays on your phone.
The free version includes white noise, background play during calls, and frequency matching — enough to feel whether it helps. Premium ($49.99/year with a 7-day free trial) unlocks all 44 sounds, sleep timer with fade-out, independent per-ear frequency control, and unlimited saved presets.
Absolutely. Ask a friend or family member to download the app and show you two things: the play button and the volume slider. There is no account, so the person helping you does not see any personal data. After that, you can use it on your own whenever you like.
Ready? It Takes Two Minutes
Download the app. Pick a sound. Press play. That is all you need to do tonight.
If the app helps you, please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play — it helps other people with tinnitus find us 🙏
Sources
- Jastreboff PJ, Hazell JWP. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
- Deshpande AK, Torres P. "Smartphone-Based Sound Therapy for Tinnitus Management." Frontiers in Audiology and Otology, 2023.
- Sereda M, et al. "Sound therapy for tinnitus." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018.
Tinnitus Relief App
Ready? White noise plays in under two minutes.
Download, open, tap play. White noise starts at your matched frequency. No account, no credit card, no setup. Background play keeps it running during calls and all night.
Free · 7-day Premium trial · No signup