Tips on how to replace AirPods firmware: All it’s good to know

There’s no direct strategy to replace your AirPods firmware. When Apple updates the software program for the wi-fi earbuds — because it did Friday for AirPods Professional 2  — it occurs mechanically, within the background. Nonetheless, there’s a strategy to pace up the AirPods replace course of. Plus, it’s a good suggestion to manually verify you’re working the newest model, which brings bug fixes and typically nice new options.

Apple launched firmware replace 7A305 for AirPods Professional 2 with bug fixes to the key replace from earlier this month. You will get extra particulars, and discover all present AirPods firmware variations under, together with suggestions for getting the AirPods replace as rapidly as doable

Right here’s how one can verify in case your AirPods are working the newest firmware on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Plus what to do in the event that they aren’t, and what you are able to do to drive AirPods’ firmware to replace.

Tips on how to replace AirPods firmware

Apple periodically brings out new firmware with enhancements and bug fixes. It’s nicely value putting in these updates as a result of they repair bugs and typically comprise important new options. In latest weeks, there’s been a number of firmware updates for AirPods Professional 2 and one for AirPods 4.

Apple usually doesn’t trouble to announce AirPods updates. Nonetheless, the corporate does publish launch notes so customers know what’s modified. Firmware updates are carried out mechanically when your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth vary of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that’s related to Wi-Fi.

Desk of contents: Tips on how to replace AirPods firmware

What’s the newest AirPods firmware?

• AirPods (4th era): 7A304
• AirPods (4th era) with Energetic Noise Cancellation: 7A304
• AirPods (2nd era): 6A326
• AirPods (2nd era): 6A326
• AirPods (1st era): 6.8.8

Each variants of AirPods 4 moved to 7A304 with bug fixes shortly after the wi-fi earbuds launched. AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 bought an improve to firmware model 6A326 in June 2024. AirPods 1 firmware hasn’t been up to date in years.

What’s the newest AirPods Professional firmware?

• AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 7A305
• AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 7A305
• AirPods Professional (1st era): 6A326

Each variations of AirPods Professional 2 at the moment are on firmware model 7A305.  The discharge notes for the brand new firmware spell out the modifications, resembling they’re: “Bug fixes and different enhancements.”

However the 7A294 replace from earlier in September introduced a raft of latest options:

“When used with an iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11-supported iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, AirPods Professional 2 firmware replace 7A294 makes the hands-free expertise much more seamless by with the ability to nod your head “sure” or shake your head “no” to reply to Siri bulletins like calls, messages, and notifications. This replace additionally provides Voice Isolation to calls with AirPods Professional 2 to assist make sure you come throughout clearly by eradicating background noise round you for whoever you might be talking to. Players additionally now have the most effective wi-fi audio latency Apple has ever delivered for cell gaming and might get pleasure from improved voice high quality, together with 16-bit, 48kHz audio, when chatting with teammates and different gamers. As well as, this replace contains efficiency enhancements to Customized Quantity with AirPods Professional 2.”

Profiting from the brand new options requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and/or watchOS 11, however these will exit Monday, September 16.

Unique AirPods Professional bought an improve to firmware model 6A326 in June 2024.

And what’s the newest AirPods Max firmware?

• AirPods Max (USB-C): 7A291
• AirPods Max: 6A326

AirPods Max (USB-C) debuted with ZA291. The unique model bought an improve to firmware model 6A326 in June 2024.

Tips on how to verify your present firmware model on iPhone or iPad

It’s fairly simple to rapidly verify in case your AirPods are updated in iOS and iPadOS.

1. Join your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad

Begin by establishing an lively connection to your AirPods by opening the lid of the charging case. Or put the earbuds on, whichever you like.

2. Go to Settings

Open the Settings app in your iPhone or iPad. When related, your AirPods needs to be proper on the prime of settings, just under your Apple ID settings. Faucet the identify of your AirPods, and on the following display screen scroll nearly to the underside the place you’ll see Model, which lists the present firmware quantity.

For a lot of AirPods fashions, search for Model to say 6A326 or 7A304. The identical is true for first-gen AirPods Professional. The newest AirPods Professional ought to learn 7A305, and so forth. See the chart above.

3. Alternatively, go to Settings -> Bluetooth

One other strategy to verify AirPods firmware is to go to Settings -> Bluetooth and look below My Gadgets for the identify of your AirPods. Faucet within the blue ⓘ icon — it’s an i with a circle round it subsequent to the identify.  On the ensuing web page, search for Model. Once more, the newest model for many AirPods is 6A326 or 7A304, whereas the newer AirPods Professional are on 7A305. You can also verify Apple’s checklist of present firmware variations.

Tips on how to (type of) drive an replace

In case your AirPods firmware isn’t present, you may pace up the replace course of. Type of. Sadly, you may’t push a button or toggle a setting to inform your AirPods to replace. The perfect you are able to do is put your AirPods of their case and plug the case into an influence cable (Lightning or USB-C). Identical factor for AirPods Max: Simply plug the headphones right into a charging cable. Or when you have a wi-fi charging case, put your AirPods on a wi-fi charger.

Then be sure that the iPhone or iPad they’re paired with is shut by, and wait. The firmware ought to replace. Usually, the method takes 5 to 10 minutes, however it may well take as much as half-hour. Be affected person!

There are theories on how one can get a sooner replace, like plugging the AirPods case right into a Mac, however none of those have ever been definitively confirmed to work any faster. Realistically, this can be a drawback just for individuals who get antsy about controlling firmware updates, and who need the newest as quickly as they will get it. For everybody else, simply preserve utilizing your AirPods. The replace will occur with out you having to do a factor.

Tips on how to verify AirPods’ present firmware model on Mac

You can also verify your AirPods firmware on a Mac. Your Mac will have to be working macOS Ventura or later.

1. Go to System Settings

Click on the Apple menu icon within the higher left nook of your Mac’s display screen, and choose System Settings.

2. Choose Bluetooth

Click on Bluetooth within the left-hand sidebar. Then discover your AirPods within the My Gadgets checklist and choose the blue ⓘ icon (an i with a circle round it subsequent to the identify). Make certain that your AirPods are related to your Mac. It ought to say Related. (If not, open the lid of the AirPods case, or choose Join subsequent to the earbuds’ system identify.)

3. Test the firmware model

After clicking in your AirPods, a popup will present details about them, together with the firmware quantity subsequent to Model. Test it towards the firmware numbers listed above, or towards Apple’s checklist of present AirPod firmware updates.

4. Pressure an replace

If the firmware model isn’t updated, pop your AirPods into their case, and plug them right into a charging cable. You possibly can put the opposite finish of the charging cable into your Mac. The firmware ought to replace itself. Once more, it usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, however would possibly take longer. In case your AirPods got here with a wi-fi charging case, you may put them on a wi-fi charger.

Are you able to replace AirPods firmware on Android or Home windows?

Regardless that you may join your AirPods to an Android system or a Home windows pc, you can’t replace the firmware on Android or Home windows. You possibly can solely replace AirPods firmware on iOS, iPadOS and macOS. There may be at the moment no third-party software program that may do an AirPods firmware replace.

Editor’s notice: We initially printed this publish on how one can replace AirPods firmware on November 14, 2019. We refresh it periodically with successive new AirPods firmware variations. Leander Kahney contributed to this publish.