The best way to replace AirPods firmware: All you might want to know

There’s no direct technique to replace your AirPods firmware. When Apple updates AirPods software program — because it did Tuesday for quite a lot of fashions — it occurs mechanically, within the background. Nonetheless, there’s a technique to velocity up the AirPods replace course of. Plus, it’s a good suggestion to manually examine you’re operating the newest model, which brings bug fixes and generally nice new options.

Apple simply launched contemporary firmware for practically all AirPods fashions and a few Beats earbuds. The updates include “bug fixes and different enhancements,” in keeping with Apple. You can discover all present AirPods firmware variations beneath, together with ideas for getting the AirPods replace as rapidly as doable

Right here’s the right way to examine in case your AirPods are operating the newest firmware on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Plus what to do in the event that they aren’t, and the right way to pressure AirPods’ firmware to replace.

The best way to replace AirPods firmware

Apple periodically brings out new firmware with enhancements and bug fixes. It’s effectively price putting in these updates as a result of they repair bugs and generally include vital new options. The 6A300/6A301 replace final fall, for instance, added new options to your complete AirPods line. And when iOS 18 arrives this fall, AirPods will acquire new options, too, like the power to reply calls by nodding your head.

Apple sometimes doesn’t trouble to announce AirPods updates. Nonetheless, the corporate lately began publishing launch notes so customers know what’s modified. Firmware updates are performed 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: The best way to replace AirPods firmware

What’s the newest AirPods firmware?

• AirPods (third era): 6A326
• AirPods (2nd era): 6A326
• AirPods (1st era): 6.8.8

What’s the newest AirPods Professional firmware?

• AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 6F8
• AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 6F8
• AirPods Professional (1st era): 6A326

And what’s the newest AirPods Max firmware?

AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and authentic AirPods Professional can now improve to firmware model 6A326, changing 6A321 from January.

And AirPods Professional 2 are actually on firmware model 6F8, changing 6F7. Apple launched the earlier firmware model 6F7 for AirPods Professional 2 in Might 2024. That changed 6B34 in December 2023, which changed 6B32 from November of that yr.  

As famous, the discharge notes for the 6F8 firmware — which Beats Match Professional and Powerbeats Professional additionally acquired Tuesday — merely say the replace brings “bug fixes and different enhancements.” 

The best way to examine your present firmware model on iPhone or iPad

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

1. Join your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad

Begin by establishing an energetic 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 high of settings, slightly below your Apple ID settings. Faucet the title of your AirPods, and on the following display scroll virtually 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. The identical is true for first-gen AirPods Professional. The most recent AirPods Professional ought to learn 6F8, and so forth. See the chart above.

3. Alternatively, go to Settings -> Bluetooth

One other technique to examine AirPods firmware is to go to Settings -> Bluetooth and look beneath My Gadgets for the title of your AirPods. Faucet within the blue ⓘ icon — it’s an i with a circle round it subsequent to the title.  On the ensuing web page, search for Model. Once more, the newest model for many AirPods is 6A326, whereas the newer AirPods Professional are on 6F8. You can also examine Apple’s checklist of present firmware variations.

The best way to pressure an replace

In case your AirPods firmware isn’t present, you may velocity up the replace course of. Form of. Sadly, you may’t push a button or toggle a setting to inform your AirPods to replace. The most effective 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 if in case you have a wi-fi charging case, put your AirPods on a wi-fi charger.

Then ensure 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 take as much as half-hour. Be affected person!

There are theories on the right way to 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, it is a downside 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.

The best way to examine AirPods’ present firmware model on Mac

You can also examine your AirPods firmware on a Mac. Your Mac will have to be operating 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, 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 title). Make certain that your AirPods are related to your Mac. It ought to say Linked. (If not, open the lid of the AirPods case, or choose Join subsequent to the earbuds’ machine title.)

3. Verify the firmware model

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

4. Drive an replace

If the firmware model isn’t updated, pop your AirPods into their case, and plug them right into a charging cable. You may put the opposite finish of the charging cable into your Mac. The firmware ought to replace itself. Once more, it sometimes takes 5 to 10 minutes, however may 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?

Though you may join your AirPods to an Android machine or a Home windows laptop, you can not replace the firmware on Android or Home windows. You may 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 observe: We initially revealed this submit on the right way to replace AirPods firmware on November 14, 2019. We refresh it periodically with successive new AirPods firmware variations. Leander Kahney contributed to this submit.