AirPods Pro 2 (left) and AirPods 4 with noise cancellation (right)
For years, Apple has provided limited information on how to update your AirPods, stating that firmware updates are “delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi.” Unlike the iPhone, Apple Watch, or MacBook, AirPods didn’t have a process to be manually updated to the latest firmware.
But that’s changing now. Apple has finally provided a step-by-step guide on how to update your AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max to the latest firmware.
How To Update AirPods Or AirPods Pro Firmware
Apple AirPods 2 with USB Type C charing port (Photo by Ming Yeung/Getty Images)
While most of the steps were already known, this guide offers clarity as well as troubleshooting steps if your AirPods won’t update.
- Bring your AirPods within Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi.
- Put your AirPods in their charging case.
- Close the case lid.
- Plug the charging case into a USB charger or port.
- Keep the lid closed for 30 minutes.
- Wait for the firmware to update.
- Open the lid of the AirPods case to connect them to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Recheck the firmware version. It should be updated to the latest one.
How To Update AirPods Max Firmware
AirPods Max (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)
The process to update your AirPods Max to the latest firmware is similar to the steps mentioned above, but here’s a specific step-by-step guide:
- Bring your AirPods Max within Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi.
- Plug your AirPods Max into a charger or port.
- Wait 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
- Reconnect your AirPods Max to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Recheck the firmware version. It should be updated to the latest one.
Most of these steps were already known but the addition of 30 minutes wait and plugging the AirPods while updating adds more clarity to the process.
If you follow these steps and your AirPods still haven’t updated to the latest version, you’ll need to reset them and repeat the process. You can check the latest version of the AirPods firmware on the official support page here.
