Apple released new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 on Thursday that offers bug fixes for a major recent firmware upgrade. Version 8B28 and 8B30 merely tweak the wireless earbuds, but every AirPods update is worth installing.<\/p>\n
Apple recently explained exactly how to update your AirPods firmware. The process can happen automatically, in the background, but there is a way to speed things up. It\u2019s a good idea to manually check that you\u2019re running the latest version, which brings bug fixes and sometimes great new features.<\/p>\n
Read on for more details, and find all current AirPods firmware versions, along with instructions for getting the AirPods update as quickly as possible<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n Apple periodically releases new AirPods firmware with improvements and bug fixes. It\u2019s well worth installing these updates because they fix bugs and sometimes contain significant new features. There\u2019s no better example than the firmware update released in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n Apple typically doesn\u2019t bother to announce AirPods firmware updates. However, the company does publish release notes<\/a> so users know what\u2019s changed. Apple\u2019s descriptions of the changes in 8B28 and 8B30 promise simply, \u201cBug fixes and other improvements.\u201d<\/p>\n When you hear about an AirPods firmware update, you can force it to update by following the process described below<\/a>. If you don\u2019t want to bother, just know that firmware updates are also conducted automatically when your AirPods are charging and within Bluetooth range of an iPhone<\/a>, iPad<\/a> or Mac<\/a> that\u2019s connected to Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n Both variants of the AirPods 4 went to 8B21 in November. <\/span>AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 have been on firmware version 6F21 since October 2024. AirPods 1 firmware hasn\u2019t been updated in years.<\/p>\n The new AirPods Pro 3 just got an upgrade to 8B30, while <\/span>both variants of AirPods Pro 2 just went to 8B28. Original AirPods Pro got an upgrade in October 2024 to firmware version 6F21.<\/p>\n In May, AirPods Max (USB-C) went to 7E108, which Apple says offers \u201cBug fixes and other improvements.\u201d That makes it a tweak to 7E101 from April with the promised addition of lossless audio playback<\/a>. And the original AirPods Max moved to firmware version 6F25 in April. This offers only \u201cBug fixes and other improvements.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s pretty easy to quickly check if your AirPods are up to date in iOS and iPadOS.<\/p>\n\n Start by establishing an active connection to your AirPods by opening the lid of the charging case. Or put the earbuds on, whichever you prefer.<\/p>\n\n Open the Settings<\/strong> app on your iPhone or iPad. When connected, your AirPods should be right at the top of settings, just below your Apple ID settings. Tap the name of your AirPods, and on the next screen scroll almost to the bottom where you\u2019ll see Version<\/strong>, which lists the current firmware number.<\/p>\n For many AirPods models, look for Version<\/strong> to say\u00a08B21<\/strong> or maybe 6F21<\/strong>. The same is true for first-gen AirPods Pro. Your AirPods Pro should read 8B28<\/strong> or 8B30<\/strong>, and so on. See the chart above.<\/span><\/p>\n\n Another way to check AirPods firmware is to go to Settings -> Bluetooth<\/strong>\u00a0and look under My Devices<\/strong> for the name of your AirPods. Tap in the blue \u24d8 icon \u2014 it\u2019s an i<\/strong> with a circle around it next to the name. \u00a0On the resulting page, look for Version. <\/strong>Again, the latest version for most AirPods is 8B21<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/b>or 6F21<\/strong>, while the newer AirPods Pro are on 8B30<\/span>.<\/strong> You also can check Apple\u2019s list<\/a> of current firmware versions.<\/p>\n If your AirPods firmware isn\u2019t current, you can speed up the update. For close to a decade, Apple resisted revealing the process, though users figured it out. But in early 2025 Apple finally explained \u2014 at long last \u2014 exactly what to do.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, you can\u2019t push a button or toggle a setting to immediately tell your AirPods to update. It\u2019s a bit more indirect. Apple says the process to update your AirPods or AirPods Pro firmware involves:<\/p>\n If you still can\u2019t update your firmware, reset your AirPods<\/a>, then try to update your firmware again.<\/p>\n \u00a0This is just what we\u2019ve said for years: the best you can do is put your AirPods or AirPods Pro in their case and plug the case into a power cable (Lightning or USB-C). Then make sure the iPhone or iPad they are paired with is close by, and wait. The firmware should update. Typically, the process takes five to 10 minutes, but it can take up to 30 minutes. Be patient! <\/span><\/p>\n But it\u2019s worth the wait. AirPods just evolved into more than just wireless earbuds \u2014 they now a <\/span>pocket translator<\/span><\/a>, capable of real-time language conversion. And the more recent AirPods Pro models started acting as hearing aids<\/a> and now they\u2019re language translators<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n Same thing goes for upgrading AirPods Max<\/a>: Just plug the headphones into a charging cable. Or if you have a wireless charging case, put your AirPods on a wireless charger. Then put the headphones near your iPhone or iPad and wait.<\/p>\n To be clear, manually updating AirPods firmware is a problem only for people who get antsy and want the latest as soon as they can get it. For everyone else, just keep using your AirPods. The update will happen without you having to do a thing.<\/p>\n You also can check your AirPods firmware on a Mac<\/a>. Your Mac will need to be running macOS Ventura or later.<\/p>\n Click the Apple<\/strong> menu icon in the upper left corner of your Mac\u2019s screen, and select System Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n Click Bluetooth<\/strong> in the left-hand sidebar. Then find your AirPods in the My Devices<\/strong> list and select the blue \u24d8 icon (an i<\/strong> with a circle around it next to the name). Be sure that your AirPods are connected to your Mac. It should say Connected<\/strong>. (If not, open the lid<\/strong> of the AirPods case, or select Connect<\/strong> next to the earbuds\u2019 device name.)<\/p>\n After clicking on your AirPods, a popup will show information about them, including the firmware number next to Version<\/strong>. Check it against the firmware numbers listed above, or against Apple\u2019s list<\/a> of current AirPod firmware updates.<\/p>\n If the firmware version isn\u2019t up to date, pop your AirPods<\/a> into their case, and plug them into a charging cable. You can put the other end of the charging cable into your Mac. The firmware should update itself. Again, it typically takes five to 10 minutes, but might take half a hour or longer. If your AirPods came with a wireless charging case, you can put them on a wireless charger.<\/p>\n Even though you can connect your AirPods to an Android device or a Windows computer, you cannot update the firmware on Android or Windows. You can only update AirPods firmware on iOS, iPadOS and macOS. There is currently no third-party software that can do an AirPods firmware update.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re wondering how to connect AirPods Max to non-Apple devices, we have a detailed guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor\u2019s note: <\/strong>We originally published this post on how to update AirPods firmware on November 14, 2019. We refresh it periodically with successive new AirPods firmware versions. Leander Kahney<\/a> contributed to this post.<\/em><\/p> \n Ed Hardy<\/b> has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He\u2019s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview,<\/i> and Brighthand<\/i>, as well as other sites.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t \t\t <\/div>How to update AirPods firmware<\/h2>\n
Table of contents: How to update AirPods firmware<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
What is the latest AirPods firmware?<\/h3>\n
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What is the latest AirPods Pro firmware?<\/h3>\n
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What is the latest AirPods Max firmware?<\/h3>\n
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How to check your current firmware version on iPhone or iPad<\/h3>\n\n
1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"AirPods](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AirPods-Pro-2-open-case-780x585.jpeg\" "\\"AirPods")
<\/a>\n2. Go to Settings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"iPhone](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/settings-airpods.jpeg\" "\\"Settings")
<\/a>\n3. Alternatively, go to Settings -> Bluetooth<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshots](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/settings-bluetooth-my-devices.jpeg\" "\\"Settings")
<\/a>\nHow to force an update<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/AirPods-Pro-2-plugin-case-780x585.jpeg\" "\\"AirPods")
<\/a>\n\n
How to check AirPods\u2019 current firmware version on Mac<\/h3>\n
1. Go to System Settings<\/h4>\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/open-system-settings.jpg\" "\\"Open")
<\/a>\n2. Select Bluetooth<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/open-bluetooth-select-airpods.jpg\" "\\"Open")
<\/a>\n3. Check the firmware version<\/h4>\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/check-airpods-firmware.jpg\" "\\"Check")
<\/a>\n4. Force an update<\/h4>\n
Can you update AirPods firmware on Android or Windows?<\/h3>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ef405ea589cb3558defdf09d67d5ae4e166c56fe186554142e8f375292d273b8?s=121&d=mm&r=g\")