Apple Updates AirPods Pro Firmware to Version 4A402 and AirPods 3 Firmware to 4B66 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Updates AirPods Pro Firmware to Version 4A402 and AirPods 3 Firmware to 4B66

by

Apple today released a new 4A402 firmware update for the AirPods Pro, which is up from the prior 4A400 firmware that was released back in October. Apple has also updated the AirPods 3 firmware to 4B66, up from the 4B61 that was previously available.

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature
Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the AirPods‌, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the new firmware brings.

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌AirPods‌‌ software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the ‌‌AirPods‌‌ are connected to an iOS device. Putting the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ to a power source, and then pairing the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

You can check your ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌ or ‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌‌ firmware by following these steps:

  • Connect your ‌‌AirPods‌‌ or ‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌ to your iOS device.
  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap General.
  • Tap About.
  • Tap ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌.
  • Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."

If we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes.

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral), AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
Read Full Article • 78 comments
Apple Logo Sketch Feature

Apple Has Now Unveiled Eight New Products This Month

Tuesday March 17, 2026 9:25 am PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping eight new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, and now the AirPods Max 2 this week. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's...
Read Full Article
ios 26 4 yellow

Here Are Apple's Release Notes for iOS 26.4

Wednesday March 18, 2026 11:56 am PDT by
Apple provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate versions of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, which means we're going to see a public launch as soon as next week. The RC versions of the software include Apple's official release notes, giving us final details on what's included in the update. Apple Music - Playlist Playground (beta) generates a playlist from your...
Read Full Article • 102 comments

Top Rated Comments

Itsedstech Avatar
Itsedstech
57 months ago
update made my ANC even worse. I can still hear them calling my name at work
Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)
X
xpxp2002
57 months ago

I get so tired of ANC reports being worse with every update. These are in ear not over the ear. It’s never going to be like that.
If you heard the original firmware's ANC, you'd understand that the hardware is capable. It's just infuriating that they artificially hampered it.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
jz0309
57 months ago
And it’ll take 3 weeks to roll out to everyone… maybe by then we’ll know what is fixed/added?
I think it’s bad practice to not publish release notes Apple!
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jermwhl Avatar
jermwhl
57 months ago
Hopefully improves the find my notifications. I get 2-3 notifications a week telling me I forgot my AirPods while they’re sitting in my pocket.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
reklex Avatar
reklex
57 months ago

update made my ANC even worse. I can still hear them calling my name at work
i'm WFH and I still can hear them calling me
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sigvard Avatar
Sigvard
57 months ago
Fact is that it performed too well and now it’s middle of the pack. Just go read the reviews at launch and you’ll see that it had fantastic ANC with the original FW. It was a pleasure walking out of the Apple Store when I got them as it muffled the world as I strolled around NYC. I was shocked at how well it performed on the subway, they were even better than my then class-leading Sony WF-1000XM3 with Comply tips.

I’m still not sure why they would neuter one of their better products like this.

And no, I’ll never get over this. lol.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments