Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

by

Apple today provided beta testers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers and public beta testers at the current time, and a device running ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. The firmware has a build number of 8A5324b, up from 8A5308b.

airpods pro 2 green
The firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌.

The AirPods Pro 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

With ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and ‌macOS Tahoe‌, Apple added a beta firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, which facilitates the beta testing.

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Read Full Article • 30 comments
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
Read Full Article • 89 comments
apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...
Read Full Article • 48 comments

Top Rated Comments

robfoll Avatar
robfoll
9 months ago

My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it. Oddly, along with that update, the case's firmware version now shows as 8A0, though previously it matched the firmware version of the Airpods themselves.
Mine do not have the 5 either = 8A308b - Case 8A324b - Where does this Phantom 5 come from?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uczcret Avatar
uczcret
9 months ago

My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it.
Ditto.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnsawyercjs Avatar
johnsawyercjs
9 months ago
My AP2 firmware is displayed as 8A324b, not 8A5324b. It doesn't have a "5" in it. Oddly, along with that update, the case's firmware version now shows as 8A0, though previously it matched the firmware version of the Airpods themselves.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
alexandr
9 months ago

Has anyone ever managed to find a solution for Airpods that never see or show the beta settings section? I have tried everything I've seen suggested, unpair repair over and over and over, no matter what I can't get the beta firmware settings to ever show up on my AirPods Pro 2.

Same here

The beta shows in settings. I turn it on everyday. I look back later. It’s off. Never been able to use it.
Mine's on. But betas won't install despite me leaving my AirPods (Pro2 & 4) next to them for hours.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Stuipdboy1000 Avatar
Stuipdboy1000
8 months ago

Mine do not have the 5 either = 8A308b - Case 8A324b - Where does this Phantom 5 come from?
https://lowendmac.com/2025/how-to-read-and-interpret-apple-os-build-numbers/

"“5” is strongly correlated with or simply means it’s a beta build."
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
RyanLee
8 months ago

Updated to iOS26 Beta 5 (developer).
Still no "Airpods Beta Updates" option for my Airpods Pro 2 (Lightning)

macOS26 (both beta 4 & 5) has the option, but I don't get any new beta firmware update... (should be version 8a5324b)

Please advise.
Along with enabling beta updates, also enable the below setting for AirPods Analytics Data. After days of not getting the update, this fired it off rather quickly.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments