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

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Apple today released new beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4. The firmware is limited to developers at the current time, and it has a build number of 8B5034f.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware 2
Apple is not testing any iOS updates right now, so it is unclear what's in the AirPods firmware beta.

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 beta testing.

Developers can use the beta option to turn on beta downloads.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Tag: AirPods Pro 3 Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

Rychiar Avatar
Rychiar
4 weeks ago

Here I am enjoying my firmware-free wired headphones connected to my 160 GB iPod Classic. Still works reliably after many years with no need for “updates”.
I definitely don't miss wires at all... and after years of wired apple earplugs I was so blown away by the sound on the pros.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
nutmac
4 weeks ago
Hey Apple! If you want more people to test, maybe a release note to help us focus on what’s fixed or changed?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
Isentropic
4 weeks ago
Here I am enjoying my firmware-free wired headphones connected to my 160 GB iPod Classic. Still works reliably after many years with no need for “updates”.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MountainStorm Avatar
MountainStorm
4 weeks ago
Love it! Hopefully this will prevent pesky Android users from eavesdropping on us while listening to music on the bus/train/subway/tram/plane/car/ferry/taxi/metro/coach/boat/rideshare/hoverboard/skateboard/e-scooter/ship/yacht.

I love a good chardonnay on a yacht in the south of France.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Q
qacjared
4 weeks ago

How do you put music on it? You use an old machine with macOS/iTunes?
Every single Mac sold today at your local Apple Store can sync any iPod back to the 3rd gen released in 2003.

All iPods back to the first one in 2001 can be synced with Sequoia below to Catalina in Finder ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/102471'). Tahoe drops FireWire support so it's just USB-syncable iPods (2003 3rd Gen and later).

The music comes from the Music App, Podcasts from Podcasts, etc, etc. The Music app still has basically all of the music related functionality that iTunes had including ripping CDs ('https://support.apple.com/guide/music/import-songs-from-cds-mus2935/mac') or buying music from the very much still alive iTunes Store. ('https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/02/itunes-might-be-more-popular-than-you-think-per-report/')

If one has an Intel Mac, one could also use Bootcamp and use iTunes 12.13.9.1, released just three months ago.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdoane Avatar
rdoane
4 weeks ago
Just upgraded to 26.4 beta 1 from the public release of 26.3. The beta firmware toggle returned for me.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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