How to Check and Update AirPods Firmware - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Check and Update AirPods Firmware

by

Apple occasionally releases firmware updates for its AirPods and AirPods Pro wireless earphones that can include performance improvements, feature tweaks, and bug fixes.

If you're having a particular issue with your AirPods or AirPods Pro, or if you just want to make sure they're up to date with the latest software, then follow the steps below.

airpods pro 2 gradient

How to Update Your AirPods or AirPods Pro

  1. Insert your AirPods in their case if they aren't already.
  2. Connect the AirPods charging case to a power source using the included Lightning to USB-C/USB-C to USB-C cable, or alternatively if you have a Wireless Charging Case or AirPods Pro, place it on a Qi-compatible wireless charging mat.
  3. Move the iPhone or iPad that the AirPods have been paired with near to the charging case, and make sure the iOS device has an internet connection.

And that's all there is to it. After a short while, any available software updates should be automatically downloaded and installed. If you're having trouble updating your AirPods, make sure the charging case is fully charged. You can also try resetting the AirPods.

Check Your AirPods' Firmware Version

To check the version of the firmware that you have installed to make sure it's up to date, follow these steps:

  1. With your AirPods connected, launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
  2. Tap the name of your AirPods below your Apple Account banner.
  3. Scroll down to the "About" section and tap Version.
  4. Check the numbers shown beside Version and Case.

settings

Firmware updates for the AirPods don't come out very often, so don't be surprised if the version stays the same for a while.

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 pink

New Apple Card Holders Can Get Free AirPods Pro 3, But There's a Catch

Monday May 18, 2026 8:11 am PDT by
Apple today launched a new promotion offering new Apple Card holders the chance to earn back the cost of AirPods Pro 3 through monthly cash rebates, but there is a recurring spend requirement attached. Customers who open a new Apple Card account and purchase AirPods Pro 3 directly from Apple by June 15 will qualify. Starting July 1 and running through April 30, 2027, cardholders can earn $25 ...
MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens 2

MacBook Pro OLED Display Production Clears Key Hurdle

Thursday May 21, 2026 1:41 am PDT by
Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro models have cleared a major manufacturing hurdle, with panel supplier Samsung Display having reportedly achieved yields above 90 percent on its Gen 8.6 OLED production line. According to Korean publication The Elec, some individual process stages are now reaching yields as high as 95 percent, a level that the display industry considers "golden yield" territory ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Production Stalls Amid Hinge Issues

Monday May 18, 2026 7:29 am PDT by
Trial production of Apple's long-anticipated foldable iPhone, likely called the "iPhone Ultra," has run into a significant engineering hurdle centered on hinge reliability, according to a known leaker. The leaker known as "Instant Digital" posted on Weibo that the foldable device's hinge is consistently failing to meet Apple's quality control standards under conditions of prolonged,...