How to Update AirPods Firmware

May 26, 2017 - 19 Comments

How to check and update AirPods firmware

AirPods are the wireless earbud headphones from Apple which are enjoyed by many iPhone users. Much like iOS devices have firmware updates, so do AirPods, and you may be wondering how you can update AirPods firmware, and how to check and see if your AirPods are up to date.

Managing firmware updates on AirPods is simple, but it’s a bit different from other Apple products as there is no traditional software update menu. Read on to better understand how to update AirPods and how to check the current firmware version of AirPods.

Updating AirPods Firmware

AirPods Firmware will update automatically if they AirPods are stored within their case, near the synced iPhone, and the iPhone is connected to the internet. It just happens automatically when Apple pushes out an update, you don’t actively update the AirPods yourself.

The AirPod firmware update happens seamlessly and quietly in the background, and unlike updating iOS system software or an Apple Watch there is no direct “update now” button to manually trigger the AirPods software update.

If your AirPods haven’t updated to the latest version, be sure the iPhone or iPad is connected online (preferably to wi-fi), put the AirPods in the AirPod charging case for a moment, then pop open the lid. When the menu pops up on the iPhone just swipe it away as usual. Now close the lid on the case and wait a few minutes, if an update is available it should happen automatically sometime within 30 minutes or so.

How to update AirPods firmware

How to Check AirPods Firmware Version

Assuming the AirPods are actively synced to your iPhone or iPad, you can access an AirPods menu in the Settings app of iOS:

  1. Open the Settings app and go to “General” and then to “About”
  2. Choose ‘AirPods’ to see the AirPods firmware version

How to check AirPods firmware version

If you do not see the AirPods option in the About section then you likely don’t have the AirPods actively synced or paired to the iOS device.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPhone, Tips & Tricks

19 Comments

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  1. kei says:

    i literally did all of this and it disconnects in 29 seconds

  2. Jim Parker says:

    I love mine, they always stay in and I bought a second pair to have in the car so I wouldn’t have to remember to bring my office ones. They work fine with my iPhone, iPad, three MacBooks and iMac. I love’em!!

  3. Krystal says:

    I love mine. My only problem is I don’t have an iOS device to do the update which, from what I’ve read, fixes the low volume problem when they’re connected to ipod nanos. Works great with android phone though.

  4. Daniel Barros says:

    I am an Android loyalist and I am not ashamed to admit that these airpods are fantastic even with the limited features.

  5. Paras passi says:

    Apple airpods are a cool gadget…To be honest I cannot live without my apple airpods. I always need them on go 24 *7…Apple you guys rock the features and more likely the sound quality that is embedded within the airpods is just mind blowing…luv my airpods like hell…3 cheers for them.

  6. Granny Smith says:

    If you really need to use a wired headphone etc. just buy a 9 dollar Lightning to Audio plug/adaptor. The sound quality is actually better than when you had to use the regular headset plug.

  7. no way says:

    I see the fanbois have posted, easy to see who are the adults and who are the trolls and children, with their name calling and assumptions. Happy they stick to your ears, they do not mine or anyone I know, the laws of physics come into play.

    AFA quality, the numbers don’t lie, BT cannot broadcast at CD quality, period. If you don’t care that your music is lossy, brittle and poor quality, then by all means these are for you. For the rest of the world that actually wants to listen to quality in audio with their wired hp’s and ear buds, Apple has shut us out forever. iDevices are more and more about being cool that being practical.

    • Tinkle says:

      This is harsh but I agree with the sentiment: losing the headphone jack means lower sound quality on the iPhone. It’s that simple. Bluetooth just does not produce the same quality as direct audio. Not to mention the loss of using all speakers, old stereos, etc. It is a huge disappointment.

      I think the iPhone 6s might be the last good iPhone for music and musicians.

  8. Ghostbyte says:

    someone must have ears like pigs or something
    send a picture of them to make sure

  9. Dr Rangan says:

    Thank you..that was very helpful
    My airpods never fall off…even after 3 half marathons and more

  10. Ted says:

    Music has been terrible since Donny and Marie split up. These new so called “singers” are the worst. If you kiddies had any class and good taste in music, you would listen to chamber music and opera instead of your Gangsta Rap!

    Also, stay off of my lawn!

  11. no way says:

    FWIW I tried a pair of these, they sounded like crap, and kept dropping out. Why Apple can’t just allow users to use standard headphones and not force users to buy crap like this astounds me and destroys my faith in them as a company that cares about users more than sales.

    In addition to sounding like crap, there is no way I could do anything without them falling out of my ears.

    I quickly returned them.

    • Alan says:

      I agree they are not for me. The AirPods are a cool gadget but I have never been a fan of earbuds, just not even close to good high quality set of headphones like Sennheiser.

      Lacking a headphone jack in new iPhones is a huge loss, I do not like the Bluetooth audio quality (it’s bad in my opinion) and the newer iPhone models feel like a downgrade. As a result I do not listen to really any music at all on the iPhone anymore, I used to listen to music all the time but now that I got new iPhone I can’t connect to a car stereo or nice home stereo system, and so I just don’t listen to any music on the phone at all anymore. Losing a headphone jack is a downgrade, there is no way around that, it removes a major feature and compatibility with 99% of audio systems in the world.

      I look at the rumors of upcoming iPhone models and they still do not have a headphone jack. I guess Apple can not accept or admit they made a mistake so they are keeping up with lacking a critically necessary port used by the vast majority of the population. Sigh. It actually makes me want to get a top of the line last headphone jack model and stay on that for the next 5 years, never updating software of course to avoid the mystery update slowdowns…

      • no way says:

        the headphone jack is gone forever from iPhones, and I suspect all Apple iDevices soon. What better way to pimp these crappy earbuds.

        Alan there are great sounding earbuds, but they come at a high price tag. IEM (in ear monitor) earbuds by companies like Futuresonics, Shure, et al have studio quality fidelity and frequency response, are custom molded to your ears for perfect fit, however the cost is out of the range of most listeners.

        The compression necessary for BT broadcast kills the audio dynamics, furthering the lack of quality.

      • jb7244 says:

        Apple took away the headphone jack in attempt to put in another speaker and to try to make the phones thinner. They provide a headphone to lighting adapter on all new devices. With that being said, the major downfall is that you cannot charge the device and use the headphone adapter at the same time. The sound quality does seem better to me when listening from the lighting port over the traditional headphone port.

    • luis rivera says:

      Liar…I owned them since they first came out and Im very active and not once have they falling out.I live in nyc and commute on the subway daily and it is very noisey and with these headsets I can here my music perfectly and block other noise out.Hate when people lie for attention like you just did.My wife and daughter have them and are very pleased with them like me.

      • Michel says:

        I have them and I am very happy I did buy them. Maybe the liars just can’t afford them, so they took em back

  12. Dun says:

    Thanks! Please keep up the great quality of the posts lately.

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