Apple launched new firmware for AirPods Professional 2, AirPods Professional 3, and AirPods 4 on Thursday that provides bug fixes for a significant latest firmware improve. Model 8B25 and 8B21 merely tweak the wi-fi earbuds, however there’s hope it’ll repair a bug that plagues some customers.
Apple lately defined precisely the best way to replace your AirPods firmware. The method can occur mechanically, within the background, however there’s a option to velocity issues up. It’s a good suggestion to manually test that you just’re working the most recent model, which brings bug fixes and typically nice new options.
Learn on for extra particulars, and discover all present AirPods firmware variations, together with directions for getting the AirPods replace as rapidly as attainable.
How one can replace AirPods firmware
Apple periodically releases new AirPods firmware with enhancements and bug fixes. It’s nicely value putting in these updates as a result of they repair bugs and typically include important new options. There’s no higher instance than the firmware replace launched in September.
Apple usually doesn’t trouble to announce AirPods firmware updates. Nonetheless, the corporate does publish launch notes so customers know what’s modified. Apple’s descriptions of the adjustments in 8B25 and 8B21 promise merely, “Bug fixes and different enhancements.”
With so little to go on, it’s not but identified if the contemporary firmware fixes a bug that causes some AirPods Professional 3 homeowners to report irritating/deafening whistling noises on aircraft flights. It’s an issue with lively noice cancellation, so it’s fixable with software program, and Thursday’s patches went out AirPods with ANC.
Whenever you hear about an AirPods firmware replace, you’ll be able to power it to replace by following the method described under. In the event you don’t need to trouble, simply know that firmware updates are additionally carried out mechanically when your AirPods are charging and inside Bluetooth vary of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that’s related to Wi-Fi.
Desk of contents: How one can replace AirPods firmware
What’s the newest AirPods firmware?
- AirPods (4th era): 8B21
- AirPods (4th era) with Lively Noise Cancellation: 8B21
- AirPods (3nd era): 6F21
- AirPods (2nd era): 6F21
- AirPods (1st era): 6.8.8
Each variants of the AirPods 4 simply went to 8B21. AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 have been on firmware model 6F21 since October 2024. AirPods 1 firmware hasn’t been up to date in years.
What’s the newest AirPods Professional firmware?
- AirPods Professional (third era): 8B25
- AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 8B21
- AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 8B21
- AirPods Professional (1st era): 6F21
The brand new AirPods Professional 3 received an improve to 8B25, whereas each variants of AirPods Professional 2 went to 8B21. Authentic AirPods Professional received an improve in October 2024 to firmware model 6F21.
And what’s the newest AirPods Max firmware?
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- AirPods Max (USB-C): 7E108
- AirPods Max: 6F25
In Could, AirPods Max (USB-C) went to 7E108, which Apple says gives “Bug fixes and different enhancements.” That makes it a tweak to 7E101 from April with the promised addition of lossless audio playback. And the unique AirPods Max moved to firmware model 6F25 in April. This gives solely “Bug fixes and different enhancements.”
How one can test your present firmware model on iPhone or iPad
It’s fairly straightforward to rapidly test in case your AirPods are updated in iOS and iPadOS.
1. Join your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad
Photograph: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Begin by establishing an lively connection to your AirPods by opening the lid of the charging case. Or put the earbuds on, whichever you like.
2. Go to Settings
Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Open the Settings app in your iPhone or iPad. When related, your AirPods ought to be proper on the prime of settings, slightly below your Apple ID settings. Faucet the identify of your AirPods, and on the subsequent display screen scroll virtually to the underside the place you’ll see Model, which lists the present firmware quantity.
For a lot of AirPods fashions, search for Model to say 8B21 or perhaps 6F21. The identical is true for first-gen AirPods Professional. Your AirPods Professional ought to learn 8B25 or 8B21, and so forth. See the chart above.
3. Alternatively, go to Settings -> Bluetooth
Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
One other option to test AirPods firmware is to go to Settings -> Bluetooth and look below My Units for the identify of your AirPods. Faucet within the blue ⓘ icon — it’s an i with a circle round it subsequent to the identify. On the ensuing web page, search for Model. Once more, the most recent model for many AirPods is 8B21 or 6F21, whereas the newer AirPods Professional are on 8B25. You can also test Apple’s listing of present firmware variations.
How one can power an replace
Photograph: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
In case your AirPods firmware isn’t present, you’ll be able to velocity up the replace. For near a decade, Apple resisted revealing the method, although customers figured it out. However in early 2025 Apple lastly defined — in the end — precisely what to do.
Sadly, you’ll be able to’t push a button or toggle a setting to right away inform your AirPods to replace. It’s a bit extra oblique. Apple says the method to replace your AirPods or AirPods Professional firmware entails:
- Ensure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth vary of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s related to Wi-Fi.
- Put your AirPods of their charging case and shut the lid.
- Plug the charging cable into your charging case, then plug the opposite finish of the cable right into a USB charger or port.
- Maintain the lid of the charging case closed, and wait at the very least half-hour for the firmware to replace.
- Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Verify the firmware model once more.
In the event you nonetheless can’t replace your firmware, reset your AirPods, then attempt to replace your firmware once more.
That is simply what we’ve stated for years: the perfect you are able to do is put your AirPods or AirPods Professional of their case and plug the case into an influence cable (Lightning or USB-C). Then be certain that the iPhone or iPad they’re paired with is shut by, and wait. The firmware ought to replace. Usually, the method takes 5 to 10 minutes, however it will possibly take as much as half-hour. Be affected person!
Nevertheless it’s well worth the wait. AirPods simply advanced into extra than simply wi-fi earbuds — they now a pocket translator, able to real-time language conversion. And the more moderen AirPods Professional fashions began appearing as listening to aids with a 2024 firmware replace
Identical factor goes for upgrading AirPods Max: Simply plug the headphones right into a charging cable. Or when you’ve got a wi-fi charging case, put your AirPods on a wi-fi charger. Then put the headphones close to your iPhone or iPad and wait.
To be clear, manually updating AirPods firmware is an issue just for individuals who get antsy and need the most recent as quickly as they’ll get it. For everybody else, simply hold utilizing your AirPods. The replace will occur with out you having to do a factor.
How one can test AirPods’ present firmware model on Mac
You can also test your AirPods firmware on a Mac. Your Mac will should be working macOS Ventura or later.
1. Go to System Settings
Click on the Apple menu icon within the higher left nook of your Mac’s display screen, and choose System Settings.
2. Choose Bluetooth
Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Click on Bluetooth within the left-hand sidebar. Then discover your AirPods within the My Units listing and choose the blue ⓘ icon (an i with a circle round it subsequent to the identify). Make sure that your AirPods are related to your Mac. It ought to say Linked. (If not, open the lid of the AirPods case, or choose Join subsequent to the earbuds’ machine identify.)
3. Verify the firmware model
After clicking in your AirPods, a popup will present details about them, together with the firmware quantity subsequent to Model. Verify it in opposition to the firmware numbers listed above, or in opposition to Apple’s listing of present AirPod firmware updates.
4. Pressure an replace
If the firmware model isn’t updated, pop your AirPods into their case, and plug them right into a charging cable. You may put the opposite finish of the charging cable into your Mac. The firmware ought to replace itself. Once more, it usually takes 5 to 10 minutes, however may take half a hour or longer. In case your AirPods got here with a wi-fi charging case, you’ll be able to put them on a wi-fi charger.
Are you able to replace AirPods firmware on Android or Home windows?
Though you’ll be able to join your AirPods to an Android machine or a Home windows laptop, you can’t replace the firmware on Android or Home windows. You may solely replace AirPods firmware on iOS, iPadOS and macOS. There may be at the moment no third-party software program that may do an AirPods firmware replace.
In the event you’re questioning the best way to join AirPods Max to non-Apple units, we now have an in depth information.
Extra firmware replace guides
Editor’s be aware: We initially printed this publish on the best way to replace AirPods firmware on November 14, 2019. We refresh it periodically with successive new AirPods firmware variations. Leander Kahney contributed to this publish.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and utilizing it for for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Basic II (which he nonetheless has), however now he makes use of a 13-inch iPad Professional as his major laptop. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, in addition to different websites.