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

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Apple today released new beta firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases. The firmware has a build number of 7E5067b, and it is only available to developers at the current time.

AirPods-Pro-Beta-Firmware.jpg

It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find out. Non-developers will have 7B21 firmware on the AirPods Pro 2 and 7B20 firmware on the AirPods 4, with no change until the beta firmware sees an official launch.

There is no method for manually forcing the installation of a firmware update on AirPods. Firmware updates are generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or a Mac.

Article Link: Apple Releases Beta Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/23/airpods-pro-2-airpods-4-beta-firmware/
Here's hoping it fixes the issue I'm having with not being able to control ANC from the airpod stem. It hasn't worked right for months now on my Airpods Pro 2. I can turn ANC on and off from the iphone, but if I press and hold on the stem to toggle ANC, I just get 3 quick beeps. I've read reports of others having the same issue, but when I contacted apple support they acted like it was a hardware problem and suggested I try cleaning the airpods or replacing them.
(spoiler alert: Cleaning didn't help.)
 
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One thing I wonder is, why isn't there an AirPods beta utility?

One you can run and use to update your AirPods to the beta, like, RIGHT NOW, not.. "sometime in the next few hours when the stars align" or whatever bull?

And if it has serious bugs, you could use the same utility to restore the previous version?

This would be so easy for Apple to do, but they don't, instead opting for this "wave your hands and maybe the beta update will be installed! And you can't go back."

It just seems so weird that something as basic as testing a firmware update is done this way. This is a trillion dollar company, it doesn't have to be this way.

Not to mention the absurdity of not telling us what was changed in the beta. What's even the point of this update?
 
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Is it just me, or has the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 gotten worser with every firmware update? It feels like it’s not even working anymore. I keep reaching for my phone to turn noise cancellation on, only to see that it’s already active. Also, when I put the earbuds back in the case, they make a weird sound. At first, I thought I might have accidentally mixed up my earbuds and taken someone else’s—a cheap knockoff—because this experience feels very un-Apple. I wish I could turn off the firmware updates because this product just keeps getting worse!
 
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Aurock said:
Here's hoping it fixes the issue I'm having with not being able to control ANC from the airpod stem. It hasn't worked right for months now on my Airpods Pro 2. I can turn ANC on and off from the iphone, but if I press and hold on the stem to toggle ANC, I just get 3 quick beeps. I've read reports of others having the same issue, but when I contacted apple support they acted like it was a hardware problem and suggested I try cleaning the airpods or replacing them.
(spoiler alert: Cleaning didn't help.)
Click to expand...
I had that issue before until I did this...
Go to iPhone -> Settings -> name's Airpods Pro
Under "PRESS AND HOLD AIRPODS" section, go "Left". If there's only one check mark (probably on Adaptive), put checkmark on modes that you wish to enable. Same on "Right"
 
Aurock said:
Here's hoping it fixes the issue I'm having with not being able to control ANC from the airpod stem. It hasn't worked right for months now on my Airpods Pro 2. I can turn ANC on and off from the iphone, but if I press and hold on the stem to toggle ANC, I just get 3 quick beeps. I've read reports of others having the same issue, but when I contacted apple support they acted like it was a hardware problem and suggested I try cleaning the airpods or replacing them.
(spoiler alert: Cleaning didn't help.)
Click to expand...
This started happening to me out of nowhere relatively recently… In Settings > AirPod’s > Press and Hold AirPod’s you can configure the press and hold behavior. After an update, mine deselected one of the options resulting in this behavior. Hope this helps.
 
clive27 said:
I had that issue before until I did this...
Go to iPhone -> Settings -> name's Airpods Pro
Under "PRESS AND HOLD AIRPODS" section, go "Left". If there's only one check mark (probably on Adaptive), put checkmark on modes that you wish to enable. Same on "Right"
Click to expand...
Thanks, anything to try is better than the suggestion to clean my airpods. I do have 'Noise Control' and below that 'Noise Cancellation' checked for both left and right. Just tried switching from Noise Control to Siri, and long press to activate siri works fine. Switched it back, and I get the 3 beeps again.
I did just discover that apparently you can select more than one option from the lower box, I can actually check Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation all at once. But, even then long press still doesn't work.
 
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Aurock said:
Thanks, anything to try is better than the suggestion to clean my airpods. I do have 'Noise Control' and below that 'Noise Cancellation' checked for both left and right. Just tried switching from Noise Control to Siri, and long press to activate siri works fine. Switched it back, and I get the 3 beeps again.
I did just discover that apparently you can select more than one option from the lower box, I can actually check Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation all at once. But, even then long press still doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Scratch that, now it's working. Maybe it was because I only had 'Noise Control' checked before and needed to have more than one? That screen isn't super clear as to what that second section is for. I'm guessing maybe you check the modes that it should toggle between when you long press
 
Let’s hope this smooths out connectivity. My audio is almost always garbled when using my iPad while my AirPods are connected to my Mac. Each firmware seems to make audio drops more common. I feel they are trying to do way too much OTA with Bluetooth.
 
While I really think AirPods Pro 1 firmware updates diminished ANC, my AirPods Pro 2 ANC still works great after all the firmware updates, event better than my APP 1 ANC ever did.
 
All of my AirPods Pro’s are running different versions. I guess I don’t know how the heck to update them. Sigh
 
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Henrikr said:
Is it just me, or has the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 gotten worser with every firmware update? It feels like it’s not even working anymore. I keep reaching for my phone to turn noise cancellation on, only to see that it’s already active. Also, when I put the earbuds back in the case, they make a weird sound. At first, I thought I might have accidentally mixed up my earbuds and taken someone else’s—a cheap knockoff—because this experience feels very un-Apple. I wish I could turn off the firmware updates because this product just keeps getting worse!
Click to expand...
I've heard of this happening before. It's not a firmware issue, but a hardware problem. I believe Apple replaced them. Replacement is your best bet. Good luck.
 
Henrikr said:
Is it just me, or has the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 gotten worser with every firmware update? It feels like it’s not even working anymore. I keep reaching for my phone to turn noise cancellation on, only to see that it’s already active. Also, when I put the earbuds back in the case, they make a weird sound. At first, I thought I might have accidentally mixed up my earbuds and taken someone else’s—a cheap knockoff—because this experience feels very un-Apple. I wish I could turn off the firmware updates because this product just keeps getting worse!
Click to expand...
Interesting! Have you tried other ear-tips maybe they don’t fit you the way they supposed to fit snug and comfortable cause for me personally I leave them on the “off” mode just the passive-noise-cancellation and I really can’t hear anything lol.
 
Aurock said:
Scratch that, now it's working. Maybe it was because I only had 'Noise Control' checked before and needed to have more than one? That screen isn't super clear as to what that second section is for. I'm guessing maybe you check the modes that it should toggle between when you long press
Click to expand...
Yea, that was what I was trying to say, but I wasn't super clear either :D
 
I wonder if they’ll ever fix the massive way they broke noise cancelling and make the AirPods good at it again.

To the poster who wants to minimise the worsening of noise cancelling. Many users have reported the same thing. My hearing is top notch and it’s night and day since they were purchased. It used to best Sony, Sony now crushes the AirPods. Which is sad. BuT POstINg LiKe THiS to mock people whose opinions you don’t share is unhelpful, and arrogant.
 
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