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Apple Releases Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

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Apple today released firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models (version number 7B20) and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases (version number 7B21). All of these AirPods models were previously on firmware version 7B19.

AirPods-Pro-Firmware-Feature.jpg

It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21, but we will update this story if we find out.

Last month's firmware version 7B19 enabled new hearing aid, hearing test, and hearing protection features on AirPods Pro 2 when paired with an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later. Availability of these features varies by country. Apple's release notes never indicated what that firmware version added to the AirPods 4.

There is no way to manually force 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.

Update: Apple says firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21 include "bug fixes and other improvements." No further details were provided.

Article Link: Apple Releases Firmware Updates for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/11/airpods-and-airpods-pro-firmware-update/
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I hope my AirPods Pro 2 won't unpair randomly anymore. I had to reset them and then pair again each time (once a few days).
 
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pcaleb said:
The usual Apple AirPods mystery: "We've released a new firmware update, but we're not going to tell you what it does or how to install it."
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99% of the users do not even know, there are updates. They just happen miraculously - kind of a perfect mechanism.

Ever done an update of Sony Ear-/Headphones? Be happy to be with Apple. Sony is a tedious process in their strange app. If you don't have the app = no updates at all.
 
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axantas said:
99% of the users do not even know, there are updates. They just happen miraculously - kind of a perfect mechanism.

Ever done an update of Sony Ear-/Headphones? Be happy to be with Apple. Sony is a tedious process in their strange app. If you don't have the app = no updates at all.
Click to expand...

Exactly. A quietly functional firmware update system is the best kind. Having said that...

Peter Alexander said:
Placed my AirPods on the MagSafe charger left to do some tidying up and boom updated … faster this time I think
Click to expand...

As the kind of person who obsesses over software updates, I too have noticed that they update faster lately.
 
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The article says "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." By "connected", I think this means connected via Bluetooth, not literally connected via a cable, though some people seem to be finding that when an over-the-air update hasn't installed yet, the update can be "forced" by using a cable to connect their Airpods case to a Mac (only Macbooks?).

But the update is supposed to be installed, eventually, when the case (with the Airpods inside) is on a magnetic charger too, and the case's lid is closed, even though when Airpods are in their charging case, and the case's lid is closed (whether or not they're on a magnetic charger), they can't connect to anything via Bluetooth in the usual sense--the Bluetooth prefpane in System Settings will show them as not connected, and clicking on the "Connect" button will have no effect. But taking the case off of a charger, and then opening the case's lid and allowing the Airpods to make a full Bluetooth connection to a device might make the update happen faster--I just checked my Airpods Pro 2 firmware while they were still in their charging case from overnight, with its lid closed, and they had the old firmware, but within a minute of taking the case off its Magsafe charger and opening the case's lid, which caused the Airpods to be detected by my iPhone, Macbook, and iPad (they showed the onscreen rotating images of the Airpods and their case), the firmware was updated.
 
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axantas said:
99% of the users do not even know, there are updates. They just happen miraculously - kind of a perfect mechanism.
Click to expand...
All we want is a button in the AirPods section in Settings (the bit that appears when they're connected), that says, "Check for updates now", rather than waiting for the barometric pressure to be a prime number or whatever mysterious test they currently do before updating. That's all, just a "try it now" button.
 
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There has been such a flurry of AirPods Pro 2 firmware updates in the past 4 or 5 months.

The one bug that I keep noticing that hasn’t been fixed — though not sure if it‘s fixed in this iteration — is that every time I return the Airpods to the case, it inevitably produces some electronic sounds at some point. Before anyone says it, this is NOT the “Enable case sounds” option which is the option to have the case beep when it is charging.
 
Is anyone else having trouble with Find My not working properly for the AirPods Pro 2 case? Even when the case is right next to me, my phone doesn’t pick it up for alarm or precision finding. I tried resetting them, but it didn’t help. Secretly hoping it’s a bug that’ll be fixed soon.
 
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Meanwhile I am having a bigger problem of my AirPods Pro 2 refusing to connect to my iPhone even after a full reset, bit connects to my Mac and iPad perfectly fine, two devices that for some reason CANNOT update AirPods firmware. Like, seriously? Is there some sort of prophecy in play that updating AirPods firmware on devices other than iPhone is a sin? A curse? A blasphemy?
ypl said:
I hope my AirPods Pro 2 won't unpair randomly anymore. I had to reset them and then pair again each time (once a few days).
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Yeah, exactly because of this issue, I resorted to disable its auto switch function altogether. It didn’t work well at figuring out which device I was actively using anyways.
CarlJ said:
All we want is a button in the AirPods section in Settings (the bit that appears when they're connected), that says, "Check for updates now", rather than waiting for the barometric pressure to be a prime number or whatever mysterious test they currently do before updating. That's all, just a "try it now" button.
Click to expand...
Yeah why resort to let customer wait unspecified amount of time for the “magic” to happen when a simple “try now” might make the whole situation better.
 
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msackey said:
There has been such a flurry of AirPods Pro 2 firmware updates in the past 4 or 5 months.

The one bug that I keep noticing that hasn’t been fixed — though not sure if it‘s fixed in this iteration — is that every time I return the Airpods to the case, it inevitably produces some electronic sounds at some point. Before anyone says it, this is NOT the “Enable case sounds” option which is the option to have the case beep when it is charging.
Click to expand...
I can’t install any of those updates because my AirPods can’t connect to my iPhone, even after a reset. :(
 
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johnsawyercjs said:
The article says "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." Note that "connected" means connected via Bluetooth, not literally connected via a cable, though not everyone might know that. The update will take place, eventually, when the case (with the Airpods inside) is on a magnetic charger too, and the case's lid is closed, even though when Airpods are in their charging case, and the case's lid is closed (whether or not they're on a magnetic charger), they can't connect to anything via Bluetooth in the usual sense--the Bluetooth prefpane in System Settings will show them as not connected, and clicking on the "Connect" button will have no effect. But opening the case's lid and allowing the Airpods to make a full Bluetooth connection to a device might make the update happen faster--I just checked my Airpods Pro 2 firmware while they were still in their charging case from overnight, with the lid closed, and they had the old firmware, but within a minute of opening the case's lid and seeing the Airpods connect to my Macbook, the firmware was updated.
Click to expand...
All of this may help expedite the process but it's all a bit of hocus pocus.

I have two sets of AirPods Pro 2. One set I was using this afternoon with my iPhone, and the other set was sitting on my desk. Before I left my house for a few hours neither set had updated. I took one set with me and my iPhone, and left the other set behind on my desk next to my Mac ("not connected" to the Mac per the Bluetooth settings).

By the time I returned home, both sets had updated. <shrug>
 
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NervousFish2 said:
Good. Been having a tough time with audio from my ATV lately. Lots of weird static glitches. Wasn't like that before last version. Hope this fixes.
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I have those too. As a workaround I‘ve read that going into the Apple TV settings, accessibility, Airpods and then something like „center on Apple TV“ with 3D sound off, slightly helped a bit
 
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Anyone else keep being told that AirPods are following them around when it’s your own AirPods which are already connected? No option to permanently turn off these tracking messages either. Hopefully this firmware fixes that
 
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Yes, connecting to the macbook via usb seemed to finally do the trick within about 5 mins
 
CarlJ said:
All we want is a button in the AirPods section in Settings (the bit that appears when they're connected), that says, "Check for updates now", rather than waiting for the barometric pressure to be a prime number or whatever mysterious test they currently do before updating. That's all, just a "try it now" button.
Click to expand...
For me, they (my wife's and mine) did not update overnight. In both instances, they updated shortly after I opened the case, put one airpod in my ear, returned it to its case, closed the case and put both the case and the iPhone on to charge.
 
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