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Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max With Improvements to Automatic Switching

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Following the WWDC 2022 keynote this week, Apple has released a new beta firmware for several AirPods models, including the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Apple says the beta firmware includes improvements to Automatic Switching and various bug and stability fixes. The new beta firmware has a version number 5.0 and build number 5A5282d, up from 4.4 and 4E71.

AirPods-Pro-Beta-Firmware.jpg

Apple says AirPods beta firmware enables development of AirPods-related features on iOS and macOS and allows Apple to debug issues. Apple did not provide any additional details about specific improvements being made to Automatic Switching in the latest beta.

Apple Developer Program members can access the beta firmware on the More Downloads page of Apple's developer website, complete with installation instructions. The beta firmware does not appear to be available for the first-generation AirPods.

To install the beta firmware, Apple says developers need an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods. Developers must pair the AirPods with an iPhone, connect the iPhone to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section.

Apple says it may take up to 24 hours for the beta firmware to be received and installed on AirPods. Once installed, Apple says the beta firmware will continue to run on the AirPods until an updated non-beta software version is released. Any additional beta software updates will be automatically received in the interim.

(Thanks, Robert Bentley!)

Article Link: Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max With Improvements to Automatic Switching
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/06/08/apple-releases-new-airpods-beta-firmware/
Last edited:
MacRumors said:
To install the beta firmware, Apple says developers need an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods. Developers must pair the AirPods with an iPhone, connect the iPhone to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section.
Click to expand...
It's really simple. You just need three devices and additional software to update the firmware.
 
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No, no. See. That *is* the beta profile you're installing with all that additional software required. Then you have to wait an additional period, up to 24 hours, before the profile even takes effect and eventually OTA updates to the beta firmware!

But: You need the iOS 16 beta for them to connect to to accept the beta firmware and the profile in the first place. And macOS Ventura to connect to the beta iOS device. And Xcode 14 beta to actually support both, and support the whole provisioning process. And for some godforsaken reason, you can't provision or update them directly with a Mac, either.
 
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tgwaste said:
The auto switching is by far and wide the worst thing about this product. Really hope they make it better.
Click to expand...
I just want an option to turn it off...

I'm so tired of talking on the phone, browsing something on my computer, and not even so much as a notification sound and suddenly my audio has been transferred...

I don't even realize that the person on the phone can't hear me anymore and I can't hear them. It's so annoying.
 
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jrlcopy said:
I just want an option to turn it off...

I'm so tired of talking on the phone, browsing something on my computer, and not even so much as a notification sound and suddenly my audio has been transferred...

I don't even realize that the person on the phone can't hear me anymore and I can't hear them. It's so annoying.
Click to expand...
You can turn it off:

Pair the Phones
Settings
Bluetooth
Click circle with exclamation point in it.
Set => Connect to this iPad/iPhone/Whatever: When last connected

For Computer
Bluetooth
Preferences
Options
Connect to this Mac: When last connected
 
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I just hope they get this straightened out before the iPhone 6S is put out to pasture.

Automatic switching is inconsistently unreliable if you have a few devices.

Love my AirPods (generally), hate the switching, and am kinda disappointed in the Conversation Boost.
 
Waiting for AirPods Pro 2. Original AirPods Pro lost the case and never could find it. Ain’t gonna pay $300 to get case replaced just for the sake of it. I have other wireless headphone i can still use.

But I do second the complaints on auto switching. As helpful as a pair of generic Bluetooth headphone without any magical chip And can only support any 2 devices. Not to mention the Bluetooth range is abysmal for 5.0. ANC is pretty much the only good thing I’ll say about it.

Oh yeah, needing 3 devices to update to beta firmware? Apple band-aid solution Mindset in a nutshell. Much like the insane color system they designed for apple II computer.
 
Shirasaki said:
Waiting for AirPods Pro 2. Original AirPods Pro lost the case and never could find it. Ain’t gonna pay $300 to get case replaced just for the sake of it. I have other wireless headphone i can still use.

But I do second the complaints on auto switching. As helpful as a pair of generic Bluetooth headphone without any magical chip And can only support any 2 devices. Not to mention the Bluetooth range is abysmal for 5.0. ANC is pretty much the only good thing I’ll say about it.

Oh yeah, needing 3 devices to update to beta firmware? Apple band-aid solution Mindset in a nutshell. Much like the insane color system they designed for apple II computer.
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Umm…its like $75 to replace the case…

the auto switching used to be SO GOOD but it got terrible with the latest iOS. I turned it off and it STILL bugs out all the time.
 
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Geminiwave said:
Umm…its like $75 to replace the case…

the auto switching used to be SO GOOD but it got terrible with the latest iOS. I turned it off and it STILL bugs out all the time.
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In Australia the price to replace a lost case is about $300 aud.

update: ok I’m wrong. But still not worth it.

AirPods Replacement, Repair & Service – Apple Support (AU)

Need to repair your AirPods? See your service options, their costs by coverage type and how long they take.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
Safari is snappier!

I like the automatic switching but not when I am listening to something!

Behavior should be that it connects to whatever plays audio (iPad) when I pick them up and then keeps that until connection is lost when I am leaving the home and the iPad. Then it can jump over to my iPhone where I press play.

As it is now I can listen to a podcast on my phone and out of nowhere it decides to connect to the Watch and plays the hour chime. Thats all.. why oh god why? Or it decides to jump over to my iPad to play some audio from a muted ad!
 
tgwaste said:
The auto switching is by far and wide the worst thing about this product. Really hope they make it better.
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Imagine when they first announced the AirPods in 2016 they showed off the auto switching feature but it was missing from the 1st gen AirPods when they launched. Now in 2022 6 years later it still doesn’t work properly.
 
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Some beats models also support automatic switching. No improvements on those devices?
 
MacRumors said:
To install the beta firmware, Apple says developers need an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods. Developers must pair the AirPods with an iPhone, connect the iPhone to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section.
Click to expand...
And that's it??? wow!!
 
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