Apple to Start Sharing What's New in AirPods Firmware Updates Via iOS 16

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to begin listing new features and changes in AirPods firmware updates in a forthcoming support document on its website.

In the fifth developer beta of iOS 16, navigating to Settings → General → About → AirPods and tapping on Firmware Version leads to a new page indicating that AirPods firmware details are available at support.apple.com, complete with a link to a support document that will likely be published by the time iOS 16 is publicly released in September.

The new AirPods support document will likely be similar to one that Apple published for AirTag firmware updates earlier this year.

The new AirPods firmware version screen in iOS 16 beta 5 via Reddit​

As noted on Reddit, the new Firmware Version page displays the firmware version for both AirPods and the charging cases. The latest firmware version for AirPods was released in May and is listed as "4E71" in the Settings app. There is still no manual way to update the firmware on AirPods, with updates installing automatically.

Article Link: Apple to Start Sharing What's New in AirPods Firmware Updates Via iOS 16

 

[retrac1324]

Finally

 

[fwmireault]

Good news! Now, having a procedure to force update AirPods would be a nice next step

 

[podycust]

Shame that doesn’t extend to Beats headphones 😞

 

[mystery hill]

Next, Apple Pencil firmware release notes.

 

[Vasilioskn]

Omg how brave!!

 

[3xBoom]

"Listen, do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell?"

 

[webbuzz]

Good news! Now, having a procedure to force update AirPods would be a nice next step

Let's not get crazy now.

 

[HappyDude20]

Cough. AirTags. Cough.

 

[bobtem]

Apple is going to do what and what, with what in what, via what?

You go to the Make it Complicated school of grammar? Why don't you just say, "New AirPods Firmware"...

 

[CarAnalogy]

But what about all our crazy speculation threads?

 

[TinyMito]

Next, Apple Pencil firmware release notes.

Release Note:
- Get better at writing.

 

[MallardDuck]

The 'automatic firmware updates' are one of my major pet peeves. Hate to find out that it went bad and bricked my airpods or airtags just before a cross-country flight the next morning. What's the objection to giving us an 'update now' button?

 

[SimonTheSoundMa]

"Bug fixes" is all it'll say. 😅

 

[Shifts]

"Bug fixes" is all it'll say. 😅

Not even admitting that. I am guessing more something like "stability and performance improvements".

 

[johnediii]

Good news! Now, having a procedure to force update AirPods would be a nice next step

My AirPod Pros are stuck on a 2 year old firmware and will not update automatically no matter what I do. The Apple Store manually doing it for me is not convenient. I'd even accept having to plug them into a Mac to do it. Just let me do it.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

My AirPod Pros are stuck on a 2 year old firmware and will not update automatically no matter what I do. The Apple Store manually doing it for me is not convenient. I'd even accept having to plug them into a Mac to do it. Just let me do it.

Maybe you've tried this already, but for me I just had to forget the AirPods from iCloud, do a full reset, re-pair, then leave them in the charging case plugged in and lid open next to my iPhone. The firmware updated after a while and it's been automatically doing it ever since.

 

[johnediii]

Maybe you've tried this already, but for me I just had to forget the AirPods from iCloud, do a full reset, re-pair, then leave them in the charging case plugged in and lid open next to my iPhone. The firmware updated after a while and it's been automatically doing it ever since.

I think part of the problem is that if leave them in the charging case with the lid open they disconnect from my phone after about 30 seconds unless I take them out and start using them. They work fine as long as I only want to use them with my phone, but I have several Mac computers, 2 appleTVs and an iPad and these will not auto switch between devices. I have to forget it from my iPhone and pair it with the other device manually. I have left them plugged into the lightning charger, case open laying on my night stand next to my phone all night and they fail to update.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I think part of the problem is that if leave them in the charging case with the lid open they disconnect from my phone after about 30 seconds unless I take them out and start using them. They work fine as long as I only want to use them with my phone, but I have several Mac computers, 2 appleTVs and an iPad and these will not auto switch between devices. I have to forget it from my iPhone and pair it with the other device manually. I have left them plugged into the lightning charger, case open laying on my night stand next to my phone all night and they fail to update.

Hmm, firmware updates shouldn’t take longer than 30 seconds typically so leaving the case open should have worked. Sounds like a full factory reset (not just a simple unpair and re-pair) might be in order for yours. That, or you might have a faulty pair.

 

[svish]

Good to see this change.

 

[_Spinn_]

Thank goodness. I’ve been hoping for release notes.

 

[Jeweller]

Can new firmware just please make my right Airpod consistently connect with my iPhone, specifically (MacBook Air doesn't seem to have this problem, when they connect at all) without having to go through the whole bs charging case re-re-re-insertion? AirPods 2 btw. Also switching between phone and computer and vice versa could always be smoother but that is a pipe dream methinks.

 

[johnediii]

Hmm, firmware updates shouldn’t take longer than 30 seconds typically so leaving the case open should have worked. Sounds like a full factory reset (not just a simple unpair and re-pair) might be in order for yours. That, or you might have a faulty pair.

full Factory reset does not fix it. If they are faulty, they are way out of warranty. And again, they're fine as long as I only use them with my iPhone. Still sound great.