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It wouldn’t be a Spotify issue if toggling Bluetooth solves it since Spotify doesn’t directly talk to the AirPods, it goes through iOS. iOS is responsible for compressing the audio stream and then transmitting it to the AirPods (or any other BT headset). So it's either on the iOS side or the AirPods side.

No, Apple is more advanced than that. Music apps pass AAC audio through to iOS. iOS realizes you're using AirPods and instead of recompressing, streams AAC direct to the AirPods, where they are decoded. This saves the power and quality cost of a transcode, and avoids low-quality Bluetooth algorithms like SBC.
 
I've noticed that recently, I thought maybe it was battery fade or I'd just not noticed the first warning but now that you mention it, it has happened several times. I think it started for me around the time of the last iOS update, so I'm wondering if it's actually iOS that sends out the battery warning sounds? It would certainly simplify the innards of the AirPods and save on battery life.

I've no idea, but it's super annoying. My brother just got new second-gen AirPods recently, and has the same issue. Also, while I'm replying, I'll say this update for the AirPods did not solve this issue, and likely it's an iOS issue. Seems like it's just not giving you the low-battery warning anymore. I'll reiterate: super annoying.
 
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Anyone know if the AirPods & iPhone both need to be actually plugged in for it to update? Or is wireless charging ok? I typically use wireless charging for both.

It is currently showing 2C54.
 
Anyone know if the AirPods & iPhone both need to be actually plugged in for it to update? Or is wireless charging ok? I typically use wireless charging for both.

It is currently showing 2C54.
Just the AirPods plugged in works.. however, open the airpod case to make sure they are pair/connected to your phone
 
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My 2nd-gen Airpods have been acting funny lately.

The left Airpod sometimes doesn't work and has seemingly disappeared... as shown below. But sometimes it works and the right Airpod disappears.

I've deleted them and re-connected... but it's still the same. Very strange. Are they broken?

s2ectsg.png
I am having a similar issue. Also Hey Siri doesn’t work while airpods on.
 
A few days ago I received two new AirPod Pros as replacement units due to the crackling problem that many have experienced.

After having difficulty in getting them to pair with my iPhone, I had two chats with Apple Support and we finally determined that the two AirPods had different firmware installed - one has 2B588 and one has 2D15. I can get them to reset and pair individually but not together. Our conclusion was that I couldn't get them to pair together due to the different firmware versions.

I'm now going through the process of using them for a short period then putting them back into the charging case connected to power, closing the case and then waiting for 30 minutes or so to see if the firmware is updated. So far no change.

I would greatly prefer to have a way to force the firmware update instead of being in a position where it is necessary to simply wait for a period of time to see if it happens on it's own.

(It also seems like it should be necessary for the AirPods to be connected to the iPhone in order to receive the firmware update, but the instructions say to have them in the charging case with the cover closed. When you close the cover, the AirPods are no longer connected to the iPhone or at least they don't show up under Bluetooth in Settings. But maybe the connection is still functional for the purposes of software updates but not active for use in listening to audio??)
 
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I have an iphone 8, an Apple watch 5 and a pair of Airpods 2. I am having this really really frustrating problem recently whereby the airpods will not switch to playing music from the watch, when they were previously paired to the phone. Any ideas?
 
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