Will AirPods Pro 3 be compatible with iOS 18? Need iOS 26 for All Features? [MERGED]

[hmmmmmmm]

I don’t really want to update my iPhone to iOS 26, but I’ve preordered the AirPods Pro 3.

Apple’s docs mention that AirPods Pro supports the latest iOS, but doesn’t mention a version range.

Any idea if I can remain on iOS 18, and still use the new AirPods Pro?

 

[kitKAC]

It says on the tech specs page:

 

[txmike418]

I am still on 17.7.2 wanting to avoid all the battery life issues on iOS 18, and not really thrilled about iOS 26 yet. My question is what functionality is based on iOS 26 and what they would sound like on an older iOS.. I am really interested in the hearing aid functionality..
Thank you for sharing any information!!

 

[Night Spring]

hmmmm, ios 17? I can't remember what the hearing aid functionality was like on that version. I've been using APP2 with iOS 18 on an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

I just got an APP3 and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and have started playing around with them. And I still have the iPhone 15PM on iOS 18. So I can tell you comparisons between using the APP3 on iOS 18 vs iOS 26 if you are interested.

I'm still playing around with this, so my thoughts aren't very organized yet, but my impressions at this point is that hearing aid functions have improved with iOS 26 over iOS 18, but if you really hate iOS 26 then iOS 18's hearing aid functions do work fine.

The main feature you don't get if you don't upgrade to iOS 26 is Live Translation.

 

[Night Spring]

Ok, after playing a bit more with the APP and iOS 26, what I really want is Live Translation to work English to English. Right now I have it translating English to Spanish, and what it does is take speech I can barely hear and repeat it in my ear at the correct volume for me to hear it easily. This is exactly what hearing aids should do! I hope someone at Apple realizes this!

 

[WeekendGearGuide]

Here are some of the main features you get with iOS 26:

• Camera Control: Capture photos or record videos remotely by pressing or holding the AirPods stems. This feature is ideal for group photos, hands-free photography, or capturing moments without needing to hold your iPhone.
• Live Translation Mode: Communicate effortlessly across languages. Activate this feature by pressing both AirPods stems simultaneously. Supporting languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese, this tool is perfect for travel, business, or personal interactions.
• Sleep Detection: Your AirPods now detect when you fall asleep, automatically pausing media playback and dimming your iPhone screen. This feature conserves battery life and ensures a restful experience without interruptions.
• Charging Notifications: Receive alerts when your AirPods are fully charged, allowing you to manage battery life more effectively and avoid overcharging.

 

[txmike418]

Ok, after playing a bit more with the APP and iOS 26, what I really want is Live Translation to work English to English. Right now I have it translating English to Spanish, and what it does is take speech I can barely hear and repeat it in my ear at the correct volume for me to hear it easily. This is exactly what hearing aids should do! I hope someone at Apple realizes this!

Thanks for checking this out!! Definitely English to English would be the way to go for the hard of hearing or the low talkers.

 

[meridiusuk]

I am still on 17.7.2 wanting to avoid all the battery life issues on iOS 18, and not really thrilled about iOS 26 yet. My question is what functionality is based on iOS 26 and what they would sound like on an older iOS.. I am really interested in the hearing aid functionality..
Thank you for sharing any information!!

Siri would not turn noise cancellation on or off with my voice until i upgraded to iso 26, air pods pro 2 would work no problem with ios 18 with siri, so apple are really forcing the air pod 3 pro users to upgrade the software which i had to do.

 

[tivoboy]

I found this thread as I’m having a similar issue.. when I try and pair the APP3 with an iPhone 14 on 18.6.2, I get this pop up that says that a software update is REQUIRED for this device and that I could only pair them with limited functionality. Doing that, it doesn’t even show up with the AirPods Pro icon, or many features accessible. What gives. Is it really that they REQUIRE ios 26 just to pair properly?

 

[Night Spring]

I found this thread as I’m having a similar issue.. when I try and pair the APP3 with an iPhone 14 on 18.6.2, I get this pop up that says that a software update is REQUIRED for this device and that I could only pair them with limited functionality. Doing that, it doesn’t even show up with the AirPods Pro icon, or many features accessible. What gives. Is it really that they REQUIRE ios 26 just to pair properly?

What AirPods Pro icon?

For me, when I pair APP3 with an iPhone on iOS 18, they work exactly the same as the APP2 I have paired with that iPhone. The sound is different -- APP3 gives you a lot more detail, but can sound flat and artificial. The ANC I haven't really tested because I just don't use that mode much, and hearing my own voice works a lot better on APP3. But functionality wise, there isn't any difference I've noticed.

When I use the APPs with an iPhone on iOS 26, the only major difference I notice is that Live Translation is available. There may be some other features that are only available on iOS 26, but if so, it's something I have to go digging around to find.

 

[meridiusuk]

I found this thread as I’m having a similar issue.. when I try and pair the APP3 with an iPhone 14 on 18.6.2, I get this pop up that says that a software update is REQUIRED for this device and that I could only pair them with limited functionality. Doing that, it doesn’t even show up with the AirPods Pro icon, or many features accessible. What gives. Is it really that they REQUIRE ios 26 just to pair properly?

Yes I had the same problem. iOS 26
fixed that

iOS 18 speaker with a Bluetooth symbol

iOS 26 Apple headphone image.

Like I say iPod pro 2 worked fine but AirPod 3 pro would not let you use the Siri function and other functions in iOS 18. Unfortunately you need to get into ios 26 to get back the basic functions that iOS 18 and air pod pro 2 have you.

I have upgraded to iOS 26 some things need to be addressed but it’s not that bad

 

[gazsiazasz]

Yes, I have the same issue.
I have devices on iOS 17 and 18, neither of them can get basic functionality like showing battery levels and it does not showing up in find my. so technically APP3 is worse than APP2 in current form, its a HUGE downgrade.

 

[chrfr]

Yes, I have the same issue.
I have devices on iOS 17 and 18, neither of them can get basic functionality like showing battery levels and it does not showing up in find my. so technically APP3 is worse than APP2 in current form, its a HUGE downgrade.

Well the tech specs for APP3 do list the system requirements as "iPhone models with the latest version of iOS" and iOS 17 and 18 are not that.

 

[Night Spring]

On iOS 18. I can see the battery levels for the APP3 and the case. I'm not seeing it in FindMy, however.

 

[Rookwood]

I'm struggling with this. I don't want to "upgrade" to iOS 26 since it seems its still quite rough (bugs/performance). I have the latest, iOS 18.7 on my iPhone 16 Pro. However, I just got my AirPods Pro 3 (AP3) and it seems like the support is really a downgrade.

When I pair, I can only continue with "Set up with limited functionality" (the only update available when I "Check for Update" is to go from iOS 18 to iOS 26. Is this expected for iOS 18?

And what is "limited functionality"? I don't see this documented anywhere. And searching for it is really hard because there's lot of discussion of it from a few years ago with respect to Airpods Pro 2.

What I'm seeing:

* With all my other Airpods, when they are connected, they appear Settings in a special spot right above Airplane mode. This does not happen with my new AP3.

* I can access settings via Bluetooth and the (i) button.
* Model Name is listed as "ACCESSORY_MODEL_NAME..."
* With my Airpods Pro 2, I have a "Hearing Health" secion including "Take a Hearing Test" (which I can't do with my particular AP2 because they are failing). With my new AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Head Gestures" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Enable Charging Case Sounds" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Optimized Battery Charging" on/off. AP3, this is missing.

* Most important difference to me: my AP3 does not show up in "Find My"! Airpods and their cases are small and often moved around... I really like using "Find My" to locate them.


Can others confirm that these are indeed the "limited functionality" that I should expect? Or that it's proper that I have to use "limited functionality" with iOS 18.

For me, it seems really harsh to have to choose a downgrade in iOS experience (nothing I've heard about iOS 26 sounds like an improvement to me) vs having "Find My" (and the other features, but "Find My" is most critical to me).

 

[tivoboy]

This is what I get.. needs update (this has been updated to latest 18, can’t possibly require ios 26 for basics features)

And the icon only shows this odd accessory icon, and in the BT settings, there is no icon at the top, with images, battery level, etc.. and battery levels don’t show up in ios at all.

 

[Rookwood]

Oh, somehow I missed this thread and commented on a similar one:

I'm struggling with this. I don't want to "upgrade" to iOS 26 since it seems its still quite rough (bugs/performance). I have the latest, iOS 18.7 on my iPhone 16 Pro. However, I just got my AirPods Pro 3 (AP3) and it seems like the support is really a downgrade.

When I pair, I can only continue with "Set up with limited functionality" (the only update available when I "Check for Update" is to go from iOS 18 to iOS 26. Is this expected for iOS 18?

And what is "limited functionality"? I don't see this documented anywhere. And searching for it is really hard because there's lot of discussion of it from a few years ago with respect to Airpods Pro 2.

What I'm seeing:

* With all my other Airpods, when they are connected, they appear Settings in a special spot right above Airplane mode. This does not happen with my new AP3.

* I can access settings via Bluetooth and the (i) button.
* Model Name is listed as "ACCESSORY_MODEL_NAME..."
* With my Airpods Pro 2, I have a "Hearing Health" secion including "Take a Hearing Test" (which I can't do with my particular AP2 because they are failing). With my new AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Head Gestures" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Enable Charging Case Sounds" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Optimized Battery Charging" on/off. AP3, this is missing.

* Most important difference to me: my AP3 does not show up in "Find My"! Airpods and their cases are small and often moved around... I really like using "Find My" to locate them.


Can others confirm that these are indeed the "limited functionality" that I should expect? Or that it's proper that I have to use "limited functionality" with iOS 18.

For me, it seems really harsh to have to choose a downgrade in iOS experience (nothing I've heard about iOS 26 sounds like an improvement to me) vs having "Find My" (and the other features, but "Find My" is most critical to me).

 

[Rookwood]

Well the tech specs for APP3 do list the system requirements as "iPhone models with the latest version of iOS" and iOS 17 and 18 are not that.

They do. But we can still be disappointed, especially given how iOS 26 is not some solid release that's been out for any length of time at all. (And I've heard enough about bugs/performance issues to want to give Apple time to iron out ths issues. I normally have waited until a .1 release. With 18, IIRC, this wasn't really necessary -- it was really solid. With iOS 26, it has seemed to me like a different situation.)

The tech specs says that when not using the latest, you get "limited functionality", but it seems rather harsh to not specify any details. I guess the user is left to just buy them and then you-get-what-you-get and if you want to know if what you are experiencing is "limited" or is a bug or just a feature-as-designed, you can drop into forums on the internet to compare experiences.... Is this the experience that Apple has set up for us as customers? Seems like it. And it's within their right to do that. And it's our right to be unhappy about it.

 

[Rookwood]

Charging Notifications: Receive alerts when your AirPods are fully charged, allowing you to manage battery life more effectively and avoid overcharging.

Huh, I noticed with AP2, I have a "Optimized Battery Charging" option. Does AP3 have that two, as well as adding Charing Notifications? Or does this new CN seem to be a replacement and the Optimized option is removed? (I have AP3, but currently have iOS 18 on my phone, so I can't answer this myself at this point.)

 

[Flippant1]

I'm struggling with this. I don't want to "upgrade" to iOS 26 since it seems its still quite rough (bugs/performance). I have the latest, iOS 18.7 on my iPhone 16 Pro. However, I just got my AirPods Pro 3 (AP3) and it seems like the support is really a downgrade.

When I pair, I can only continue with "Set up with limited functionality" (the only update available when I "Check for Update" is to go from iOS 18 to iOS 26. Is this expected for iOS 18?

And what is "limited functionality"? I don't see this documented anywhere. And searching for it is really hard because there's lot of discussion of it from a few years ago with respect to Airpods Pro 2.

What I'm seeing:

* With all my other Airpods, when they are connected, they appear Settings in a special spot right above Airplane mode. This does not happen with my new AP3.

* I can access settings via Bluetooth and the (i) button.
* Model Name is listed as "ACCESSORY_MODEL_NAME..."
* With my Airpods Pro 2, I have a "Hearing Health" secion including "Take a Hearing Test" (which I can't do with my particular AP2 because they are failing). With my new AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Head Gestures" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Enable Charging Case Sounds" on/off. AP3, this is missing.
* AP2 has "Optimized Battery Charging" on/off. AP3, this is missing.

* Most important difference to me: my AP3 does not show up in "Find My"! Airpods and their cases are small and often moved around... I really like using "Find My" to locate them.


Can others confirm that these are indeed the "limited functionality" that I should expect? Or that it's proper that I have to use "limited functionality" with iOS 18.

For me, it seems really harsh to have to choose a downgrade in iOS experience (nothing I've heard about iOS 26 sounds like an improvement to me) vs having "Find My" (and the other features, but "Find My" is most critical to me).

Confirmed. First, it attempts to set up, but it won't work even if you are connected. Like they say, limited functionality, but I hate to be an early adopter of iOS. I usually wait until the first or second bug fix after experiencing major disabling functionality, such as notifications not working for email or not being able to connect via Bluetooth at all, with previous early operating systems. This one is just too big and iOS to jump on the bandwagon this soon, I'm keeping a tile on mine. I still haven't totally switched to AirTags-you just confirmed my question, so I don't have to stay on the phone with Apple tech support so they can tell me to upgrade to the latest iOS.- thanks!

 

[loyalraccoon]

Created an account just to post this as I’ve had enough of Apple’s shenanigans. AirPods Pro 3 are being treated as a third-party product in non iOS 26 setups. To be clear, it’s not about live translations but the basic functionality you’ve had with your AirPods Pro 2 taken away. There isn’t an AirPods menu in Settings nor anything in Accessibility for example you can’t disable head tracking which may not even be working anyway. For me I wanted to turn off Noise Control and the switch is actually there but it’s non-responsive. I’m sure a lot of people are gonna take the bait and update to iOS 26 but not me. Such a shame as the Pro 3 are the first AirPods that stayed secure in my ears. If I’m missing anything here let me know the solution thanks.

 

[tivoboy]

Yeah I tried pairing with my my Apple TV running not the latest beta, but most recent TVos.. and it shows up as the same janky “additional audio”.. it works, but not well. WTF.