AirPods Firmware Versions and What Each Update Changed
By Suraj Giri, reviewed by Suraj Giri on
Published . 8 min read.
The current firmware for every AirPods model, what each update changed, and any known issues, read from Apple's "About firmware updates for AirPods" page. Last checked: September 26, 2026. Every version and note comes from Apple; we don't test firmware ourselves. For the other brands we cover and for known issues after an earbud or smartwatch update, see the main Update Tracker.
Latest AirPods Firmware by Model
The current AirPods firmware is 9A348 for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2, and 9A350 for both AirPods 5 models, according to Apple's firmware page read on September 26, 2026. The table keeps Apple's 14 rows, order and wording; the Source column means Apple's firmware page as read on September 26, 2026. If your version is lower, your AirPods haven't updated yet.
| Model | Current firmware | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Max 2 | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods Max 1 (USB-C) | 7E108 | Apple |
| AirPods Max 1 (Lightning) | 6F25 | Apple |
| AirPods Pro 3 | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning) | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods Pro 1 | 6F21 | Apple |
| AirPods 5 | 9A350 | Apple |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | 9A350 | Apple |
| AirPods 4 | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation | 9A348 | Apple |
| AirPods 3 | 6F21 | Apple |
| AirPods 2 | 6F21 | Apple |
| AirPods 1 | 6.8.8 | Apple |
AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 stay on 6F21, AirPods Max 1 (Lightning) on 6F25 and AirPods 1 on 6.8.8; Apple lists no newer firmware for them.
What Changed in the Latest Update
Firmware 9A348 adds a Custom EQ to AirPods 4 and later, AirPods Pro 2 and later and AirPods Max 2, and 9A350 adds support for AirPods 5.
What to do now: if your AirPods sound duller after the update, check the Equalizer is set to Recommended before you clean anything, then follow the guide to earbuds muffled by earwax if the sound stays flat.
The new control lives in Settings, then the name of your AirPods at the top of the screen, then Audio & Routing, then Equalizer. Tap Custom and drag the Low, Mid and High sliders; choose Recommended to turn Custom EQ off. The setting is stored on the AirPods and carries over to your Mac and iPad. Want an email when a new AirPods firmware lands in this table? Join the Gadget247News update newsletter.
AirPods Firmware Version History
Apple's firmware page lists 52 AirPods firmware versions, newest first, with no release dates. The Released column uses Apple's security releases page for 6A326 and 6F8, MacRumors for 9A348 and Apple's page date for 9A350; "Not listed" means Apple publishes no date for that version as of September 26, 2026. Models appear only when Apple's note names them. The first table holds the 15 newest versions.
| Version | Released | Models | What changed | Known issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9A350 | By September 17, 2026 (Apple page date) | AirPods 5, AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | AirPods 5 support: up to 50% more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, longer battery life, on-stem volume control, hands-free Siri AI and Live Translation with iOS 27 | None |
| 9A348 | September 14, 2026 (MacRumors) | AirPods 4 and later, AirPods Pro 2 and later, AirPods Max 2 | Custom EQ (Low, Mid, High); GymKit on iPhone syncs AirPods Pro 3 heart rate to cardio equipment | None |
| 8B41 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8E258 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B40 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8E251 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B39 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B34 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B30 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B28 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B25 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8B21 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8A358 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8A357 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 8A356 | Not listed | AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 | AirPods Pro 3 support (heart rate in Fitness workouts, iOS 26); Live Translation beta; Hearing Aid Conversation Boost; studio quality recording; camera remote; charging reminders; Automatic Switching with CarPlay | None |
Older versions. The remaining 37 versions run from 7E108 back to 4E71.
| Version | Released | Models | What changed | Known issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7E108 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7E101 | Not listed | AirPods Max (USB-C) | Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4 or later | None |
| 7E93 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6F25 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7B21 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7B20 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7B19 | Not listed | AirPods Pro 2 | Hearing Test, Hearing Aid and Hearing Protection with iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 (Hearing Protection in the US and Canada) | None |
| 6F21 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7A304 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7A302 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 7A294 | Not listed | AirPods Pro 2 | Head gestures for Siri, Voice Isolation on calls, lower gaming latency with 16-bit 48 kHz voice chat, Personalized Volume improvements (iOS 18) | None |
| 6F8 | June 25, 2024 (Apple security releases) | AirPods (2nd generation and later), AirPods Pro, AirPods Max | Bug fixes and other improvements; security content listed by Apple | Security content, not an issue |
| 6A326 | June 25, 2024 (Apple security releases) | AirPods (2nd generation and later), AirPods Pro, AirPods Max | Bug fixes and other improvements; security content listed by Apple | Security content, not an issue |
| 6F7 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A325 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A324 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A321 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A317 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6B34 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6B32 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A305 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A303 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 6A300/6A301 | Not listed | AirPods Pro (2nd generation); AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), AirPods Max | Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Personalized Volume on AirPods Pro (2nd generation); press to mute and unmute on calls; Automatic Switching improvements (iOS 17, macOS Sonoma) | None |
| 5E135 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 5E133 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 5B59 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 5B58 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 5A377 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
| 5A374 | Not listed | AirPods Pro (2nd generation) | Added features and capabilities to support the new AirPods Pro (2nd generation) | None |
| 4E71 | Not listed | Not stated | Bug fixes and other improvements | None |
Eight of the 52 versions carry a named feature (9A350, 9A348, 8A356, 7E101, 7B19, 7A294, 6A300/6A301 and 5A374); Apple describes the other 44 as "Bug fixes and other improvements".
Known Issues by Version
No known issues are documented by Apple for 9A348 or 9A350 as of September 26, 2026. Apple's firmware page lists none, and none of the outlets we accept as a second source (MacRumors, 9to5Mac, AppleInsider) has reported a confirmed fault. We add a row only when Apple documents an issue or at least two reputable outlets report the same one, and we label the second kind "Reported".
| Version | Issue | Status | Source | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9A350 | None documented | Checked September 26, 2026 | Apple firmware page | Update won't install: AirPods Won't Update Firmware |
| 9A348 | None documented | Checked September 26, 2026 | Apple firmware page | Update won't install: see the row above |
| 6A326 and 6F8 | Security content only (not a fault) | Documented by Apple, June 25, 2024 | Apple security releases | None needed |
How to Check Your AirPods Firmware Version
Your AirPods firmware version sits in the About section of their Bluetooth settings. iPhone or iPad: open Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to your AirPods, then scroll down to About. Mac: open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click Bluetooth, then click the Info button next to your AirPods. Compare the number you see with the table above; if yours is lower, follow the steps to install the latest AirPods firmware.
A version that matches the table rules firmware out as the cause. If your AirPods still misbehave, start with the AirPods connection and charging fixes for pairing and power faults, AirPods battery drain after an update if the case empties overnight, or fix a silent AirPod when one side has no sound.
How AirPods Firmware Updates Install
AirPods update on their own. Apple's wording: "Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi." Apple's manual steps add a wait: connect the case to power, put the AirPods inside, close the lid and keep them in Bluetooth range for at least 30 minutes, then open the lid and check the version. AirPods Max charge through the cable in the bottom-right earphone for the same 30 minutes. With no Apple device nearby, Apple offers an appointment at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. If the version still won't move, Apple says to reset the AirPods and try again; the AirPods Won't Update Firmware guide follows that order.
Can You Roll Back AirPods Firmware?
No. Apple's firmware page describes no way to install an older AirPods firmware version. The only official steps are to update, or to reset the AirPods and update again. Third-party downgrade methods aren't documented by Apple, so we don't recommend any.
Not Sure Which AirPods You Have?
Your model decides which firmware row applies to you, and AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 all look alike in the case. Read the model number on the underside of each earbud or in Bluetooth settings, then identify your AirPods model against Apple's list.
AirPods Update News
AirPods firmware news we've logged, newest first, each linked to the report we used for its date.
- September 25, 2026: 9to5Mac confirms the split, 9A350 for AirPods 5 and 9A348 for the other current models, and shows the Custom EQ control in Settings. Read the 9to5Mac report.
- September 17, 2026: Apple's firmware page lists 9A350 for AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. Read Apple's firmware page.
- September 14, 2026: Apple releases firmware 9A348 for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max 2 alongside iOS 27, adding Custom EQ. Read the MacRumors report.
Sources
- Apple: About firmware updates for AirPods
- Apple: Apple security releases
- Apple: About the security content of AirPods Firmware Update 6A326, AirPods Firmware Update 6F8, and Beats Firmware Update 6F8
- Apple AirPods User Guide: Customize EQ on AirPods
- Apple: Customize headphone audio levels on your iPhone or iPad
- Apple: Identify your AirPods
- MacRumors: Apple Releases New AirPods Firmware With iOS 27 Features (September 14, 2026)
- 9to5Mac: AirPods just got a long-requested feature in new software update (September 25, 2026)