Apple today released firmware updates for eight different devices, and you can’t even really take care of them yourself. Several AirPods and Beats models are getting firmware updates, along with, oddly enough, the official Apple MagSafe charger.
The full list of products and their new firmware numbers are as follows:
- 2nd Gen AirPods: 5E135
- AirPods 3rd Generation: 5E135
- AirPods Pro 1st Generation: 5E135
- AirPods Pro 2nd Gen: 5E135
- AirPods Max: 5E135
- PowerBeats Pro: 5B66
- Beats Fit Pro: 5B66
- MagSafe Charger: 258.0.0.0
What are these firmware updates for? No one really knows! Apple never says that. The company maintains a support document for AirPods firmware updates, but each update only states that it provides “bug fixes and other improvements,” with some exceptions.
Worse still, it is not possible to update the firmware yourself. Firmware updates are delivered when your AirPods are charging and in range of a paired Wi-Fi connected iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it takes days, and there’s no no way to force it.
To check the firmware version of your AirPods or Beats products, go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the Info (i) button next to your AirPods name. Scroll to In regards to section to find the firmware version.
To check your MagSafe charger’s firmware, plug it into a power supply and connect it to your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > In regards to > Apple MagSafe Charger and find the firmware version. The MagSafe charger updates its firmware when connected to a power adapter and a Wi-Fi connected iPhone.
Firmware updates for AirPods aren’t uncommon, and it would probably fall to Apple to provide a way to force them, even by long-pressing the firmware revision number in Settings.
