How to Update AirPods Step by Step: Complete Guide

If you’ve ever wondered how to manually update your AirPods instead of waiting for Apple to do it automatically, get ready this is for you. Apple has changed the game, and for the first time ever, it now allows users to update their AirPods firmware manually.

This isn’t just great news for the impatient ones—it’s also a game-changer for those who suspect their version might be buggy and need an immediate update. Yes, you’re in control now. So, if you want to keep your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max running on the latest software version without relying on Apple’s OTA system, keep reading—I’ll guide you step by step on how to do it.

Quick Navigation Table

🔍 Section	📌 Details
✅ Why Updating Your AirPods Is Important	Improvements in stability, performance, and compatibility.
🔄 How to Check Your Current Firmware Version	Steps to check which version you have installed.
📲 How to Manually Update AirPods & AirPods Pro	Detailed instructions for standard and Pro models.
🎧 How to Manually Update AirPods Max	Specific steps for the over-ear headphones.
⚠️ What to Do If the Update Doesn’t Work	Solutions if the firmware fails to install.
🌍 MundoVirtual’s Perspective	Is this the update we really needed?

Why Updating Your AirPods Is Important

Apple’s AirPods have become one of the best-selling earbuds in the world, and it’s not by chance. With every firmware update, Apple improves sound quality, connectivity, and fixes bugs that could affect your experience.

So, if you’ve ever noticed connection issues, audio dropouts, or strange battery drain, chances are an update will fix it. But until now, there was no way to force it. Apple decided when and how to do it, leaving users with no control.

Configuración para saber la actualización de tu AirPods
Configuración para saber la actualización de tu AirPods
Configuración para saber la actualización de tu AirPods

How to Check Your AirPods’ Current Firmware Version

Before updating, it’s important to know which version you have installed. Here’s how you can check:

Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad.
Open the Settings app.
Go to Bluetooth and find your AirPods in the list.
Tap the “i” icon next to the AirPods name.
Scroll down to Firmware Version.

If the version is the latest, you don’t need to update. If not, keep reading—I’ll show you how to do it manually.

AirPods Model	Latest Firmware Version
AirPods (1st generation)	6.8.8
AirPods (2nd generation)	6F21
AirPods (3rd generation)	6F21
AirPods (4th generation)	7B20
AirPods (4th generation) with Noise Cancellation	7B20
AirPods Pro (1st generation)	6F21
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Case (Lightning)	7B21
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Case (USB-C)	7B21
AirPods Max (Lightning)	6F21
AirPods Max (USB-C)	7A291

How to Manually Update AirPods & AirPods Pro

Do you own any AirPods generation or AirPods Pro? .This is how you can force a firmware update.

1️⃣ Make sure your AirPods are near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, with Wi-Fi turned on.
2️⃣ Place the AirPods inside their charging case and close the lid.
3️⃣ Plug the case into a charger using a Lightning or MagSafe cable.
4️⃣ Wait at least 30 minutes with the lid closed.
5️⃣ Open the charging case and reconnect the AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
6️⃣ Check the firmware version again (as explained earlier).

If everything went well, congratulations—your AirPods are now updated to the latest version! 🚀

How to Manually Update AirPods Max

For AirPods Max, the process is slightly different. Here’s how to manually update their firmware:

1️⃣ Make sure your AirPods Max are near an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, with Wi-Fi turned on.
2️⃣ Connect them to a charger by plugging the cable into the right earcup and then into a power source or USB port.
3️⃣ Leave them charging for at least 30 minutes.
4️⃣ Reconnect the AirPods Max to your device and check the firmware version.

If the update was successful, you’ll now have the latest version installed, along with all the latest improvements.

What to Do If the Update Doesn’t Complete

Sometimes, even after following these steps, your AirPods might not update. What can you do?

🛠 Solution 1: Reset Your AirPods

Forget them from Bluetooth settings on your iPhone.
Reset the AirPods by holding the button on the back of the case.
Reconnect them and repeat the update process.

🛠 Solution 2: Try a Different Device

Some users report that the update might start faster if you try with a different iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

If none of these solutions work, Apple recommends visiting a service center.

MundoVirtual’s Perspective: Did We Really Need This Feature?

At MundoVirtual, we love that Apple finally allows manual updates for AirPods. However, the way they implemented it raises some questions.

🔹 There’s still no “Update Now” button, meaning the process is still semi-automatic.
🔹 We have no idea when Apple releases new versions, so we’re still in the dark.
🔹 Apple hasn’t confirmed whether future updates will give users even more control.

That said, this is a step in the right direction. We hope that, in the future, Apple will let us download firmware updates from the App Store or even from a Mac/PC. Too much to ask?