Updating your AirPods: How to ensure the best sound quality and new features

March 01 2025, by Jozias Jacobse, 3 min reading time

Do you want to get the most out of your AirPods? Then make sure you update them regularly! Software updates from Apple often bring improvements to sound quality, battery life, and new features. The good news is that updating your AirPods usually happens automatically. But sometimes a little help is needed. In this guide, I explain how to ensure your AirPods are always up to date.

Why updating your AirPods is important

Just like your iPhone or iPad, your AirPods receive software updates from Apple. These updates are crucial for:

• Improved sound quality: Apple continuously optimizes the audio quality of the AirPods.
• Better battery life: Updates can improve energy efficiency and thus extend battery life.
• Bug fixes: Issues with connections or other functionalities are often resolved with updates.
• New features: Sometimes Apple introduces new features via software updates.

How to automatically update your AirPods (The most common way)

The beauty of AirPods is that they usually update automatically. Here is what you need to do to ensure this process goes smoothly:

1. Ensure your AirPods are in their charging case: This is important, as the update is only carried out if the AirPods are in the case.
2. Charge the charging case: Ensure the charging case is sufficiently charged.
3. Keep the AirPods near your iPhone or iPad: The AirPods must be able to connect to your iPhone or iPad to download and install the update.
4. Ensure your iPhone or iPad is connected to Wi-Fi: A stable internet connection is necessary for downloading the update.
5. Use your AirPods regularly: By using your AirPods, you give them the opportunity to connect to your iPhone or iPad and check for updates.

How do you check if your AirPods are up to date?

Although AirPods usually update automatically, it can be reassuring to check if they have the latest software version. Follow these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods to your iPhone or iPad: Ensure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to 'Settings' > 'Bluetooth': Find your AirPods in the list of connected devices.
3. Tap the 'i' next to the name of your AirPods: Here you will find information about your AirPods.
4. Scroll down to 'Version': Here you will see the current firmware version of your AirPods.

Troubleshooting: What if my AirPods don't update?

If your AirPods do not update automatically, try the following steps:

• Check your internet connection: Ensure your iPhone or iPad is connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection.
• Restart your iPhone or iPad: A simple restart can sometimes resolve issues.
• Forget and reconnect your AirPods: Go to 'Settings' > 'Bluetooth', tap the 'i' next to the name of your AirPods and choose 'Forget This Device'. Then reconnect them.
• Leave your AirPods and charging case connected longer: Sometimes the AirPods just need a little more time to download and install the update.

Conclusion:

Updating your AirPods is important for having the best sound quality, battery life, and new features. Although updating usually happens automatically, it is good to know how to check for the update and resolve any issues. With this guide, you are all set to keep your AirPods up to date!

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