Apple frequently releases updated firmware for its AirPods and AirPods Pro wireless earbuds, but less frequently, the company releases update firmware for its flagship AirPods Max over-ear headphones.
Fortunately for AirPods Max owners, Apple showed on Tuesday that the company hasn’t forgotten about them. A new firmware update in the form of firmware 6A325 was released this afternoon, bumping the AirPods Max firmware up from the previous firmware 6A324 build that was released back in January.
This firmware is an entirely new build, which Apple’s “About firmware updates for AirPods” web page vaguely describes as bringing “Bug fixes and other improvements.”
We don’t know exactly what bug fixes and improvements that firmware 6A325 brings to the table since Apple doesn’t share, but it likely has something do with Bluetooth connectivity, sound quality, battery life, or compatibility with other devices, among other things.
Users of any AirPods model can easily check what firmware their Bluetooth headphones are running by connecting the device to their iPhone or iPad and then navigating to Settings → Bluetooth and tapping on the information (i) button to the right of the device. In the ensuring interface, the current firmware is displayed under the “Version” field:
Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t make it easy to force a firmware update on any AirPods model. Instead, updates are an automatic process that occur under just the right circumstances, which involves ensuring the following criteria:
- Keeping AirPods connected to power and charging
- Keeping AirPods in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Keeping your iPhone, iPad, or Mac in range of and connected to a Wi-Fi network
If you aren’t able to meet the aforementioned criteria, either because you use AirPods without an Apple device or because you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection, you can visit an Apple Store to have your AirPods Max firmware updated by Apple staff. Obviously, this isn’t a convenient solution for such a trivial “bug fix and other improvements” update.
Have your AirPods Max been updated to the latest firmware yet? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.