Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max

Following the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote in June, Apple provided developers with a beta firmware for several AirPods models, including the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Apple today updated that firmware, with the version number going from 5A5282d to 5A304a.

AirPods Pro Beta Firmware
The updated AirPods firmware is limited to developers, who can download the software from the More Downloads page on the Apple developer website. Installing the beta requires an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods.

Developers are required to pair the AirPods with an ‌iPhone‌, connect the ‌iPhone‌ to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section. Subsequent updates are delivered over the air once the pre-release testing option is enabled.

According to Apple, the beta firmware includes improvements to Automatic Switching as well as bug and stability fixes. The software will eventually come to all AirPods after testing is finished, and it could see a release this fall alongside iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9.

Related Roundups: AirPods 3, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...

Top Rated Comments

Le0M Avatar
27 months ago
I really hope Apple improves the automatic connection feature, cuz it's very buggy to say the least.
It often connects to the wrong device, switches device without asking, sometimes not able to change volume of the earpieces, and so on.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FasterQuieter Avatar
27 months ago
Hopefully it will make my AirPods Max less heavy.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
27 months ago

I just want a design that prevents my AirPods Pro from flying out of the case and across the yard when I drop them.
Sounds like the problem is that they are being dropped, so a redesign of your hands is the solution. Poor AirPods... being blamed when they are the victim!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
27 months ago
I just want a design that prevents my AirPods Pro from flying out of the case and across the yard when I drop them.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
finalcut Avatar
27 months ago

I just want a design that prevents my AirPods Pro from flying out of the case and across the yard when I drop them.
You are holding it wrong!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hxlover904 Avatar
27 months ago

But is it behaving correctly? I've started using AirPods more recently. When connected to my laptop, and then I grab my phone (waking it up), they switch over to the phone automatically. They are assuming that is device that I'm now using, and then they switch back to the laptop when I'm done with the phone. Seems reasonable, if not spooky. But this is fully configurable, too.
I think the main issue is it changes devices while you're actively listening/watching something on the first device. If they are connected to my ipad and i'm watching a video, then pick up my phone to read a text message-they switch to my phone and suddenly i have the sound from the ipad is coming through it's speakers which is jarring. Espeically to anyone else in the room. Yes, it's configurable (thank goodness), but I think it shouldn't switch devices when there is already sound coming throught the airpods.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)