An iPhone, iPad, or Mac is required to update AirPods software, but people without one can now visit Apple retail stores to update their AirPods firmware.
- What’s happening? AirPods firmware requires an Apple device to install, but non-Apple users can now bring their headphones to an Apple store to initiate an update.
- Why care? People who don’t have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac now have a new way to make sure their AirPods are up to date.
- What to do? If you don’t have an Apple device, bring your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max to an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider.
You can now update your AirPods firmware at Apple Stores.
AirPods can be used like regular Bluetooth headphones (without Apple’s magic features like iCloud pairing and automatic device switching) on third-party devices such as Windows or Linux computers or Android smartphones and tablets.
Apple has never bothered to programmatically support AirPods firmware updates on overseas platforms. Now, however, the Cupertino giant has come up with a solution: bring your AirPods to an Apple store to get a firmware update.
Apple has acknowledged this change in an updated AirPods firmware support page:
If you don’t have an Apple device nearby, you can make an appointment at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to update the firmware.
The solution might not be practical, but it fixes the problem for those who don’t have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Plus, Apple users who can upgrade to Android can now be sure they won’t miss important firmware updates for their AirPods.
AirPods firmware updates rarely bring new features, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them as they contain bug fixes and performance improvements.
Why doesn’t the software update work with AirPods?
AirPods updates are something of a mystery. The iPhone maker explains that new AirPods firmware is delivered automatically while the earbuds are charging in their case, with a paired Apple iPhone, iPad, or Mac over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth range.
This will prompt your Apple device to download and install the latest AirPods firmware.
However, it is not known when this might happen and you cannot force the update. It can take days or even weeks to get the latest software because AirPods firmware is rolling out gradually rather than all at the same time to all users.