Short answer: Apple's method has no update button. AirPods firmware installs itself while the AirPods charge in their closed case, within Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that is on Wi-Fi and running current software. So how to update AirPods firmware on purpose comes down to recreating those conditions, leaving everything alone for at least 30 minutes, then checking the version number in your Bluetooth settings.
I'll start with what I can't tell you. I can't tell you when a given update will reach your particular pair, because Apple doesn't publish a timetable for that. What Apple does publish is the list of conditions, the manual method and the current version number for each model, and that turns out to be enough to take control of the process. Everything below is sourced to Apple's own support documentation, plus Samsung's for the comparison, not to anything I measured.
Why AirPods Have No Update Button
Firmware is the small piece of software that runs inside the earbuds themselves: the code behind the connection, the controls, the noise control modes and the rest of the features you paid for. On a phone you update software from a menu. On AirPods, Apple treats it as background maintenance.
The conditions Apple lists explain how it works. The Wi-Fi requirement sits on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, not on the AirPods, because AirPods have no internet connection of their own. Your paired Apple device is the delivery route. The AirPods need to be charging, sitting in their case and within Bluetooth range of that device, which means the update installs at a moment when you are not wearing them.
That design is why "where is the update button?" has such a plain answer. You are not missing a setting. The update happens when the pieces line up, and if they never line up, it doesn't happen.
What Has to Be True for AirPods to Update
According to Apple's support page About firmware updates for AirPods, which I read on September 23, 2026, these are the conditions:
| Condition | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Your iPhone, iPad or Mac runs the latest iOS, iPadOS or macOS | Update the phone or computer first. The AirPods update arrives through it. |
| Bluetooth is on and the AirPods are connected to that device | They need to be paired with it, not just nearby. |
| That device is connected to Wi-Fi | The download happens on the phone or computer, not on the AirPods. |
| The AirPods are in their case with the lid closed | Apple's instruction is to keep the lid closed throughout. |
| The case is connected to power | Plug the charging cable into the case, and the other end into a USB charger or port. |
| The AirPods stay in Bluetooth range | Leave them near the device, not in another room. |
| You wait at least 30 minutes | Apple's own stated minimum. |
If your AirPods are behind, check those rows before anything else. One easy way to miss the window: charging the case overnight in one room while the phone charges in another, so the "in range" row never gets ticked off even though everything else is in place.
How to Check Your AirPods Firmware Version
Before forcing anything, check whether you actually need to. The version number lives in your Bluetooth settings, not in an app.
On an iPhone or iPad: Apple's steps are to open the Settings app, tap Bluetooth, then tap the Info button next to the name of your AirPods. Scroll down to the About section and look for the version number.
On a Mac: From the Apple menu in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings, click Bluetooth, then click the Info button next to the name of your AirPods.
On an Android phone: Apple's firmware page gives no Android steps at all. More on that below.
Once you have the number, compare it with the list under the heading "Latest AirPods firmware versions" on Apple's support page. That list goes model by model, and Apple updates it as new firmware ships, which is why I'm not copying the numbers here: any figure I paste today could be out of date by the time you read this. The catch is that you need to know your exact model to read the list correctly, because several model names are close. If you are not sure which pair you own, how to find your exact AirPods model covers how to identify it before you compare.
How to Update AirPods Firmware Manually (the 30-Minute Method)
If your version is behind Apple's list, this is the documented way to push it along. It is really just the automatic conditions, set up deliberately.
- Update your iPhone, iPad or Mac to the latest iOS, iPadOS or macOS.
- Make sure Bluetooth is on, your AirPods are connected to that device, and the device is on Wi-Fi.
- Put both AirPods in the charging case and close the lid.
- Plug the charging cable into the case, and plug the other end into a USB charger or port.
- Keep the lid closed and keep the AirPods within Bluetooth range of your device.
- Wait at least 30 minutes.
- Open the lid so the AirPods reconnect, then check the version number again.
AirPods Max follow a different routine, because the charging happens in the headphones themselves. Apple's instruction is to plug the charging cable into the bottom-right earphone, plug the other end into a USB charger or port, keep the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad or Mac, and wait at least 30 minutes.
If the version still hasn't changed, Apple's next step is to reset your AirPods and then try the update again. Note the order: the conditions and the wait come first, and the reset comes second. Resetting means pairing them again from scratch, so it is worth one clean 30-minute attempt before you reach for it.
If you don't have an Apple device nearby, Apple's page says you can set up an appointment at an Apple Store or with an Apple Authorized Service Provider to update your firmware.
If You Use AirPods With an Android Phone
This is the part most guides skip, so I'll be direct about it. AirPods can pair with Android phones as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds, but Apple's firmware page describes no Android update route and no Android way to check the version. The only fallback Apple documents is that store or service provider appointment.
I'd be guessing if I told you that borrowing a friend's iPhone works exactly the same way, so I won't. Apple's page describes your own iPhone, iPad or Mac, and the appointment. That is the full extent of what's documented.
What makes this worth knowing is the contrast with Beats. Apple makes both, yet Beats get a proper Android path. Apple's own Update Beats support page, which I also read on September 23, 2026, says that on Android, firmware updates are made available in the Beats app: if one is waiting, an Update button appears on your connected device's screen. The same page says the firmware version sits under "Under the Hood" on that screen, and that turning on the Allowed setting (below Optimize Your Beats Product) lets updates run in the background. If you are an Android user choosing between the two, that difference is worth weighing alongside the fit and chip questions in how Beats and AirPods compare.
The Lid Rule Flips Depending on the Brand
Here is the detail that trips people up when they switch brands: the correct position of the case lid during an update is not the same everywhere. Apple wants it closed. Samsung wants it open.
| Brand and setup | Where the update comes from | Where to check the version | Case during the update |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods with iPhone, iPad or Mac | Automatic, through the paired Apple device | Settings, Bluetooth, Info button | Lid closed, case on power |
| Beats with iPhone, iPad or Mac | Automatic, through the paired Apple device | Bluetooth settings on the Apple device | In the case with the lid closed, or powered off if there is no case |
| Beats with Android | The Beats app, via an Update button | "Under the Hood" in the Beats app | Follow the app's prompts |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds | The Galaxy Wearable app, under Earbuds settings, then Earbuds software update | The same menu in Galaxy Wearable | Samsung's update pop-up asks you to keep the case open |
| Sony earbuds and headphones | Sony's Sound Connect app | Inside the Sound Connect app | Follow the app's prompts |
Sources: Apple's two support pages linked above, and Samsung's own support pages on updating Galaxy Buds, all read on September 23, 2026.
The practical point: if you are used to Galaxy Buds and you open your AirPods case to help the update along, you are working against Apple's instruction to keep the lid closed. Going the other way, closing a Galaxy Buds case mid-update works against Samsung's. Samsung also routes its updates through an app, and its pages say the iPhone version of that app handles updates only for the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Live, a trade-off covered in what Galaxy Buds lose on a non-Samsung phone.
Sony sits in the app-driven camp as well: its current earbuds and headphones take software updates through Sound Connect rather than silently through the phone. If you are weighing Sony's current earbuds against the previous pair, what actually changed between the WF-1000XM6 and XM5 is the comparison to read before you buy.
What an Update Can and Can't Do for You
A firmware update is worth having, but it helps to be honest about its limits.
What it can do: deliver whatever fixes and features Apple ships for your model. That is why Apple asks you to update your iPhone, iPad or Mac first: the AirPods update arrives through that device.
What you don't control: the timing, and the contents. I found nothing on Apple's firmware page that lets you pick a version, skip one, or roll back to an older one. What you can do is make sure the conditions are met so your pair is not the one left behind.
What it can't do: fix a physical problem. Firmware is software. It will not restore a worn battery, repair a damaged bud or fix a case that doesn't charge. If your AirPods are on the latest version and something is still wrong, the update was not the issue, and running the 30-minute method again will not change that.
Where a reset fits: a reset is Apple's documented next step when an update won't install, not a cure-all to run first. Keep the order: conditions, wait, check, then reset only if the version is still behind.
FAQ
Do AirPods update automatically?
Yes. According to Apple, firmware updates install automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad or Mac that is connected to Wi-Fi. There is no switch to press. The manual method just sets up those conditions on purpose.
How long does an AirPods firmware update take?
Apple's instruction is to wait at least 30 minutes with the AirPods in the closed case, on power and within Bluetooth range of your device. For AirPods Max, the wait is the same, with the charging cable plugged into the bottom-right earphone.
Can I update AirPods firmware with an Android phone?
Apple's firmware page describes no Android route. Its documented fallback, if you don't have an Apple device nearby, is an appointment at an Apple Store or with an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Beats are different: Apple's Beats support page says Android users get updates through the Beats app.
Why won't my AirPods update?
Usually one condition is missing: the phone or computer is not on the latest software, not on Wi-Fi, out of Bluetooth range, or the case is not on power with the lid closed. Set all of them up, wait at least 30 minutes, and check again. If the version still hasn't changed, Apple says to reset your AirPods and try the update again.
Where do I find the latest AirPods firmware version?
On Apple's support page About firmware updates for AirPods, under the heading "Latest AirPods firmware versions," listed model by model. Check your own version first in Settings, Bluetooth, then the Info button next to your AirPods, and make sure you are comparing against the right model.