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Apple just released new AirPods Pro 3 firmware and more

Avatar for Ryan Christoffel  | Nov 13 2025 - 11:32 am PT
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AirPods users, Apple has just released brand new firmware for multiple models including AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2. Here are the details.

New AirPods firmware arrives as iOS 26.2 prepares for launch

Last month Apple released new AirPods firmware ahead of iOS 26.1’s release, and now the latest firmware has arrived while iOS 26.2 is actively in development.

Apple has new firmware available for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4.

Here are the build numbers:

  • AirPods Pro 3: 8B25
  • AirPods Pro 2: 8B21
  • AirPods 4: 8B21

The last public firmware release was the same 8A358 build across these three models, while today’s differ slightly.

iOS 26.2 is currently available in beta, with a public launch coming next month. The update brings AirPods Live Translation to the EU for the first time, but no other AirPods-specific changes are currently known.

Apple doesn’t offer a way to manually install firmware updates, instead relying on a system where updates happen in the background after several conditions are met. Per Apple’s instructions:

  1. Make sure that your AirPods are in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi.
  2. Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.
  3. Plug the charging cable into your charging case, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB charger or port.
  4. Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
  5. Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  6. Check the firmware version again.

At some point Apple will update its firmware info page with details on today’s new releases. For now though, it’s likely that the release notes will be the typical “Bug fixes and other improvements.”

Have you installed the new AirPods firmware, and if so, are there any differences you’ve noticed? Let us know in the comments.

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Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.