Apple Releases Public Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Apple today provided public beta testers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers and public beta testers at the current time, and a device running ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, or macOS 26 is required to install the update.

airpods pro 2 green
The firmware adds several features that Apple is debuting alongside ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and ‌AirPods 4‌ support improved audio quality for phone calls and video calls, plus studio-quality audio recording for interviews, podcasts, and videos. There's also an option to use the AirPods as a camera remote with the Camera app to take photos or start a video recording.

With ‌iOS 26‌, ‌iPadOS 26‌, and macOS Tahoe, Apple added a firmware update installation option that's available from the AirPods settings interface when the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This is the first time that Apple has provided beta firmware to public beta testers.

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Top Rated Comments

austinmm6 Avatar
6 weeks ago
I have 8A308b for both Version and Case Version.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
austinmm6 Avatar
6 weeks ago
My Airpods Pro 2 (Lightning) still won't show the beta option on my phone. It shows on my mac, but it doesn't update the airpods no matter what method I try. I've been dealing with this since the first beta, and yes I have forgotten/reset the airpods and started over more than once. It doesn't help.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
6 weeks ago
Version number?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacMcNugget Avatar
6 weeks ago
It’s really great to see the update process for these things still includes a substantial amount of hopes and prayers - so much more preferable than a ****ing update button in settings :rolleyes:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Tisdale ? Avatar
6 weeks ago

Try the force mode, enable developer mode with U3tools and from the options enable beta firmwares for accessories
What are you on about? Why on earth would you need a dubious third party tool to enable developer mode?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jbachandouris Avatar
6 weeks ago
iOS 26 beta makes it 'easier' to activate beta mode on AirPods but there's still no way to push the update and basically you plug it in and wait for who knows how long.

Interesting that the new version number still has yet to be posted. 8a308b is my present version.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)