How to Update AirPods Max Firmware (2024)

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By Andrew Myrick 4 comments Last updated March 11, 2021

While the AirPods Max are certainly unique in that they are the only high-end headphones offered by Apple, they aren’t without some issues. Since the release, the owners have been suffering from battery draining issues, along with other sound quality problems.

How to Update AirPods Max

As is the case with the standard AirPods and AirPods Pro, there’s no “update software” button to force the update. Instead, you kind of have to play some gymnastics in order to update the AirPods Max. Our friends over at AirBuddy shared how they were able to get the AirPods Max to update properly. Here are those steps:

Connect your AirPods Max to your iPhone.
Listen to some type of audio for at least 30 seconds.
Pause the audio playback.
Put your AirPods Max into the Smart Case.
Plug your AirPods Max into power.
Leave both the iPhone and AirPods Max nearby.
Wait.

To be on the safe side, we would recommend waiting a few minutes before taking the AirPods Max off of the charger. You don’t want to worry about the firmware update starting, only to accidentally interrupt it mid-update. Patience is key, so you’ll want to just hold tight to wait and see if the update was applied.

How to check the AirPods Max software version

An easy way to determine whether an update has been applied to the AirPods Max is to check the Version number. This isn’t the model number or anything of your specific headphones, but is the firmware version.

At launch, the AirPods Max featured a firmware version number of ‘3C16‘. But the new version rolling out updates that number to‘3C39‘. Here’s how you can check to see if the software on your AirPods Max has been updated.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select Bluetooth.
Locate your AirPods Max in the list of devices.
Tap the “i” icon to the right of your AirPods Max on the list.
The build will be listed underVersion.

Did you buy the AirPods Max?

Luxury headphones aren’t for everyone, even when it comes to Apple and the easy integration between devices. These headphones are priced at $550, and you are just now able to purchase the replaceable earcups, but that will set you back even more.

It seems that the general consensus is that the AirPods Max are almost perfect, save for these battery issues, and a questionably-designed Smart Case. But did you pick up a set for yourself? Or are you holding out for an updated version of the standard AirPods? Let us know in the comments below!

Andrew Myrick

Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.

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Tom Diola says
March 15, 2022 at 12:01 PM

Hi,
I’ve had the ipod Max headphones when they first came out. Coming from a company that rhymes with “Gurtle Reach” I instantaneously bought a pair. What I noticed technically was that there was a processor in each earcup. To me this was genius because it might mean less wiring? Working on headphones I’ve learned how to reset the processors in each ear – if you hold bot button on the top and listen closely you will in the right ear a low rumbling (that resets the right earcup) then keep holding you will hear a clicking noise (that resets the left earcup) Look for the LED to blink orange 3 times. This then puts it into pairing mode for sure (Good if you want to pair to a TV that the pairing has been turned off).
Next I found genius was there was no on off switch! Why put a switch that will just fail?
Ear cups have a fabric that won’t flake off after years of use.
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Grandpa In Tampa says
November 30, 2021 at 2:31 PM

I bought the AirPods Max. I love the headphones. I watch a lot of Netflix and Prime movies on my apple tv 4k and I can say the spatial surround effect is great. The noise cancelling is as good or better than anything else I’ve heard (I’ve had a lot of different headphones: Koss pro-4a, Motorola, Senheiser, Air pod Pros, Bose 700’s and the airpod Max) .
However, I too am experiencing a low level hissing/rumble, mostly in the left ear when the sound is quiet.
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Alfred says
May 24, 2021 at 11:37 AM

Thank you for your instructions. Unfortunately it didn’t work with my AirPods. But I found another way, quite similar but maybe more rigid.
1. Put the AirPods Max into the Smart Case.
2. Plug the AirPods Max into power.
3. Connect the AirPods Max to the iPhone via BT settings (AirPods usually disconnect when put into the case)
4. Listen to some type of audio for at least 30 seconds. But you have to force to play on the AirPods.
5. Pause the audio playback
6. Wait and leave the iPhone nearby.
Maybe the procedure described above didn’t work for me beacause there were many other BT enabled iOS and MacOS devices nearby.
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- jonathan says
  June 28, 2023 at 1:06 PM
  
  I don’t see how to do this, when the airpods max are in the case, they simply will not connect to the phone.
  Reply