AirPods Beta Firmware: Install Guide

Installing beta firmware on your AirPods lets you try new features and improvements before they reach the public release. Unlike iPhone or Mac betas, there’s no manual install button — Apple pushes beta firmware to your AirPods automatically when they’re connected to a compatible iPhone. This guide walks you through the prerequisites, the exact steps to trigger the update, and what to do if it doesn’t appear.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with iOS 17 or later (or iPadOS 17+ on iPad) — this is required to receive beta firmware.
An Apple Developer account (free or paid) to download the beta configuration profile. The free tier works for this purpose.
AirPods Pro (2nd generation) or later models that support beta firmware. Older AirPods don’t qualify.
A USB-C or Lightning cable to keep your iPhone charged during the process.
Stable Wi-Fi and a power source — the update can take 30–60 minutes.

Step-by-Step

Back up your iPhone. Before installing any beta, make a full backup to iCloud or your computer. This protects your data if something goes wrong.
Join the Apple Developer Program. Go to developer.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and accept the license agreement. You don’t need to pay unless you plan to distribute apps — the free tier is enough for firmware betas.
Download the beta configuration profile. On your iPhone, open Safari and visit developer.apple.com/beta-software/airpods. Tap “Download” next to the AirPods beta profile. A prompt will ask if you want to allow the profile — tap “Allow.”
Install the profile. Open the Settings app. You’ll see a banner at the top saying “Profile Downloaded.” Tap it, then tap “Install” in the top-right corner. Enter your passcode if prompted, then tap “Install” again to confirm.
Restart your iPhone. This ensures the profile is fully active. Hold the side button and either volume button until the power slider appears, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, then power back on.
Connect your AirPods. Put your AirPods in their case, open the lid, and hold them near your iPhone. Tap “Connect” when the animation appears. Make sure they’re paired and showing in the Bluetooth settings.
Keep your iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi. The update only downloads when your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. Plug in your iPhone and leave it near your AirPods.
Wait for the update to push. Apple’s servers push the beta firmware to your AirPods automatically, usually within 30–60 minutes. You don’t need to do anything else — just leave the AirPods in their case with the lid open, near your iPhone.
Check the firmware version. After at least 30 minutes, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the “i” next to your AirPods, and look at “Firmware Version.” The beta version will be higher than the current public release (e.g., 6.1.1 beta instead of 6.0.1). If it hasn’t updated yet, wait another 30 minutes and check again.

Common Mistakes

Not installing the profile on the correct device. The profile must be on the iPhone that your AirPods are paired to. Installing it on another device won’t help.
Forgetting to restart after installing the profile. Without a restart, the profile may not activate, and the update won’t trigger.
Leaving AirPods out of the case. The update only happens when AirPods are in their charging case with the lid open, and the case is near the iPhone.
Using an unsupported model. Only AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and later support beta firmware. Older models will never receive it.
Expecting a manual update button. There is no “Update” button in Settings. The process is entirely automatic — you just wait.

Tips

Do this overnight. Plug in your iPhone, put the AirPods case next to it, and check the firmware in the morning.
Keep your iPhone’s screen on for the first 10 minutes after connecting the AirPods. Some users report that this speeds up the detection.
If you have multiple AirPods, pair only the ones you want to update. The profile applies to all paired AirPods on that iPhone, but each pair updates separately.
Use a Wi‑Fi network without a captive portal (like a hotel login page). The update server needs direct access.
After the beta is installed, you can remove the profile if you want to stop receiving future beta updates. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap the profile, and choose “Remove Profile.”

Troubleshooting

Firmware version hasn’t changed after an hour. First, confirm the profile is installed: Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > “AirPods Beta Profile.” If it’s there, restart your iPhone again, then reconnect your AirPods by forgetting them in Bluetooth and pairing fresh. Keep the case lid open and plugged in.

Profile won’t download. Make sure you’re using Safari, not Chrome or another browser. Also verify you’re signed in to developer.apple.com with the same Apple ID you used to accept the beta agreement. If the page doesn’t load, try a different Wi‑Fi network.

AirPods not showing in Bluetooth settings. Put them back in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds, then reopen. Hold the button on the back of the case until the LED flashes white, then pair again.

Update seems stuck at the same version. Check that your iPhone’s own iOS is up to date (Settings > General > Software Update). A mismatched iOS version can prevent the push. Also make sure your AirPods have at least 50% battery — low battery can pause the update.

Beta firmware causes issues (e.g., connectivity problems). You can revert to public firmware by removing the beta profile (Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > Remove Profile), then restarting your iPhone. The next time your AirPods charge near the iPhone, they’ll automatically revert to the latest public firmware. This may take a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid Apple Developer account? No. The free tier allows you to download the beta profile for AirPods firmware. You only need a paid account if you plan to submit apps to the App Store.

How long does the beta firmware take to install? Typically 30–60 minutes from when you connect your AirPods to the iPhone. It can be faster or slower depending on network speed and battery levels.

Will the beta firmware void my warranty? No. Apple supports beta firmware for developers, and your hardware warranty remains intact. However, if you experience issues, Apple Support may ask you to revert to public firmware before troubleshooting.

Can I install beta firmware on AirPods 3 or AirPods Max? No. Only AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and later are eligible. Apple has not extended beta support to other models.

Do I need to reinstall the profile after every iOS update? No. The profile stays installed until you remove it. After a major iOS update (e.g., iOS 18 to 19), you may need to re-download it if Apple changes the beta program.

What if I don’t want the beta anymore? Remove the profile as described in Troubleshooting. Your AirPods will automatically update back to the public firmware the next time they charge near your iPhone.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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