You opened Settings to check your AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, expecting a fresh firmware version, and instead the number never changed, or the update started and then quietly stalled. It is a frustrating spot, because there is no progress bar to watch and no button to retry. The good news is that AirPods 4 firmware updates almost always go through once you set up the right conditions and give the process enough time. Work through the fixes below in order, starting with the safest, and save the reset and store-visit steps for the end.
One thing worth knowing first, your AirPods 4 with ANC have no separate app to download and no removable ear tips. Everything is managed from the iPhone, iPad, or Mac they are paired to, and the firmware arrives through that connected device rather than through anything you tap on the earbuds themselves.
Update the Apple device the firmware travels through
Firmware does not download directly to your AirPods; it reaches them through the iPhone, iPad, or Mac they connect to. So before anything else, update that device. Apple's guidance is to make sure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, and that Bluetooth is on.
After the device is current, connect it to Wi-Fi. Apple lists the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS as what your connected device should be running, and a Wi-Fi connection is part of how the firmware reaches your AirPods. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons a firmware update never appears.
Let the automatic update do its job
AirPods firmware updates are not something you trigger manually in the normal flow. Apple delivers them in the background, stating that firmware updates are delivered automatically while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is connected to Wi-Fi.
To create those conditions, put both earbuds in the charging case, connect the case to power, and close the lid. Keep the closed case near the connected Apple device for a while. In many cases the version simply updates on its own once the case is powered and within range, so give it some uninterrupted time before assuming it has failed.
Force the conditions with the manual update routine
If the firmware still has not changed, you can deliberately recreate the exact environment the update needs and wait it out. Follow this sequence carefully.
- 1.Confirm your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is on the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS and that Bluetooth is on.
- 2.Make sure your AirPods are connected via Bluetooth.
- 3.Connect the device to Wi-Fi.
- 4.Connect your charging case to power.
- 5.Put your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid. Keep the lid of the charging case closed, and keep your AirPods in Bluetooth range.
- 6.Wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update.
- 7.Open the lid of the charging case to reconnect your AirPods, then check the firmware version again.
The 30-minute wait is genuinely required, so resist opening the lid early to peek. Interrupting the window is one of the easiest ways to break an update that was otherwise about to complete.
Confirm the version so you know whether it really updated
Because there is no completion notification, the only reliable way to know the update landed is to read the firmware number yourself. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the name of your AirPods, then scroll down to the About section to find the firmware version.
On a Mac, go to the Apple menu, open System Settings, click Bluetooth, then click the Info button next to the name of your AirPods. At the time of this research, the current AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation firmware version listed by Apple is 8B39. If the number you see matches the latest version, the update succeeded and you are done.
Restart the case when the connection keeps dropping
A firmware update needs a stable Bluetooth link to finish, and a connection that keeps dropping will stall it midway. If your AirPods will not stay connected during the update, restarting the case re-establishes that link.
Put both AirPods in the case and make sure they are charging, and confirm Bluetooth is on. Then restart the case by closing the lid, waiting 15 seconds, and opening the lid again. Once the AirPods reconnect cleanly, return to the manual update routine above and let it run uninterrupted.
Reset the AirPods and try the update again
When the update still refuses to complete, Apple points directly to a reset. Resetting returns the AirPods to their out-of-box state and removes them from your devices, so you will set them up again afterward as if they were new. AirPods 4 (all models) use a double-tap method on the case, not the press-and-hold setup button used by AirPods Pro, so follow the steps below exactly.
- 1.Put your AirPods in their charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
- 2.Open the lid of your charging case.
- 3.Double-tap the front of the case while the status light is on.
- 4.Double-tap again when the status light flashes white.
- 5.Double-tap a third time when the status light flashes faster.
- 6.When the status light flashes amber, then flashes white, follow the steps on your device's screen to reconnect your AirPods.
After the AirPods reconnect, run the manual update procedure once more and give it the full waiting window. A reset clears the state that was blocking the update for many people, so this is often where a stubborn case finally goes through.
Forget the AirPods, re-pair, and re-attempt
If the device still will not push the firmware after a reset, remove the AirPods from the device entirely and add them back. This clears the pairing record that may be interfering. Forgetting the AirPods removes them from the paired device, so you will need to set them up again, and if they are signed in to your Apple Account they are removed from your other devices too.
On an iPhone or iPad paired with your AirPods, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to your AirPods, and tap Forget This Device. Then reset the AirPods using the double-tap sequence from the previous step, reconnect by following the on-screen setup, and let the firmware update run again under the same Wi-Fi-and-power conditions.
Update at an Apple Store or contact Apple Support
If you do not have a compatible Apple device, or the update simply will not complete no matter what you try, there is an official in-person path. Apple's guidance is that if you do not have an Apple device nearby, you can set up an appointment at an Apple Store or with an Apple Authorized Service Provider to update your firmware.
There is also a service angle to watch for. If Active Noise Cancellation is not working after you have reset the AirPods, Apple notes that you might need service, in which case contacting Apple Support is the right next move. Reach out through Apple Support to arrange an appointment or to start a service request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check which firmware my AirPods 4 with ANC are on?
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the name of your AirPods, then scroll down to the About section to find the firmware version. On a Mac, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click Bluetooth, and click the Info button next to your AirPods. The current version listed by Apple at research time is 8B39.
How long should I wait for the firmware to update?
When you run the manual update routine with the case connected to power, the lid closed, and the AirPods in Bluetooth range of your Wi-Fi-connected device, you should wait at least 30 minutes for the firmware to update before opening the lid to reconnect and check the version again.
Why is there no AirPods app to manage the update?
AirPods 4 with ANC have no separate companion app. They are managed directly from the paired iPhone or iPad through Settings, or on a Mac through System Settings, and firmware installs automatically through the connected Apple device, so there is nothing standalone to download.
Do I reset AirPods 4 by holding the button on the back of the case?
No. AirPods 4 (all models) use a double-tap-the-front-of-the-case method tied to the status light states, not the press-and-hold of a setup button. The 15-second hold of the setup button on the back is the method for AirPods Pro 1 and 2, not for AirPods 4.
What if Active Noise Cancellation still does not work after a reset?
If ANC is not working after you reset your AirPods, Apple's guidance is that you might need service. Contact Apple Support to arrange an appointment or service request rather than continuing to retry the update on your own.
