If you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, chances are you also have a set of AirPods. Wireless Bluetooth headphones connect seamlessly to iPhone and other Apple devices, and they also have useful features you might not know about. However, like other products, Apple eventually stops providing new software updates for older AirPod models.
Based on previous generations, we expect Apple to support current and future AirPods for around three years or more. So far, three generations have been interrupted. The original AirPods received their last firmware update in September 2019, just under three years after their launch and around six months after Apple released its successor. AirPods 2 and 3 received their final updates in October 2024, just one month after the release of AirPods 4.
Of the discontinued models, the AirPods 2 were the ones that Apple supported the longest at around five and a half years, but this was likely an exception since the other two models lost support after around three years. With this in mind, the final AirPods 4 update could be coming soon, following the announcement of AirPods 5 in September 2026.
Can you use your AirPods after software support ends?
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Luckily for anyone who doesn’t want to upgrade their AirPods right now, you can continue to use your earbuds normally even after Apple stops releasing new firmware updates. You won’t get any new features, but they’re generally less significant or less important than those on the iPhone and iPad. The exception, of course, would be the discovery of a major security issue. This happened in June 2024, when Apple fixed an authentication issue that allowed hackers to access your device.
With AirPods, software updates matter less than the condition of the earbuds themselves. AirPods typically last around two to three years of regular use, with the main problem being battery degradation. Over time, battery life decreases, and while this is true for all electronic devices, AirPods are particularly prone to wear and tear because they have three batteries: one in each earbud and another in the case. Prolonged daily use is likely to reduce their lifespan even more quickly.
This means that if you bought the latest AirPods when they launched and use them constantly, it might be time to replace them when the next model comes out. Those who wait until later shouldn’t worry, as even AirPods that no longer receive software updates from Apple are still fully usable as long as the device itself can hold the charge.
