How Long Will Apple Provide Software Support For Your AirPods?

If you're in Apple's ecosystem, there's a good chance you also have a set of AirPods. The wireless Bluetooth headphones connect seamlessly to the iPhone and other Apple devices, and they also have useful features you might not know about. Like other products, though, 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 discontinued. The original AirPods got their final firmware update in September 2019, just shy of three years after their launch and around six months after Apple released their successor. The AirPods 2 and 3 received their final updates in October 2024, just a month after the release of the AirPods 4.

Of the discontinued models, the AirPods 2 was the one Apple supported the longest at around five-and-a-half years — but that's likely an exception since the other two models lost support at right around three years. With that in mind, the AirPods 4's final update might be coming soon, following the announcement of the AirPods 5 in September 2026.

Fortunately for everyone who doesn't want to upgrade their AirPods right now, you can continue using your headphones normally even after Apple stops releasing new firmware updates. You won't get any new features, but they're generally less significant or important than those for iPhones and iPads. The exception, of course, would be if some kind of major security issue is found. This happened back in June 2024 when Apple patched out an authentication issue that allowed hackers to gain access to your device.

With AirPods, software updates matter less than the condition of the headphones themselves. AirPods usually last around two to three years of regular use, with the main issue being battery degradation. Over time, battery life decreases, and while that's true of all electronics, AirPods are especially prone to wearing out since they have three batteries: one in each earbud and another in the case. Extended daily use is likely to shorten their lifespan even faster.

That means, if you buy the latest AirPods when they launch and use them constantly, it might be time to replace them when the next model drops. Those who wait until later shouldn't worry, though, as even AirPods that no longer receive software updates from Apple are still fully usable so long as the device itself can hold a charge.