Apple has released firmware 8A356 for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, bringing several new features that launched alongside iOS 26. The update replaces the previous 7E93 firmware and adds useful enhancements across audio, convenience, and translation.
Among the headline features are Live Translation, available on models with Active Noise Cancellation, which lets users have in-person conversations translated in real time between English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Also improved is audio capture: the mics now deliver studio-quality recording, useful for podcasts, interviews, or video content. Call quality has been bumped up too, with clearer speech and better background noise handling.
Other additions include a Camera Remote function, which lets you use the stem of the AirPods to take photos or begin video recording on a paired device. If you tend to nod off listening to podcasts or music, there’s a new “Pause When Falling Asleep” mode that stops playback automatically. Apple has also added Charging Reminders so your case notifies you when its battery is either low or fully charged. Finally, there’s a tweak for CarPlay: a toggle to keep audio playing through your AirPods instead of accidentally switching to your car’s speaker system.
To get the 8A356 firmware, make sure your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4 are paired with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running the latest OS. Then place them in their charging case, connect the case to power, keep it closed for about thirty minutes, and ensure Bluetooth is active. After the update, open the case and reconnect to check that everything functions as expected.
