Apple recently released a new firmware update for its AirPods Max over-ear headphones that fixes the frustrating battery drain issue some folks have been complaining about.
Fixing a Problem Without Admitting It Exists
The firmware update was released on March 9, 2021.
Before its launch, disgruntled customers plagued with the excessive battery drain issue would take to Apple’s Discussion Forums, Reddit, and other places to document the problem. Some people reported seeing their AirPods Max battery draining from 100 percent to as low as 10 percent, or even zero percent, when left inside Apple’s smart case overnight.
Interestingly, Apple’s never acknowledged that the problem exists in the first place—perhaps that’s why there are no official release notes for the new AirPods Max update. Heck, even a support document on the Apple website about the AirPods Max battery and charging hadn’t been refreshed at post time to acknowledge the charging issues.
Fixing the Excessive Battery Drain
Labeled “3C39,” the new firmware reportedly forces the AirPods Max into an ultra-low power mode after just 30 minutes of being in their smart case. This mode turns off Bluetooth and Find My to maximizes battery life. Before the new software, the AirPods Max would enter the ultra-low power mode after 18 hours of being in the smart case.
Testing conducted by developer Guilherme Rambo confirms the update changes idle battery usage when the headphones are in the case. To prove his point, Rambo shared two charts on Twitter visualizing the battery drain every 30 minutes for intervals of two hours.
AirPods Max battery usage in the Smart Case before and after the latest firmware update. I think they’ve fixed it. pic.twitter.com/upFLBw85Oq
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) March 12, 2021
9to5Mac reports that the AirPods Max customers who previously complained about the battery drain are now reporting that the new update has resolved their problems. Other people report more reliable automatic device switching after updating their AirPods Max to the “3C39” firmware, a sign that the new firmware also includes bug fixes.
How to Apply the New AirPods Max Firmware
There isn’t a direct way to update the AirPods Max. To apply an update when there’s one, the headphones must be connected to a power source and paired with an iOS device.
Next, play some music or any type of audio on your iOS device for a few seconds. Doing so will connect the headphones to your iPhone or iPad, which will prompt the operating system to eventually download and install the update.
You can check the current version number of the software running on your AirPods Max by venturing into Settings > General > About > AirPods Max on your iOS device. If you don’t see your AirPods model listed there, be sure that the headphones are paired with your iOS device, turned on, and connected to it.