The Secret Signal: How to Tell When Your AirPods Are Updating

How to spot firmware updates, verify installation, and take control of your AirPods experience

Apple’s philosophy has always been about seamless magic. “It just works” isn’t just a marketing slogan; it’s a design ethos. Nowhere is this more apparent—or occasionally more frustrating—than with AirPods firmware updates. Unlike your iPhone or Mac, which explicitly tell you when an update is available and show you a progress bar as it installs, AirPods operate in a black box.

Apple expects you to simply live your life, assuming the headphones will update silently in the background. But for the power user, the tech enthusiast, or anyone waiting for a critical bug fix or a new feature like hearing health support, this lack of transparency can be maddening.

However, it turns out the “invisible” process isn’t entirely invisible. There is a subtle, hidden behavior within iOS that acts as a secret signal, letting you know exactly when that data transfer is happening. Here is how to peek behind the curtain and catch your AirPods in the act of updating.

The “Black Box” Problem

If you have ever …