Can you get iOS 27’s new AirPods controls running tonight without hunting for a nonexistent update button?
Yes — if your iPhone is already on the latest iOS 27 beta and your AirPods model supports the new features. The trick is knowing where Apple hid the beta firmware switch, then letting the update install in the background. 9to5Mac walks through the process in its hands-on video and guide, according to 9to5Mac .
The payoff: custom EQ, AirPods Pro 3 heart-rate sync with compatible gym equipment, and Precision Finding support that can help locate AirPods from iPhone or Apple Watch. The catch is classic Apple firmware behavior: there is no big “Install now” button.
“There is no dedicated update button.”
Can your AirPods actually use the new iOS 27 features?
Start here before touching beta settings. Not every pair gets the same upgrade.
9to5Mac lists these supported models for the beta firmware:
| AirPods model | Gets beta firmware | Gets the new features covered here |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 3 | Yes | Yes, including heart-rate sync |
| AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C | Yes | Yes, where hardware supports it |
| AirPods Max 2 | Yes | Yes, where hardware supports it |
| AirPods 4 with and without ANC | Yes | Yes, where hardware supports it |
| Other AirPods | Technically yes | No, because the features require H2-equipped AirPods |
The hard limit is the chip. 9to5Mac says other AirPods may receive the same firmware update, but only H2-equipped AirPods get the features discussed in the hands-on.
Step 1: confirm your gear.
- iPhone: It must already be running the latest iOS 27 beta software.
- AirPods: Use one of the supported models above if you want the new features.
- Power: Have both your iPhone and AirPods charging before the firmware update window.
- Patience: The update may take hours and can install silently.
MLXIO analysis: the strongest reason to wait, if you are cautious, is not a specific reported bug. It is the update model itself. AirPods firmware is background-driven, and the source does not describe a manual rollback path. If your AirPods are essential for work calls every day, weigh that before joining the beta track.
For broader context on Apple’s cleaner AirPods menu in this release, see our related guide to how iOS 27 fixes the AirPods settings mess users hate most.
How do you get the AirPods beta firmware after iOS 27 is installed?
The AirPods update begins only after the iPhone side is ready.
9to5Mac’s hands-on does not walk through iPhone beta enrollment. It starts from this requirement: your device must be running the latest iOS 27 beta software. Once that is true, the AirPods beta setting appears inside the AirPods settings page.
Step 2: enable AirPods beta updates.
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone.
- Open Settings.
- Tap your AirPods settings near the top of the screen.
- Scroll to the bottom.
- Select AirPods Beta Updates.
- Enable beta updates.
- Put your AirPods and iPhone on chargers.
- Leave them there while the firmware installs automatically.
This is the part many users will overthink. Don’t.
9to5Mac’s recommendation is practical: let it run overnight instead of repeatedly checking. In the source hands-on, the AirPods Pro 3 were placed on a Nomad Stand One, and the update was ready by morning.
Watch out for: if you expect an iOS-style update button, you will waste time. AirPods firmware does not work that way in this flow.
Where is Apple hiding the new custom EQ?
The headline feature is Custom EQ. For years, AirPods users had Apple’s tuning and Adaptive EQ, but not a native manual equalizer for AirPods.
With iOS 27, Apple finally gives users control over low, mid, and high frequencies.
Step 3: set your custom AirPods EQ.
- Open Settings.
- Tap your AirPods settings.
- Select Audio and Routing.
- Tap Equalizer.
- Tap Custom.
- Adjust Low, Mid, and High frequencies.
This is not a studio-grade EQ panel. 9to5Mac calls out the same limitation: it is not the most granular EQ customizer. Still, it gives AirPods users something they have not had before at the system level.
Use it deliberately:
- Low: Raise it if you want more bass weight.
- Mid: Adjust it if vocals, podcasts, or calls need more presence.
- High: Move it if you want more brightness or sharper detail.
Watch out for: iOS 27 currently appears to allow one custom EQ setting. 9to5Mac says multiple saved EQs are not available right now. That matters if you want one profile for workouts, another for calls, and another for movies.
MLXIO analysis: this is the most broadly useful iOS 27 AirPods change because it affects the core reason people wear AirPods all day — audio preference. Heart-rate sync and Precision Finding are situational. EQ touches every listening session.
How do AirPods Pro 3 sync heart rate to gym equipment?
If you own AirPods Pro 3, iOS 27 adds a workout feature that previously depended on Apple Watch in the setup described by 9to5Mac.
Some commercial gym machines support GymKit, Apple’s system for connecting Apple devices to compatible fitness equipment. In this iOS 27 flow, AirPods Pro 3 can provide heart-rate data because they include built-in heart-rate sensors.
Step 4: sync AirPods Pro 3 heart rate at the gym.
- Put on your AirPods Pro 3.
- Make sure the gym machine is GymKit enabled.
- Tap your iPhone to the equipment.
- Let the machine receive heart-rate data gathered by your AirPods Pro 3.
This feature is exclusive to AirPods Pro 3 in the source because they are the only AirPods listed with the required built-in heart-rate sensor.
Watch out for: the gym equipment has to support GymKit. If the machine does not have the compatible tap-to-sync setup, this feature has nowhere to connect.
For readers considering the hardware jump, 9to5Mac also noted AirPods Pro 3 at $179, or $70 off Apple’s retail price, at the time of its post. We covered that deal context in AirPods Pro 3 hit $179 as Apple deals slash MacBooks.
How do you use Precision Finding to locate AirPods?
Precision Finding is the other practical upgrade. It helps guide you toward nearby AirPods through Find My.
9to5Mac says the feature becomes even better when paired with watchOS 27, because you can use Precision Finding from Apple Watch to locate AirPods Pro.
Step 5: find your AirPods with Precision Finding.
- Open the Find My app on iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Select your AirPods.
- Tap Find Nearby.
- Follow Precision Finding guidance to locate them.
This is the feature to test before you need it. Place your AirPods somewhere obvious, run Find Nearby, and learn how the guidance behaves. Do not wait until you are late for a flight or standing outside a gym locker.
Watch out for: 9to5Mac says Precision Finding is currently exclusive to Apple products, while expressing hope that third-party accessories could support it later.
How should you test the new AirPods setup before trusting it daily?
Do not stop after the firmware installs. Test the features the way you actually use AirPods.
Step 6: run a real-use checklist.
- Music: Play a familiar track, adjust Custom EQ, then switch back to compare.
- Calls: Make a short phone call and check whether your EQ choice hurts clarity.
- Workouts: If you have AirPods Pro 3 and GymKit equipment, test the heart-rate sync.
- Noise controls: Try your usual Transparency or noise-control mode after the update.
- Find My: Use Precision Finding while your AirPods are nearby.
- Live Translation: If this is already part of your AirPods workflow, confirm the redesigned settings still make it easy to access.
Keep the first test simple. Change one setting at a time. If you adjust bass, mids, highs, gestures, and routing all at once, you will not know which change helped or hurt.
MLXIO analysis: the new AirPods settings structure matters almost as much as the features. Apple has packed AirPods with more controls over time, and iOS 27’s cleaner menu makes those controls easier to reach. That reduces friction. It also makes users more likely to experiment with settings they previously ignored.
Which iOS 27 AirPods upgrade should you try first?
Start with Custom EQ.
It works across the core AirPods experience and does not require a GymKit treadmill or a lost earbud. Use one familiar song, one podcast, and one call. Set Low, Mid, and High conservatively. Then live with the profile for a day.
After that:
- Enable AirPods Beta Updates only after your iPhone is on iOS 27 beta.
- Charge both devices and let the firmware install in the background.
- Check Custom EQ under Audio and Routing.
- Test GymKit heart-rate sync if you own AirPods Pro 3.
- Practice Precision Finding before you actually lose your AirPods.
The next thing to watch is whether Apple expands the rough edges 9to5Mac flagged: multiple saved EQ profiles, broader Precision Finding support, and how the new SiriAI experience develops alongside AirPods. For now, iOS 27 gives AirPods users something more useful than a flashy demo: control over how their earbuds sound every day.
Key Takeaways
- iOS 27 adds useful AirPods upgrades like custom EQ, Precision Finding, and heart-rate sync on supported models.
- Users need the latest iOS 27 beta and compatible H2-equipped AirPods to access the new features.
- Apple’s AirPods firmware process remains automatic, so there is no manual install button for the update.
