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How to update Google Pixel Buds Pro firmware

Phil Nickinson
By

One of the coolest things about the Pixel Buds Pro (and most newish earbuds in general) is that they actually have the ability to get better over time thanks to firmware updates. (Think of "firmware" as the software that runs on hardware. Get it?) That allows manufacturers not just to fix bugs that inevitably creep in, but to also continue to fine-tune things throughout a product's lifetime.

And that's true for the Google Pixel Buds Pro, which already have found a home on our list of the best wireless earbuds you can buy.

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Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Pixel Buds Pro

  • An Android device of some type

  • Pixel Buds app

And updating the firmware on your Pixel Buds Pro is a pretty simple endeavor — aside from one major caveat.

First, that caveat: To date, if you want to be able to update the firmware on your Pixel Buds Pro, you'll need to have access to an Android device, and along with it, the Pixel Buds app. Currently, there's no such app available for iOS, even though the Pixel Buds Pro work great with Apple devices. But as we noted in our Pixel Buds Pro review, you'll need an Android device to be able to access some of the settings — and that includes the ability to update firmware.

Don't have an Android phone or tablet? You won't be updating anything.

But there's a pretty good chance if you're reading this that you already have an Android device of some type. So let's continue.

Google Pixel Buds Pro firmware update.
Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

Get the Pixel Buds app

If for some reason you have yet to download the Pixel Buds app, you're going to need it not just to update the firmware, but also to play around with other Pixel Buds settings. So let's take care of that.

Step 1: Go to the Pixel Buds app on the Google Play Store.

Step 2: Install it.

Related
Screenshots of the Pixel Buds app settings.
Screenshots

Check for a firmware update

Now that you've got the Pixel Buds app, it's time to use it. Note that you can get to all this either directly from the Pixel Buds app itself or through the Bluetooth settings for the Pixel Buds in your main settings menu.

Step 1: Remove your Pixel Buds Pro from their case, but keep them nearby.

Step 2: Open the Pixel Buds app on your phone.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap More settings.

Step 4: Tap on Firmware update.

Step 5: If there's a firmware update available, it'll say so. Tap it to install.

Step 6: Sit back and let your phone do its thing — just follow the on-screen instructions.

And that's that. All in all, it's a quick and easy process, whether you're updating your Pixel Buds Pro or the case. (Yes, the case can take a firmware update, too.) Just follow the on-screen instructions and keep your buds nearby, and everything should be just fine.

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Topics
Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson
Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
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