AirPods Pro May Help You Hear Conversations Better After Recent Firmware Update

The Apple-promised Conversation Boost feature that uses AirPods Pro to make it easier to hear people’s voices is now available (via Macrumors). Support for the new feature was included as part of the same update that made it easier to find AirPods Pro and AirPods Max using the Find My app.

Conversation Boost is included as a custom transparency mode in the housings of Apple’s headphones. When the feature is on, the beamforming microphones of the AirPods Pro attempt to isolate voices above any background noise and other conversations. You also have access to sliders to change the amplification, transparency and tone of what you hear.

You can enable the feature for yourself by doing the following:

• Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
• Tap Audio / Visual in the Audition section.
• Activate the Hosting headphones option.
• Tap Transparency mode and turn it on.
• Scroll down to Conversation Boost and turn it on.

Conversation Boost requires AirPods Pro running “4A400” firmware. Unfortunately, there’s still no manual way to force an update on your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, but you can check if you’re already running the new firmware in the Settings app:

• Tap General, then About.
• Find and tap the AirPods connected to your device.
• Check the firmware number next to the field labeled Firmware Version.

Conversation Boost is just the latest accessibility feature Apple has added to its devices in the past year. Earlier in May, the company revealed a slew of new updates, including the ability for the Apple Watch to accept muscle movement as a input method and support for third-party eye tracking devices on the iPad. .