User level: Level 1 (4 points)Please make AirPods 5 have normal compatibility with iOS 18. Find My doesn’t work, the name shows as ACCESSORY_MODEL_NAME_48, and I don’t think seamless device switching works. I get that some features won’t work, but this stuff is basic. I don’t want battery drain with a newer iOS.
Posted on Oct 24, 2026 11:51 AM
Oct 24, 2026 11:59 AM in response to iamjonj
Hello iamjoni,
It sounds like you are trying to give feedback to Apple? This is a user to user forum, which means Apple doesn’t read or reply to any of these posts. You would be better off giving feedback to Apple here.
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)Oct 24, 2026 12:54 PM in response to iamjonj
That older iOS versions don’t necessarily identify newer devices isn’t new:
AirPods Pro Gen2 say ACCESSORY_MODEL_NAME… - Apple Community
If you choose to use older iOS versions, Apple states: “AirPods can be used as wireless Bluetooth headphones with Apple devices using earlier software and with non‑Apple devices, but functionality may be limited.“
I wouldn’t expect AirPods 5 (cosmetic) updates or substantial fixes for iOS 18 either. Not past security-related updates.
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 24, 2026 12:40 PM in response to Community User
Thanks for the reply and the link. I guess if I did have a question to go with it, I’d want to know if Apple has ever released patches like this in the past for new hardware on older iOS versions.
User level: Level 7 (28,946 points)Oct 24, 2026 12:42 PM in response to iamjonj
Why do you think everybody is having the same experience as you?
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Oct 24, 2026 1:44 PM in response to lkrupp
From browsing the internet…
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256382240