Apple delays Find My network support for AirPods until ‘later this fall’

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Locating AirPods with Find My
It's not the only iOS 15 feature we'll have to wait longer for.
Photo: Apple

It seems Find My network support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max won’t roll out with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as originally planned. Apple says the feature, which can make lost headphones easier to find, will be available “later this fall.”

Once the Find My network is enabled for the high-end headphones, another iPhone, iPad or Mac owner in the vicinity of the lost item can can passively update your gear’s general location. The Find My network functionality makes the feature far my powerful by tapping the millions of Apple devices in use around the world.

Find My network functionality for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max joins SharePlay, Wallet app upgrades and other new additions that won’t arrive on Monday’s launch day for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Apple has made a habit of delaying new software features in recent years, but it appears that many improvements made to iOS and iPadOS 15 this year are proving particularly difficult to deliver on time.

A number of key features will be missing when the software updates roll out to iPhone and iPad users this fall, including SharePlay, Legacy Contacts and the ability to add driver’s licenses and state IDs to the Wallet app.

It now seems as though Find My network support for AirPods will join the list of things we’ll have to wait longer for.

‘Coming later this fall’

Apple recently updated its iOS 15 features page to add an asterisk next to Find My network support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. At the bottom of the page, the company states this particular upgrade is “coming later this fall.”

Those who ordered an iPhone 13 Pro will also have to wait for its new ProRes video recording feature. That’s also expected to come in a software update later this year and won’t be available at launch.

Apple hasn’t provided specific release dates for any of these features just yet. However, it seems Cupertino does plan to deliver them before the end of the year. Perhaps we’ll hear more during a probable Mac event in October.

Correction: We updated this post to indicate Find My network support is delayed and explain the service’s functionality.

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