There’s a firmware update for Apple’s new MagSafe charger (but not the old one)

While we’re still waiting for iOS 18.4 to arrive with new emoji and Visual Intelligence for the Action button, Apple issued a slightly smaller update this week that most people won’t notice.: the 25W MagSafe charger.

The firmware update, 2A146, brings the version 136 from 133. The update only applies to the newer charger that provides faster wireless charging up to 25W when using a 30W power adapter. This is the second MagSafe charger update issued this year that didn’t include the older 15W charger, so it appears that Apple will no longer support that charger with new firmware.

As with most firmware updates, Apple isn’t divulging what it does. In an alternate universe, Apple might have issued a MagSafe update to support the new iPhone 16e, but Apple instead decided that the phone wouldn’t ship with MagSafe support. At any rate, we don’t know what the firmware does and likely never will.

Apple’s latest 25W MagSafe charger arrived alongside the iPhone 16 in September. It is compatible with all iPhones that support MagSafe, but iPhone 12 to 15 models will only get 15W charging.

To update your charger, plug it in and attach it to your iPhone. The update should arrive within a half hour. To check your firmware version, go to the Settings app, then tap General > About and select the Apple MagSafe Charger option. 

Wondering what MagSafe is all about? Learn more in our guide to MagSafe. Also, check out our best picks for MagSafe wireless chargers for iPhone and our best MagSafe portable battery packs for iPhone.