Moto Buds app on iOS brings ANC and Hi-Res controls

The Moto Buds app on iOS is now available in the Apple App Store, giving iPhone and iPad users access to noise cancellation, transparency mode, call settings, voice assistant support, and Hi-Res audio controls. Existing Moto Buds owners still need to update their earbuds on an Android phone first before the iOS app works properly.

Moto Buds firmware update still needs an Android phone first

Motorola has brought the Moto Buds app to iOS, but current owners cannot skip the setup step entirely. Existing earbuds must first be updated to the latest firmware on an Android device before the app will work as intended on iPhone or iPad. That detail matters for anyone expecting a simple install from the App Store and instant access to all controls.

For users who already own Moto Buds, the process is a little less direct than it is for new buyers. The app does give Apple device owners the control they were missing, but only after the earbuds themselves are prepared on Android. In practice, that makes this a two-device experience for existing users, not a fully standalone iOS setup.

The important part here is not the app alone, but the firmware requirement behind it. Motorola is extending support to Apple users, yet it is doing so with a step that still depends on Android at the beginning. That is the main limitation for people who use iPhone or iPad as their primary device and do not have easy access to an Android phone.

iOS 18 earbuds support expands to iPhone and iPad

The Moto Buds app requires iOS 18.0 or later and is listed for both iPhone and iPad. That gives Motorola broader coverage across Apple devices and makes the app available to users who want to manage their earbuds without switching platforms. The app is now part of the Apple App Store, which also makes it easier to find for people already looking for earbuds control tools on iOS.

For iPhone users, the app opens access to core settings that were previously harder to manage on Apple hardware. For iPad users, the listing adds another supported screen without changing the earbuds themselves. The device support is the same app experience, just available across more Apple products.

There is also a practical comparison built into this update. Motorola’s earbuds app on iPad and iPhone now covers the same basic need: direct control over the earbuds from within Apple’s ecosystem. For buyers comparing this with other earbuds apps, the distinction is no longer about whether Apple users can use it at all. It is more about whether the earbuds have already been updated to the latest firmware.

That point is easy to miss, but it is the part that shapes the real user experience. The app itself is available, the controls are there, and the iOS requirement is clear. Still, current owners need to handle the firmware update first if they want those features to work properly on Apple devices.

• Noise cancellation: available through the Moto Buds app on iOS
• Transparency mode: available for quick earbud adjustments
• Call settings: accessible from the app
• Voice assistant support: included in the app controls
• Hi-Res audio settings: available for supported users

For Moto Buds owners, the main takeaway is straightforward. The iOS app is now live, it supports both iPhone and iPad, and it adds the controls many users wanted on Apple devices. The only catch is the firmware update requirement on Android first, which still separates current owners from a simple download-and-use setup.