Sony Soundbars are in a class of their own, and updating its firmware makes it perform even better. Sony releases firmware updates for many of its models regularly. The procedure to update a Sony Soundbar is quite easy, and you can do it in two different ways. One is by directly connecting it to the internet, and the other is to update firmware using a USB flash drive. Choose the method depending on the availability of the particular connection port.
If you are a Sony Soundbar user and are looking for ways to update its firmware, go through this article. Here, I have provided possible ways to update your device, and you can apply these methods to almost any model of Sony Soundbar.
Why Do I Update Sony Soundbar Firmware?
The reasons why we need to update your Sony Soundbar’s firmware are given as follows:
- When your Sony Soundbar is not working properly.
- Adds more stability to your device.
- Remove minor bugs and errors on your Soundbar.
- Upgrade your soundbar with more features.
- Enhances the functionality of your Sony Soundbar’s HDMI, Chromecast Audio feature, etc.
- Makes your soundbar compatible with many more devices.
How to Check Firmware Version on Sony Soundbar
Sony recommends users check the firmware version of their soundbars before updating. If the current version is older than the update file provided, go for the download. Or else, stick with the current firmware. To check the version,
1. After connecting your Sony Soundbar to the TV, turn on both devices.
2. Click on the Home button on its remote and go to Setup → Advanced Settings.
3. In that, click on System Settings.
4. After this, scroll to System Information and press Enter on your remote. Now, you can see the current firmware version of your soundbar.
In some Sony Soundbar models like HT-S400, HT-SC40, HT-SD40, etc, the procedure to check the firmware version varies slightly. Here’s how.
1. Press and hold the Sound Field button on your remote until Stream information appears on your TV.
2. Click on the Volume Down button on your remote continuously until you see the Software version option displayed.
3. Now, scroll down and see the firmware version of your Sony Soundbar.
How to Update Sony Soundbar Firmware
As already mentioned, you can update any model of Sony Soundbars directly by connecting it to the internet or through a USB drive. Both of the procedures are explained below.
How to Update Sony Soundbar via the Internet
Updating your Sony Soundbar over the internet is the ideal and the quickest way to do it. It takes a maximum of 15-30 minutes for the process to get over. Before getting into the process, you must connect your soundbar to a stable internet connection. Sony Soundbars can be connected to the internet either via an ethernet cable or through a WIFI network. After ensuring this, follow the ensuing steps.
Set Up Device
1. Connect your Sony Soundbar to the TV. The TV has to be compatible with your soundbar.
2. After this, turn on both devices.
3. Connect your Sony Soundbar to the internet connection.
4. After this, choose the HDMI port to which your soundbar is hooked up on your TV.
5. Press the Home button on your soundbar remote and go to its Home screen.
Download Update
The following steps explain the downloading and installation procedure of the soundbar update files.
1. After getting to your soundbar’s Home screen, scroll to the Setup option and click on Advanced Settings.
2. Now, scroll down and click on Software Update.
3. In the following screen, select Network Update. In some models of Sony Soundbar, an Update via the Internet is shown instead.
4. Then, click Enter on your remote to confirm the update of your soundbar. After this, the update file will be downloaded to your device.
5. After a few minutes, a warning message asking you not to turn off your soundbar while performing an update will be shown. Along with that, the current and the new firmware versions will also be displayed. Click Enter on your remote to proceed.
6. When the updation process starts, the Update Caution message is displayed on the TV, and UPDT is shown on the soundbar’s LED panel.
7. After the process is over, the DONE message appears on your soundbar, and the device will restart itself.
Once it restarts, you can start using your Sony Soundbar with its new features. If the subwoofer gets unpaired after the update, you can link the subwoofer to your Sony Soundbar again.
Note: Not all models of Sony Soundbars can be updated over the Internet. Go through the user manual of your soundbar once and follow the right procedure.
How to Update Sony Soundbar via USB Drive
Updating via USB drive is recommended when you can’t update your soundbar directly using the internet. Here, we’ll download the latest firmware onto your USB drive, connect it to your soundbar, and update it. For this procedure, you require a blank USB drive in FAT32 format, with storage space higher than 256 MB and less than 32 GB. Along with that, the Windows/Mac PC you are using should be running on the OS specified on Sony’s official website. After taking care of the above requirements, follow the below steps.
Download and Transfer Firmware to the USB
In this subsection, I’ll show you how to install the firmware on your PC and transfer it to your USB drive.
1. Visit the official Sony website on your PC.
2. Scroll to the bottom, click on Product Support, and click Audio & Video.
3. Further, tap on Sound Bars and Home Theater Systems.
4. The following screen displays all the available Sony Soundbar models. Search the model of your soundbar and select it.
5. Click on the Downloads subsection. If there are any available updates, they are shown to you upfront. Select the update file and click on Download.
6. The file downloads in ZIP format. After this, double-click on the downloaded file and extract all the files without changing its name. Sometimes, a new folder called Update gets created automatically, where all the extracted files get saved.
7. After this, insert the USB port into your computer and transfer all the files or folders to the root of your USB drive.
Note: If you don’t save it to the root directory of the USB drive, the soundbar won’t update.
7. You can eject the USB drive once the firmware copies.
Update Soundbar Using USB Drive
The following steps explain the procedure to update your Sony Soundbar using the USB drive.
1. Power on and go to the Home screen of your Soundbar. Also, turn on the TV it is connected with.
2. Insert the USB drive into your soundbar. Update Only is written above the port.
3. Using your soundbar remote, go to Setup and select Software Update.
4. In the following screen, click on Update via USB Memory.
5. Now, a notification indicating that the update is about to happen appears. Press the Enter button on your remote and proceed to the next step.
6. Once the update procedure starts, the Update Caution message appears on your TV. On your soundbar’s display panel, UPDT appears.
7. After a few minutes, the process is over, and a DONE message appears on the soundbar’s panel.
Finally, your Sony Soundbar will restart and update itself successfully.
The update procedure slightly varies on Sony Soundbar models like HT-S400, HT-SC40, HT-SD40, etc. Here are the steps.
1. Power on your soundbar and press the Power button on it until the name of the previous input appears on the front panel of it.
2. Insert the USB drive into your soundbar.
3. Press and hold the Power, Bluetooth, and Volume Up buttons simultaneously until you see a message like UPDAT, UD 0, or UD 99 appear on its display panel. It means that the update process has started.
4. After the update process is over, a DONE message will appear.
5. Now, your Sony Soundbar will restart and update successfully. You can remove the USB drive after this.
How to Fix Sony Soundbar Not Updating Issue
In most cases, if you are unable to update your Sony Soundbar’s firmware, it could be due to mistakes while downloading or transferring the firmware. Error messages like UPDT and ERROR appear on your soundbar’s display panel. Some of the common mistakes and their solutions are given below.
- Poor Internet Connection: Updates won’t happen if you are using a poor or unstable internet connection. Check your internet connection and start the process again.
- Restart Device: If any error messages appear on your soundbar, then power cycle your soundbar and reconnect all the associated devices.
- Incorrect File Name: When updating firmware over a USB drive, the extracted files have to be saved in the name mentioned in the user guide. If not, then your soundbar can’t read, and updates won’t happen.
- Pressing Wrong Buttons: In some models of the soundbar, the update process initiates only after pressing the right combination of buttons, as mentioned in the user manual. Updates won’t happen if you press the wrong buttons.
If you are unable to update your Sony Soundbar even after following the exact procedure as mentioned in the manual, then contact Sony Customer Support through their website. They’ll help you troubleshoot your soundbar even further. In the case of hardware, they’ll link you with any Sony Service Centers and provide you with the necessary help.
FAQ
Chances are very low that an older Sony Soundbar would get a software update officially. Even without an update, a soundbar could function without any hassle. However, all the new models of Sony Soundbars will receive the firmware updates.
