Bose consistently releases firmware upgrades for all of its Soundbars. It is very crucial to update your Bose soundbar as it improves its performance and adds more features. Bose Soundbar comes in several variants and models like Bose Solo, Bose SoundTouch, Bose Smart, etc. All these models can be updated in more than one way. Some of these ways include updating via a USB drive, via Smartphone application, WIFI, Computer, etc.
If you are a Bose Soundbar user and are looking for ways to update your soundbar, follow this article. Here, I’ve explained all the different ways to update any Bose Soundbar model, along with a few workarounds if it fails to do so.
Why Update Bose Soundbar?
The reasons why we need to update Bose Soundbars are,
- It adds the latest features and enhances the overall performance of your soundbar.
- Removes bugs or glitches on your Bose device and makes it function normally.
- Improves its compatibility with several devices and makes it versatile.
- Adds new security features to your soundbar.
How to Check the Firmware Version of Bose Soundbar
Before getting into the process, it is advisable to check the firmware with which your Bose Soundbar is running. After knowing this, you can decide whether you need to update your soundbar or not. To check the version,
1. Install the Bose Music app on your iPhone/Android Smartphone.
2. Sign in to your Bose account and connect the Bose Soundbar to your Phone.
3. After adding your device, go to Settings on the app. In some versions of the app, click on the My Bose icon instead.
4. Click on your Soundbar.
5. Now, scroll through the list of options and select Technical Info.
6. Under Firmware Version, you can see the version number of your Soundbar.
In this way, you can check the firmware for any model of Bose Soundbar.
How to Update Bose Solo Soundbar [All Series]
All Bose Solo models like Solo, Solo 5, Solo 10, Solo 10 Series 2, Solo 15, and Solo 15 Series 2 can be updated by using the following method. For this method, you must have a stable WIFI network, a computer, and an empty USB drive. Here’s how we do it.
For Bose Solo 5 Soundbar
1. Turn on your PC and pair it to a stable WIFI connection.
2. Turn off your Bose Solo Soundbar and remove its power cable from the socket.
3. Open a web browser on your PC and go to the Bose website. Choose your specific model of Solo Soundbar and download the latest firmware file.
4. Now, plug in that USB drive to your computer.
5. Copy or move the downloaded file to the USB drive and eject it from the computer.
6. After this, insert the USB drive into the Service port of your Solo Soundbar. You can find the Service port in the same area as the other connection ports.
7. Now, turn on the power supply to your Bose Soundbar, and it will start to read the USB drive and initiate the update process.
8. While it gets updated, the indicator light on your soundbar will become Amber in color and start blinking.
9. Once the updation process is over, the light on your soundbar will turn off.
10. After this, remove the USB drive connected to it; turn on your soundbar and start using it.
For Bose Solo, Solo 10, Solo 10 Series 2, Solo 15, and Solo 15 Series 2 Soundbars
The updation procedure slightly differs in these models. To do this method, you need to have a USB drive and a Windows/Mac computer. The USB drive should have at least 10MB of storage space and not more than 32 GB. In addition to that, the USB drive has to be formatted to FAT or FAT 32. After ensuring this,
1. Power on your Bose Solo Soundbar and insert the USB drive into the Service jack of your soundbar.
2. Now, your USB drive will download the soundbar information from it. The light on it will blink Amber during the process.
3. Once the light turns off, remove the USB drive.
4. Meanwhile, download the Bose Updater application on your PC.
5. After this, run the application and follow the on-screen prompts.
6. Now, connect the USB drive that you’ve been using in the previous steps to your PC and follow the commands.
7. Once the process ends, remove the USB drive.
8. After this, reconnect the USB drive to the Service port of your Bose Solo Soundbar and power it on.
9. Your soundbar will start the update. During the process, the light on your speaker blinks Amber.
10. Once done, the light turns off, and you can remove the USB drive. After that, you can turn on Bose Soundbar and start using your Bose Solo Soundbar.
How to Update Bose SoundTouch Soundbar [All Models]
Bose SoundTouch Soundbar is available in 3 variants. They are SoundTouch 300, 120, and 130. The standard method to update the firmware of these devices is via the SoundTouch app installed on your smartphone. In addition to that, manual updation is available on SoundTouch 300. Both of the procedures are elaborated below.
Update Bose SoundTouch Soundbar via Smartphone
1. Install the SoundTouch app on your iPhone or Android Smartphone and sign in to your Bose account.
2. Now, pair the soundbar with the SoundTouch app. Even after pairing, connect both devices to the same WIFI network; only then can the soundbar be updated over WIFI.
Tip! If you’ve already paired both devices, you’ll receive update notifications automatically on the SoundTouch app.
3. After this, launch the app; click on the Menu icon provided at the top left, indicated by three horizontal lines.
4. In that, click on Settings and choose Speaker Settings.
5. If an update is available, click on the Update Software/Update Now option.
Note: If no updates are available, the Update Software option becomes unselectable.
6. Now, your Bose SoundTouch Soundbar will be updated over WIFI. The entire updation process will take around 20 minutes.
7. After the process is over, your soundbar reboots, and you can start using it.
Manually Update Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar
You can manually update the Bose SoundTouch 300 using its Remote. This procedure applies only to Bose SoundTouch 300. The procedure is as follows.
1. Turn on the power supply to your SoundTouch 300 soundbar and connect it to a strong WIFI network.
2. Point the remote towards it and press the SoundTouch button. It is indicated by a Music note icon.
3. After this, press and hold the Closed Captioning (CC) button on your remote.
4. Now, all four lights on your soundbar start blinking in white, indicating that it is starting to update.
5. After a few seconds, only the WIFI lights blink, indicating that the update is going on.
6. The updation process may take more than 20 minutes. Once done, your Bose Soundbar reboots, and you can start using it.
How to Update Bose Smart Soundbar [All Models]
Bose Smart Soundbar comes in several models like Smart Ultra, Smart 300, Smart 600, Smart 700, and Smart 900. All of these models can be updated in many ways. You can update either manually, via USB, IP Address, or by setting up a network. Here’s how you do it.
Note: All the Bose Smart Soundbar models update themselves automatically overnight or when the device becomes idle.
Manually Update the Bose Smart Soundbar
For this method to work, your Bose Smart Soundbar should be running on firmware 5.0.12 or later versions.
1. Turn on and connect your Bose soundbar to a stable WIFI network.
2. Press and hold the Music button on its remote for at least 10 seconds.
3. After this, look at the indicator light bar. If a white light scrolls through the bar, it means your soundbar is getting updated.
4. Once the update is completed, your soundbar will reboot.
5. If there are no updates, the light bar on it will not flash, and the soundbar will simply reboot itself.
Update Bose Smart Soundbar via USB Cable
For this method, you need to have a computer with a stable WIFI network along with a USB A-to-Micro USB Cable.
1. On your computer, visit the Bose Support website. On the website, click on Home Cinema → Soundbars → Select Smart Soundbar model → Click How To’s → Software and Firmware, and download the specific version for your model.
NOTE: After downloading, do not rename or unzip the file.
2. Now, connect the USB A-to-Micro USB cable from your computer to the Service jack of your soundbar.
3. After this, reboot the soundbar and disconnect it from the power cable for about 30 seconds. The soundbar blinks white color while rebooting and turns off after it gets rebooted.
4. Now, press and hold the Bluetooth and Skip Back button for at least 5 seconds to get into Service mode.
5. After this, open a separate web browser on your computer and open the web link (http://203.0.113.1:17008/update.html). Using this web link, you’ll upload the latest firmware.
Note: The web link will only work after entering into the Service mode.
6. In the following screen, tap Choose File and select the firmware that you downloaded earlier.
7. Click on Upload. After a few minutes, your Bose Smart Soundbar will get updated to its latest firmware, and you can start using it.
Update Bose Smart Soundbar via Direct IP method
Here, we’ll update your Bose Smart Soundbar via its IP Address. All you need is a computer and a stable WIFI connection. The procedure to do this is as follows.
1. On your computer, visit the Bose Support website (https://worldwide.bose.com/support) and go to the software update screen of your model.
2. Download the Update file to your computer. The downloaded Zip file should not be unzipped or renamed.
3. After this, reboot your Bose Soundbar and wait for 30 seconds.
4. Once it gets rebooted, connect your soundbar to the same WIFI network as your computer.
5. Then, find the IP address of your Soundbar.
6. Launch a web browser on your PC and enter the IP address followed by 17008/update.html in the search tab and click on Enter.
7. In the following step, click on Choose File and pick the Zip file that you previously downloaded.
8. Click on Upload and initiate the update process. Once completed, your Upload Complete message will be displayed on your web screen.
Tip! A white light scrolls through the light bar while the device gets updated and will turn off once the process is over.
Update Bose Smart Soundbar by Built-In Setup Network
Here, we’ll update your Bose Soundbar by factory resetting it. The procedure to do this is as follows.
1. Open a browser on your PC and navigate to the Bose Support page (https://worldwide.bose.com/support) to download the exact update file for your Soundbar.
Note: Do not rename or unzip the file once it gets downloaded.
2. After this, factory reset your Bose Smart Soundbar.
3. Now, open the WIFI menu on your computer and click on the network that starts with Bose and has its specific model name at the end.
4. After connecting to it, open a web browser on your computer and input the following URL (http://203.0.113.1:17008/update.html). This web address will take you to the update screen.
5. On the following page, click on Choose File and select the ZIP file that you’ve downloaded before.
6. Click on Upload and start the update process. After the process is over, the Upload Complete message pops up.
7. Once updated, the white light on your soundbar stops blinking, and it will restart. After this, you can start using your Bose Smart Soundbar.
Tip! If you can’t find the update procedure for your Bose Soundbar, then visit the Bose website, go to Support, and download the required update file for your device.
How to Fix Bose Soundbar Not Updating Problem
Sometimes, you won’t be able to update your Bose Soundbar. This could be due to minor technical or network issues. Some of the troubleshooting methods with which you can fix the issue are given below.
- Poor Internet: If the internet you are connected to is poor or unstable, then you won’t be able to download the latest firmware. Therefore, ensure you have a stable internet before getting into the process.
- Check USB: Most of the methods to update the Bose Soundbar involve using a USB drive. If your USB drive is not in the specified format or has no storage space, then you can’t transfer files between devices.
- Incorrect File: As Bose Soundbars come in a variety of models, there’s a chance that you could have downloaded the wrong update file for your device. In such a case, the update file won’t patch with your soundbar. You need to download the correct file and see if the issue gets resolved.
- Reset Soundbar: If no method works out, then reset your Bose Soundbar and remove all the minor technical errors and glitches along with all the saved data. After resetting your device, re-pair it and start the update process.
If your Bose Soundbar is stuck on an update or is taking forever to complete the process, wait for a few hours till you see any progress. Otherwise, contact Bose customer support or your nearest Bose Service Center and seek their help.
FAQ
All models of Bose Smart Soundbar, like 600, 700, 900, etc, can be updated manually by pressing and holding the Music button on its remote. Meanwhile, connect your soundbar to a WIFI network. After this, your soundbar will look for updates and will update itself automatically. Once done, your soundbar will restart.
