Samsung's Faulty Soundbar Update: What You Need to Know

Samsung’s Soundbar Firmware Update Disaster

Samsung recently rolled out a faulty firmware update (version 1020) that effectively rendered several of its soundbars unusable. The affected models include the Q800D, Q990D, and Q995D, which, after receiving the update, turned into nothing more than expensive paperweights.

The good news? Samsung has acknowledged the issue and is taking full responsibility. The company is now offering to repair or replace any soundbar that was bricked by the update. However, this situation serves as a crucial reminder of the potential risks associated with automatic firmware updates.

To prevent similar issues, Samsung soundbar owners might want to disable automatic updates until the company resolves the situation. Here’s how you can do it:

How to Disable Auto-Updates on Samsung Soundbars

If you own a Samsung soundbar and want to turn off automatic firmware updates, the best way to do so is through the SmartThings app. Follow these steps:

Open the SmartThings app on your Galaxy smartphone.
Tap the Menu tab at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Settings (cog) icon in the upper-right corner.
Scroll down to “Auto update devices and services” and tap it.

5. Select “Off” from the drop-down menu.

This will prevent your Samsung soundbar from receiving any automatic firmware updates.

The Trade-Off of Disabling Auto-Updates

While turning off auto-updates protects your soundbar from potentially faulty updates, there’s a downside. Disabling automatic updates in SmartThings affects all your connected devices that rely on this setting. This means:

You will have to manually update your SmartThings devices, including soundbars, smart tags, and other connected gadgets.
Devices like Samsung’s smart TVs have independent firmware update settings, so they can still receive updates even if SmartThings auto-updates are off.
Soundbars, however, can only receive firmware updates manually via USB or through SmartThings.

So while disabling automatic updates gives you control, it also means taking on the responsibility of updating your devices yourself. However, given the risk of bricking your expensive soundbar, this might be a small price to pay.

What Undercode Says:

Samsung’s Firmware Failure: A Lesson in Software Updates

This incident highlights a critical issue with over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates—they can sometimes

References:

Reported By: https://www.sammobile.com/news/scared-of-samsung-bricking-your-soundbar-turn-off-auto-updates/
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