LF Audio | Help Center

Firmware Updates

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How OTA Updates Work

The AuralSync app can update your device's firmware over the air (OTA). When an update is available, the app downloads the firmware and transfers it to your device. You can choose between two transfer methods:

  • Install with Bluetooth: works on any paired device. Slower (typically a few minutes per CPU), but does not require any additional setup.
  • Install with WiFi: significantly faster. Requires WiFi credentials to be stored on the device. The phone hands off the WiFi SSID and password to the device, which downloads the firmware directly from the LF Audio update server. Available on WVC family devices and HPVM family devices.

The Update dialog shows both options when WiFi credentials are available, and you can pick whichever fits the situation. Bluetooth is the right default for a one-off update; WiFi is the right default if you are doing several updates in a row or transferring large firmware files.

Checking for Updates

The app checks for updates in two ways:

Automatic Banner

When you connect to a device, the app checks for available updates. If one is found, an update banner appears at the top of the device monitoring screen showing the new version number and release date.

Background Checks

If enabled in Settings > Notifications > Firmware Updates, the app performs a daily background check for all your paired devices. If an update is available, you receive a notification with details about what's new. Background checks run on both Android and iOS. On iOS, the system schedules the check around your usual app-usage pattern rather than at a fixed interval, and Background App Refresh must be enabled in iOS Settings.

Tip

The Firmware Updates notification toggle lives under the Notifications section of the main Settings tab, alongside Chat Replies and Warranty & Return Updates.

Update Process

  1. Tap the update banner on the device monitoring screen (or the update indicator in device settings).
  2. The app shows a changelog with what's new: features, fixes, and improvements.
  3. Choose Install with Bluetooth or Install with WiFi (when available).
  4. A progress bar shows the transfer status with an estimated time remaining.
  5. When the transfer completes, the device installs the update and restarts.
Warning

Keep your device powered on and your phone within Bluetooth range during the entire update. Do not close the app or turn off your device until the update completes.

Force Update (Re-install the Current Version)

If a firmware update is interrupted (for example, the device loses power partway through), you may need to re-install the firmware even though the app reports your device is already up to date.

For WVC devices, open the device's settings (gear icon) and look for the Force OTA Download action. Tapping it shows a confirmation dialog; choose Force Download to continue. The device then re-downloads the current firmware over WiFi, bypassing the normal version check, so it can re-install a version it is already running.

Note

Force OTA Download requires an active WiFi connection on the device, so save your WiFi credentials first (see WiFi Setup below). Use it only to recover from an interrupted update. For a routine update to a newer version, use the standard update banner instead.

WiFi Setup for Faster Updates

To unlock WiFi OTA on a device that does not yet have credentials saved:

  1. Open the device's settings (gear icon).
  2. Go to the DEVICE > WiFi subtab.
  3. Enter your WiFi SSID and password, or tap Scan and pick a network.
  4. Save. The device tests the network in the background.

Once credentials are saved, the Install with WiFi option appears in the OTA dialog whenever an update is available.

Note

WiFi OTA requires a 2.4 GHz network with internet access. Most home routers broadcast both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under separate or combined SSIDs. Pick the 2.4 GHz one (or a combined SSID where the router auto-selects band) for the device.

Multi-CPU Updates

Some devices have multiple processors that each run their own firmware:

Processor Device Types Description
CPU1 (Primary) All WVC Main controller, handles volume, sensors, mesh
CPU2 (Secondary) All WVC Bluetooth bridge, handles app communication and WiFi
Daughtercard (CPU3) WVC-PRO-6 only Touchscreen, channels 5-6, and the three on-device temperature probes

When updates are available for multiple CPUs, the app shows them separately. They are installed sequentially: the base station coordinates the update order automatically.

Migration (WVC firmware 3.11.0)

Early WVC units did not have enough room set aside on CPU2 to accept the larger firmware images that arrived with 4.0. Firmware 3.11.0 makes that room automatically, the first time it boots. Firmware 4.0 and newer will not install on a unit that has not been through this step, so it has to finish before any 4.x update can succeed.

Most units have long since completed it. If yours has not, the app shows a banner at the top of the device's monitoring screen:

Banner What to do
"Firmware update available: install firmware 3.11 to enable larger updates." Install the 3.11 update normally from the banner. Nothing else is needed; the unit does the rest on its next boot.
"Migration in progress: please don't unplug your unit." Leave the unit powered. This state passes on its own in a few seconds.
"Migration pending: please power-cycle your unit. The next firmware update will run automatically." Turn the unit off, wait about 10 seconds, and turn it back on. It retries on the next boot.

The banner is informational; there is no button on it. Once the unit is ready for 4.x firmware the banner disappears on its own.

Changelog

After an update, the app can show you what changed. The changelog is organized into three categories:

  • New Features: new capabilities added in this version
  • Bug Fixes: issues that were resolved
  • Improvements: performance or reliability enhancements

The changelog is fetched from LF Audio's servers and displayed in the update banner.

Troubleshooting Updates

Problem Solution
No update banner appears Your firmware is already up to date, or the device is not connected.
Update fails mid-transfer (Bluetooth) Keep the device powered on and close to your phone. Retry the update.
Update fails mid-transfer (WiFi) Check that the WiFi network is reachable. Try Bluetooth as a fallback.
"WiFi credentials required" Open Device Settings > DEVICE > WiFi and save credentials, then retry. Or pick Install with Bluetooth instead.
Update was interrupted, but the app says firmware is up to date On a WVC device, open Device Settings and use Force OTA Download to re-install the current version. Requires saved WiFi credentials.
Device stuck after update Power cycle the device. If the issue persists, see Troubleshooting.
Migration banner says "Migration pending" Power-cycle the device (off, wait 10 seconds, on). It retries automatically on the next boot.