Firmware Updates

The BassWatch supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates for both itself and the connected base station. Updates are downloaded over WiFi from LF Audio's update servers and installed automatically.

Before you update: Make sure the BassWatch has a healthy charge, or keep it on USB-C power during the update, so the battery does not run out mid-install. See Battery and Charging.

Updating the BassWatch

When Connected to a Base Station

If the BassWatch is connected to a base station, it can use the base station's saved WiFi network automatically:

1. Long-press the screen (or tap the gear) to open the menu
2. Select Advanced
3. Select FW Update
4. The BassWatch connects to WiFi, checks for a newer firmware version for its hardware, and downloads it if one is available
5. Progress is shown on screen, with a live status message and percentage
6. Once the download and installation finish, the BassWatch restarts automatically on the new firmware and reconnects to your base station

When Not Connected to a Base Station

You can update the BassWatch even without a base station connection. It tries the WiFi networks it knows, then guides you through choosing one if needed. It attempts, in order:

• Cached base station WiFi: the network learned from a previous connection to your base station
• Most recently saved network: the most recent of your saved custom networks
• WiFi discovery wizard: if no saved credentials work, the wizard opens so you can pick a network

WiFi Discovery Wizard

When the BassWatch needs to connect to a new WiFi network, the discovery wizard walks you through it:

1. The BassWatch scans for available WiFi networks
2. A list of detected networks appears, sorted by signal strength (strongest first)
   • Networks you have previously saved are marked with a star (*)
   • Secured networks are marked (locked); open networks connect directly with no password step
   • Select Enter Manually to type in a hidden network's name and password
   • Select Rescan to scan again
3. Tap a network from the list
4. Enter the WiFi password using the on-screen touch keyboard
5. The BassWatch connects to the network and begins the update

Managing Saved WiFi Networks

You can view and manage your saved WiFi networks in Settings > WiFi: review your saved networks and the cached base station WiFi, remove individual networks, or add a network manually. A Factory Reset clears everything here, including your saved networks and the cached base station WiFi, so you will need to re-enter a network the next time you update. A Forget Base leaves your saved networks and cached base WiFi intact.

During the Update

While the update runs, the screen shows what the BassWatch is doing at each step (locating the network, connecting, verifying server access, checking for the latest version, then downloading), followed by a download percentage and a short restart countdown.

• Do not power off the BassWatch or the base station during the update
• Keep the watch charged or plugged in so it does not run out of battery mid-update
• The process typically completes within a few minutes, depending on your WiFi speed
• If the update cannot reach the server or stops receiving data, it cancels and the BassWatch restarts so you can retry
• After restarting on the new firmware, the BassWatch reconnects to the base station automatically

If the Update Fails

• A failed update does not affect the firmware already installed; you can safely retry
• Common causes are WiFi connectivity problems or being unable to reach the update server
• Make sure you are within range of your 2.4 GHz network and that it has internet access
• If the BassWatch cannot find the network after a few attempts, it restarts so you can try again; if the saved password is wrong, remove the network in Settings > WiFi and re-enter it through the discovery wizard
• If the update server reports it is busy ("rate-limited - try again later"), wait a few minutes before retrying

Reinstalling the Current Version (Force FW Update)

A normal FW Update only installs a firmware version newer than the one already on your BassWatch. If you are already on the latest version, it reports that you are up to date and stops without reinstalling.

Force FW Update, in the same Advanced menu, reinstalls the latest published version even when the BassWatch is already up to date:

1. Long-press the screen (or tap the gear) to open the menu
2. Select Advanced
3. Select Force FW Update
4. The BassWatch connects to WiFi and reinstalls the current published firmware, using the same WiFi cascade, status messages, and progress display as a normal update

Use this to re-apply the latest firmware, for example if LF Audio support asks you to. It reinstalls the current version rather than installing a different one.

Updating the Base Station

You can trigger a firmware update for the connected base station directly from the BassWatch:

1. Make sure the BassWatch is connected to the base station
2. Long-press to open the menu
3. Select Advanced
4. Select Update Base
5. The base station downloads and installs its own update, and the BassWatch displays its progress as Updating Base Station

If the Base Station Doesn't Respond

If you start Update Base but the base station goes quiet (no progress for about 30 seconds, or 5 minutes total without finishing), the BassWatch automatically falls back to updating its own firmware instead, and the screen switches to showing the BassWatch's update progress. This prevents it from getting stuck waiting. If this happens, retry Update Base once both devices are back online to actually update the base station.

Checking Your Current Version

View the BassWatch's firmware and hardware version in System Info from the menu (see System Diagnostics). To check the base station's firmware versions, open Base Info (see Menus and Settings).

How Updates Work

The BassWatch asks LF Audio's update server which firmware version applies to its hardware. The server returns one of three responses: a new firmware build to install, an "up to date" confirmation if no newer build is published, or a "try again later" response if the device has been checking too frequently. Each is reflected on screen. If a newer build is available, it is downloaded and verified before it is installed, so an interrupted download never leaves the device with a broken image.

The LF Audio AuralSync app also shows firmware changelogs so you can see what is new in each update.