The short answer
Update when you have a specific problem the release notes mention, when apps are misbehaving, or when a new device does not work properly over HDMI. Otherwise there is no urgency. Never interrupt an update, and if the television cannot get online, most manufacturers allow updating from a USB stick.
Television firmware controls far more than the interface: HDMI handshake behaviour, audio format handling, Wi-Fi, app compatibility and picture processing. That is why updates fix problems that seem unrelated to software, and why an occasional bad release causes them.
When to update
- A new console, streaming device or soundbar does not work correctly over HDMI.
- Apps crash, fail to load or have disappeared from the store.
- Wi-Fi is unreliable on a set that used to be fine.
- HDR or audio formats are not being recognised.
- The manufacturer has published notes describing your exact symptom.
When to wait
- Everything works and you have no complaint.
- The release is very new and forums are reporting problems with it.
- You are mid-way through something you cannot interrupt, such as a recording on a set with a tuner.
Televisions do not receive security updates in the way phones do, so the urgency argument is weaker here. Updating to fix a problem is sensible; updating for its own sake is optional.
Before updating, write down or photograph your picture settings. Updates sometimes reset them, and rebuilding a carefully calibrated Filmmaker mode from memory is tedious. Note the privacy settings too, since those occasionally revert as well.
Updating over the network
Find the update option
Usually Settings, Support, Software Update, or System, About, System update depending on the brand.
Check the current version first
So you know whether anything changed and can describe it accurately if you need support.
Make sure the set will not be interrupted
Do not unplug it, do not switch it off at the wall, and ideally do not start an update during a thunderstorm or when the power is unreliable.
Let it restart on its own
Televisions restart once or twice during an update. A black screen for a couple of minutes is normal.
Check your settings afterwards
Picture mode, privacy consents and network settings are the usual casualties.
Never unplug a television during a firmware update. An interrupted update can leave the set unable to start, which is a service repair rather than something you can fix at home. If the screen is black and the standby light is behaving oddly, wait considerably longer than feels comfortable before assuming anything has gone wrong.
Updating from a USB stick
If the television cannot connect to the internet, which is common when the network problem is exactly what you are trying to fix, most manufacturers publish the firmware file for manual installation.
- Download the file for your exact model number, which is on a label on the back of the set. Similar model numbers are not interchangeable.
- Format a USB stick as FAT32.
- Extract the file to the root of the stick, following the manufacturer’s instructions about folder names exactly.
- Insert it into the television’s USB port and run the update from the support menu.
- Leave it undisturbed until it completes and restarts.
This is also the route when a set is so broken that the interface barely works, and it is worth knowing about before you need it.
Turning automatic updates on or off
Most televisions update automatically overnight by default. The argument for leaving it on is that compatibility fixes arrive without you thinking about it. The argument for turning it off is that a bad release cannot surprise you, and you can wait a fortnight and read about it first.
For a set that works well and has a carefully configured picture, turning automatic updates off and updating deliberately is a reasonable choice. For a set that is already having problems, leave them on.
If an update makes things worse
Televisions rarely allow rolling back, which is the honest risk. What you can do:
- Search your model number with the version number, since model-specific problems are widely discussed and often acknowledged.
- Report it to the manufacturer, because corrective releases follow complaints.
- Perform a factory reset, which sometimes resolves problems introduced by an update applied over an old configuration.
- Check whether the manufacturer offers an older firmware file for manual installation, which a few do.
- Work around it in the meantime: wire the television rather than using Wi-Fi, or use a streaming stick rather than the built-in apps.
Do I need to update my TV firmware?
Only when you have a problem it addresses, or when new equipment does not work properly. Televisions do not receive security updates the way phones do, so there is no ongoing urgency.
Can I update without an internet connection?
Most manufacturers publish firmware files for installation from a USB stick. Download the file for your exact model number and follow the instructions about formatting and folder names precisely.
What happens if the power goes off during an update?
It can leave the television unable to start, which is a service repair. Do not interrupt an update, and avoid starting one when the power supply is unreliable.
Will an update reset my picture settings?
Sometimes, along with privacy consents. Photograph your settings before updating so you can restore them quickly afterwards.
Can I go back if an update causes problems?
Rarely, since most televisions do not support rolling back. A factory reset sometimes helps, and otherwise the practical answer is a workaround until a corrective release arrives.
The short version
Update when you have a reason, note your settings first, and never interrupt it. Use a USB stick if the set cannot get online, with the file for your exact model. Consider turning automatic updates off on a television that works well, and leaving them on for one that does not. And if a release causes problems, report it and work around it, because corrective updates follow complaints.
