Samsung Galaxy Buds are excellent wireless earbuds. They offer great sound quality, reliable active noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit. But like any modern tech gadget, they rely heavily on software to run smoothly.
Samsung regularly releases firmware updates for these earbuds. These updates fix annoying bugs, improve battery life, and sometimes even add brand-new features. If you notice your buds are disconnecting or the sound feels a bit off, a software update is usually the quickest fix.
Updating the firmware is a straightforward process, but doing it incorrectly can cause issues. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to update your Samsung Buds using your phone, explain why these updates matter, and help you fix common errors if things go wrong.
Why Firmware Updates Matter For Your Earbuds
It is easy to ignore update notifications, but skipping firmware updates for your wireless earbuds is a mistake. Unlike a smartphone, your earbuds do not have a massive operating system, but they do have microcode that tells the speakers, microphones, and Bluetooth chips how to behave.
When Samsung updates the firmware, they are often tweaking the audio algorithms. This means an update can actually make your music sound cleaner or make the active noise cancellation block out more background noise.
Updates also fix connectivity bugs. If your earbuds frequently drop connection when your phone is in your pocket, a firmware patch is often designed to solve exactly that. Finally, updates optimize battery consumption, helping your earbuds last longer on a single charge.
The Essential Pre-Update Checklist
Before you begin the update process, you need to prepare your devices. Interrupting a firmware update halfway through can corrupt the software on your earbuds, rendering them temporary useless.
Follow these safety steps before clicking download:
- Check the battery levels: Ensure both your left and right earbuds, as well as the charging case, have at least 30% battery. Ideally, charge them to 50% or more. The update process will fail automatically if the battery is too low.
- Turn on your Bluetooth: Your phone uses Bluetooth to transfer the update file to your earbuds. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled and stable.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: Firmware files are small, but a stable internet connection ensures the file downloads to your phone without corruption.
- Keep the case open: Keep your earbuds inside the charging case with the lid open during the initial connection phase, or keep them firmly in your ears.
How To Update Samsung Buds On An Android Phone
If you use a Samsung Galaxy phone or any other Android device, you will use the official Galaxy Wearable app. This is the main hub for managing your earbuds.
1. Connect Your Buds to Your Phone
Take your Samsung Buds out of the case or open the case lid to activate them. Make sure they are paired and actively connected to your Android phone. You can verify this by checking your Bluetooth settings menu.
2. Open the Galaxy Wearable App
Locate the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone. If you are using a non-Samsung Android phone, you can download this app for free from the Google Play Store. Once opened, select your specific model of Galaxy Buds from the side menu if they do not pop up automatically.
3. Find the Software Update Menu
Scroll down through the main dashboard of the app. Look for an option labeled Earbuds settings. Tap on it, and then scroll down until you see Earbuds software update. On some older versions of the app, this option might be right on the main screen labeled Download and install.
4. Download and Install the Update
Tap on Download and install. The app will now check Samsung’s servers to see if a newer firmware version is available. If an update is found, you will see a summary of the changes. Tap the Update button at the bottom of the screen.
Keep your phone close to the earbuds while the file transfers. Your earbuds will temporarily disconnect and reconnect during this process. Do not put the earbuds back in the case and close the lid until the app explicitly tells you the update is finished.
How To Update Samsung Buds On An iPhone
If you use an iPhone, the update process is a bit different, and it depends heavily on which version of the Galaxy Buds you own.
Samsung offers a Samsung Galaxy Buds app on the Apple App Store, but they stopped updating it for newer models.
- If you own Galaxy Buds+ or Galaxy Buds Live: You can download the official app on your iPhone and follow the exact same steps outlined in the Android section above.
- If you own Galaxy Buds 2, Buds Pro, Buds 2 Pro, Buds 3, or Buds 3 Pro: There is no official iOS app support for these models. This means you cannot update their firmware using an iPhone.
To update newer models, you will need to borrow an Android phone or a tablet for ten minutes. Connect your buds to that device, run the update through the Galaxy Wearable app, and then pair them back to your iPhone. The updated firmware stays saved directly on the earbuds themselves, so you only need to do this trick whenever a new update rolls out.
Troubleshooting Common Update Failures
Sometimes the update process gets stuck or fails completely. This is usually caused by a communication breakdown between the phone and the earbuds. Here is how to fix the most common issues.
The Update Gets Stuck at 99%
If the progress bar stops moving right at the end, the file has transferred, but the earbuds are struggling to apply the restart command.
- The Fix: Wait at least five minutes to be absolutely sure it is stuck. Then, close the Galaxy Wearable app completely, turn your phone’s Bluetooth off and back on, open the earbud case, and try opening the app again. Usually, you will find the update actually completed successfully.
Error: “Could Not Update Software”
This error happens when the Bluetooth signal drops or the earbud battery drops below the required threshold during the transfer.
- The Fix: Put both earbuds back into the charging case and plug the case into a wall charger. Let them charge for 15 minutes. Clear the cache of your Galaxy Wearable app in your phone settings, restart your phone, and try the update process again while keeping the phone right next to the charging case.
One Earbud Did Not Update
Occasionally, one earbud will accept the new software while the other fails to register it. This results in uneven battery drain or stereo balance issues.
- The Fix: Put both earbuds in the charging case. Press and hold the touch pads on both earbuds simultaneously for about 10 seconds until the light inside the case starts blinking. This resets the connection. Once reset, reopen the app and check for updates again to force the system to sync both sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Samsung Buds firmware update take?
The entire process usually takes between two to five minutes. The actual download is fast because the files are small, but transferring the data over Bluetooth to both individual earbuds takes up most of the time.
Can I use my earbuds while they are updating?
No. While you can keep them in your ears during the download phase, they will lose connection and stop playing audio the moment the actual installation begins. It is safest to leave them resting in their open case on a table until the process finishes.
How often does Samsung release updates for earbuds?
Samsung typically releases updates every few months for their current generation of earbuds. Once a model is older than two years, updates become much less frequent and usually only focus on critical security or connectivity fixes.
What happens if my Buds disconnect during an update?
If they disconnect during the download phase, nothing bad happens. If they disconnect during the installation phase, they might become unresponsive. If this happens, place them in the charging case, close the lid for 30 seconds, reopen it, and reconnect to the app to restart the installation.
Summary of Best Practices
To keep your Samsung Buds running perfectly, make it a habit to check the Galaxy Wearable app once a month. Always ensure your devices are adequately charged before hitting that update button, and never rush the process. Taking these small precautions protects your investment and ensures you always get the best possible audio experience from your hardware.
What model of Galaxy Buds are you currently using, and have you noticed any changes in sound quality after your latest update? Let me know in the comments below.
