Samsung has updated the firmware of soundbars so that they now require repair

Samsung has acknowledged that a botched software update caused “some” models of last year’s soundbars to stop working, according to Jim Kiczek, head of audio at Samsung Electronics America.

Image source: techspot.com

In a conversation with reporters, Kicek linked the problem to a “software bug” affecting some of the company’s soundbars released in 2024. He also added that Samsung is ready to repair damaged devices for free, regardless of their warranty status.

A few days ago, messages appeared on the Internet, the authors of which claimed that their flagship Samsung HW-Q990D soundbars failed after a firmware update. Owners complained that the devices turned on, but froze when trying to change the settings. Later, they became completely unresponsive to user commands, and also lost connection with the Samsung SmartThings app. No resetting the device to factory settings or rebooting helped.

The problem is not limited to the flagship HW-Q990D system. User complaints on Samsung support forums and elsewhere indicate that the same fate has befallen the HW-Q800D and HW-S801D soundbars. Users noted that Samsung support staff were unable to provide any clarification on the issue.

The problem with Samsung soundbars is complicated by the fact that it cannot be solved by distributing a software patch. Apparently, physical repairs are required to restore the functionality of the affected soundbars, so users will have to contact Samsung service centers.

Many of the company’s soundbars are set to receive updates automatically, so the problem quickly spread to several countries, including the United States, Austria, Malaysia, and others. Users of last year’s Samsung soundbars who have not had time to update their devices’ software are advised to refrain from doing so for the time being.