How to update the TV

Are you trying to install a specific application on your Smart TV but the latter signals the absence of some updates? Would you like to get the latest features announced by your TV manufacturer but just don’t know how? In that case, you should take a few minutes of free time and proceed with reading this guide, in which I will teach you how to update your TV to achieve your personal goal.

Generally speaking, almost all recent televisions equipped with Smart functions are able to download software updates released by the manufacturer in OTA mode, ie via the Internet; in order for everything to go well, as you can easily imagine, you need to connect the TV to the Internet: if you have not yet done so and you do not know how to proceed, I suggest you read my tutorial dedicated to the topic , in which I have provided all the necessary information.

The second operating mode, on the other hand, requires the use of a USB key and a computer: since this is almost always a procedure that is not risk-free, it should only be put into practice when it is not possible to proceed otherwise (if, for example, the television does not it may be connected to the Internet or if it is already malfunctioning). In the following lines I will explain how to proceed with both modes, on the televisions of the most famous producers in the category; finally, it will be my responsibility to provide you with some information regarding the transition to the New digital TV , in progress starting from October 2021. I wish you a good reading.

Index

• How to update LG TV
• How to update Samsung TV
• How to update Sony Bravia TV
• How to update Panasonic TV
• How to update your Philips TV
• How to update Hisense TV
• How to update Akai TV
• How to update TV after October 20: frequencies and broadcast standards

How to update LG TV

You have two ways to update LG TVs equipped with webOS : via the Internet and via USB stick. Clearly, I advise you to take the first route, safer and almost always free from problems or errors of various kinds. To download software updates from the Internet, first make sure the TV is connected to the modem via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable; if you haven’t done this yet, follow the steps I showed you in this guide to do it.

Now, take the TV remote control, press the Settings button (the gear- shaped one ) and, when you see the quick settings menu, go to the Support> Software update section ; on older TVs, the path to follow is General> About TV> Check for Updates . Following this operation, any available updates will be downloaded: to apply them, simply reply affirmatively to the warnings that appear on the screen.

There is also a procedure that allows you to update in the absence of the Internet, using any computer browser and a sufficiently large USB key , keep in mind that, in case of errors, you could compromise the operation of the TV or break it completely : just continue if you actually know what you are going to do. To find out more about this possibility, check out my guide on how to update LG TV.

How to update Samsung TV

To download and install any updates available for Samsung Smart TVs , first make sure that your device is connected to the Internet; if you haven’t done so yet, consult my guide on how to connect Samsung TV to the Internet , for precise instructions on what to do. Once this last operation is complete, take the remote control, press the Menu / Smart Hub button on the latter and go to the Support and Software Update sections . Finally, click on Update Now and wait patiently for the TV to download and install any firmware updates, if available.

If you prefer, you can have the TV download and install any updates automatically, when they are available: to do so, go to the Support> Software update section of the TV again and make sure that the Update option . automatic is set to ON , otherwise do it yourself.

Alternatively, you can update the device using a USB key, as I explained to you in depth in this tutorial: this procedure does not require the presence of an Internet connection on the TV but is definitely more risky than the one seen in previously, as a single mistake could irremediably compromise the operation of the appliance . Take that into account.

How to update Sony Bravia TV

To update the Sony Bravia TV via the Internet, after turning on the device, press the Home button or the Menu button on the remote control, select the Settings item from the panel that appears on the screen and, from there, go to the Information> Software update sections system . At this point, to check for any updates, select the Check for updates for system software item and, if necessary, press the button, wait patiently for the updates, if available, to be downloaded and applied. If you wish, still from the same panel, you can activate the automatic software download, in such a way as to obtain the updates in a completely automatic way, when they are released.

Alternatively, you can download the updates via your computer, load them on a USB key and, later, apply them to the TV: however, this procedure is risky and could lead to more or less serious malfunctions , in the event of even minimal errors. For further information on this, I invite you to read my tutorial on how to update the Sony TV, in which I have explained everything to you in great detail.

How to update Panasonic TV

Now let’s move on to Panasonic- branded televisions : most of these devices have an automatic update feature , which takes care of automatically downloading and installing updates via the Internet, when they are available.

To activate it, press the Menu / Home button on the remote control , go to the Information> System Updates panels and wait for any updates, if any, to be notified; to download and install the update, press the Download button , visible on the side. When prompted, restart the TV by pressing the dedicated button.

On older devices, you need to go to the Network> TV Remote App Settings sections and check that the TV Remote Setting option is set to ON . Otherwise, activate the lever in question, to enable the automatic download of updates when they are available.

If your TV does not have an Internet connection, you can perform the manual firmware update, obtaining the specific file directly from the Panasonic website and uploading it, via computer, to a USB stick formatted in FAT32 . Keep in mind that this is a risky procedure, which could lead to breakage of the device even in the event of a minor error: then don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Therefore, take note of the exact model of your TV by reading it from the label on the back of the device, connect to this website and use the items present to go to the specific page for the device in your possession; to obtain the firmware installation file, click on the Download button at the bottom of the page.

Once the file has been obtained, extract the content to a location of your choice and copy the file inside it (eg SDDL.SEC ) onto the USB key; now, remove the USB device from your computer and insert it into the appropriate port on the TV, which should be turned on . Finally, answer affirmatively to the warnings that appear on the screen (you have to press the OK button twice ) and, without turning off the TV or disconnecting the USB stick , wait patiently for the progress bar to reach 100%. Finally, remove the TV stick, turn it off and on again, preferably after 10 seconds . In case of doubts or problems, I refer you to the support pages featured on the Panasonic website.

How to update your Philips TV

To update the Philips TV via the Internet, after having previously connected the TV to the Network (in this guide I explained how to do it), press the Settings button on the remote control (the one depicting a gear ) and wait for the dedicated panel to appear on the screen. Now, select the items All settings> Software update> Check for updates and choose to proceed via the Internet , selecting the dedicated item. Finally, press the Start button that appears on the screen, in order to start the download of any available updates; if prompted, click on the Accept button to finalize the firmware installation, which may take 5 to 15 minutes.

If, for some reason, you are unable to apply the above procedure, you can always download the firmware using your computer and install it with the help of a USB key; this procedure, however, should only be used in an emergency, as even a slight error could completely compromise the operation of the appliance . Then don’t say I didn’t warn you!

That said, to update the TV firmware via USB, use your computer to format the USB key in FAT32 and, again from the same device, access the Philips support site and enter the model number of the TV in the appropriate field; you can find this information printed on the label on the back of the TV. Then, click on the result most relevant to your search, then on the name of your device and then on the Download file button corresponding to the Firmware update – Software box .

Now, extract the file obtained directly on the USB stick and, when the process is finished, insert the latter into the TV on; if everything went well, the update should start automatically: do not turn off the TV or disconnect the key before the end of the procedure, in order to avoid serious damage. For more information, consult the appropriate section of the Philips support site.

How to update Hisense TV

Hisense TVs also support the direct update mode via the Internet: to check for available updates and, if necessary, apply them, simply press the Menu button on the remote control and go to the Settings> System Update Support> Check software update sections . television. Still from the same screen, you can choose whether or not to activate the automatic software update by acting on the appropriate option.

Alternatively, you can manually update the TV directly from USB: as already mentioned above, this is a risky procedure that could compromise the stability and operation of the TV . Do not forget. In any case, the specific installation file for your model must be requested by contacting Hisense Italia directly, at the toll-free number 800.321.999 or by email at service.tv@hisenseitalia.it . Once you have the specific file, copy it to a USB stick (no folders, just the file) and connect it to the TV.

Now, unplug the TV from the power supply , plug it back in and then turn it on by pressing and holding the red button on the remote until you see Upgrading appear after the Hisense boot logo. Please do not turn off the TV or unplug the key until the procedure is complete. More info here .

How to update Akai TV

To update an Akai Smart TV previously connected to the Internet, press the Home button on the remote control and go to the Settings> General> System Update sections ; if there are new updates, you will be shown a summary screen containing the improvements: to proceed with the download and installation of the update, press the Install button and you’re done.

Alternatively, you can complete the update via USB by manually downloading the file containing the firmware and starting the update directly from the key. Be careful, however, as even a minor error could cause irreversible damage to the operating system . To learn more about this possibility, I refer you to reading my tutorial on how to update Akai Smart TVs , in which I illustrated the topic in great detail.

How to update TV after October 20: frequencies and broadcast standards

Starting from last October 20, 2021 , some television channels – in particular Rai and Mediaset – are no longer visible on some devices, as the relative broadcasters have “turned off” the standard definition frequencies, to sanction the definitive transition to HD broadcasts . To overcome this problem, if you have a TV with HD resolution support, you simply have to re-tune the channels ; if you do not know how to proceed, I refer you to reading my guide in which I explain how to check if the TV is HD , in which you will find all the details of the matter.

The second step of the transition to the so-called New Digital TV consists in the adoption of the new DVB-T2 digital terrestrial transmission standard with HEVC encoding , which should be completed by January 2023: to check if your television set is compatible with the aforementioned standard, follow the directions I gave you in my tutorial on how to see if your TV is DVB-T2 .

If so, you have nothing to fear: the transition to the new standard is completely automatic and you will not have to apply any updates, other than a simple tuning of the channels, if required; if, on the other hand, your TV does not meet the required standards, you should instead buy a new TV or a new decoder with the necessary requirements (HD and DVB-T2 support with HEVC).

In this regard, you will be happy to know that the Ministry of Economic Development offers a series of incentives, aimed at obtaining a voucher with a maximum value of € 100 on the purchase of a new audiovisual device: I told you about it, in detail, in my in- depth study dedicated to the TV bonus .