A buggy update is bricking Samsung soundbars—users left needing hardware repairs

A buggy firmware update is rendering many Samsung soundbars unusable. The issue appears to be widespread and affects several models including Samsung’s flagship soundbar HW-Q990D, as well as the likes of the HW-Q930D, Q800D, S801D, and Q700D. 

Samsung Community forum and /r/Soundbars subreddit are flooded with reports of bricked Samsung soundbars. The culprit appears to be the latest firmware update labeled v1020.7, which was released on March 10th. From what we can gather from these reports, the over-the-air (OTA) update fails to install properly, seemingly failing midway and causing the sub-woofer and rear speakers to disconnect from the soundbar. After the update fails, users say they can turn on the soundbar but it won’t go past the TV eARC screen, produce any sound, or connect to Wi-Fi, effectively bricking the system. To make matters worse, users are finding that they can’t even perform a factory reset, the usual remedy for software related issues. 

While the HW-Q990D and HW-Q930D soundbars are seeing the most complaints, this doesn't appear to be an isolated incident, with owners of the Q910D, Q800D, S801D, and Q700D also reporting similar issues.

How to stop automatic updates on your Samsung soundbar

If you own a Samsung soundbar, the best thing you can do right now is to turn off those automatic updates to prevent the faulty firmware from installing in the first place. To do so, open the SmartThings app on your smartphone, click the menu option from the bottom, then hit the gear icon at the top, and turn off “Auto update devices and services”. Interestingly, some users have reported success flashing the update manually via USB. However, this is not a guaranteed fix, and disabling auto-updates remains the safest course of action.

Hardware fix appears to be the only solution

Samsung hasn't yet released an official statement about the v1020.7 bug. However, they are responding to individual customers through their support channels. Reports indicate that Samsung is telling some users to ship their soundbars in for repair. Others are getting luckier, with Samsung arranging engineer visits to diagnose the issue at home. But it's not consistent – some users are being told they must ship their entire setup (soundbar, subwoofer, and rear speakers) to the manufacturer. 

There are signs that Samsung is aware of the issue and taking action—at least in some regions. One user in Thailand reported that after their Q990D soundbar was bricked by the update, Samsung sent technicians who arrived with a replacement PCB (printed circuit board) in hand. They didn't bother with any software troubleshooting and just swapped out the faulty board and restored the soundbar to its original condition in just 10 minutes. The user was advised to disable automatic updates and wait at least a month before attempting another update. 

However, if your unit is out of warranty, you might be on the hook for the repair bill. One Reddit user, /r/Skudnu, with an older Q90R model, reported receiving a €300 repair bill for a PCB replacement. Ouch. 

The v1020.7 firmware update is clearly causing serious trouble for Samsung soundbar owners. Until Samsung offers a permanent solution or an official statement, your best bet is to disable auto-updates and disconnect the unit from Wi-Fi. If your soundbar is already affected, contact Samsung support, but be prepared for potential repair costs, especially if you're out of warranty.