Amazon today instructed Echo Buds owners to urgently update their headphones to avoid a “potential safety risk.” The company says that in rare cases, Echo Buds can overheat while charging.
A new firmware update addresses this problem, and helps ensure that headphone batteries last as long as possible, by making charging more efficient. Here’s how you can install it.
“We recently determined that in rare cases it’s possible for Echo Buds to overheat while in the charging case,” reads an email Amazon distributed to Echo Buds owners on Wednesday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have released a software update that addresses this potential safety risk and improves the long-term performance of Echo Buds’ batteries.”
The new firmware is actually installed automatically, but you need to ensure that your Echo Buds and smartphone (or tablet) are connected — and remain connected long enough for the update to be installed.
How to update your Amazon Echo Buds
Here’s how you can ensure you get the update — version 318119151 — as soon as possible:
- Open your Echo Buds charging case while both headphones are placed inside it, then confirm they are connected to your phone and to the Amazon Alexa app.
- Ensure that both the headphones and charging case have at least 30% battery.
- Close the Echo Buds charging case — with the headphones still inside it — and keep it close to your phone (within Bluetooth range) for at least 30 minutes.
- Open the Alexa app, tap Devices, tap Echo and Alexa, then tap Echo Buds.
- Tap About and ensure your firmware version reads 318119151 or higher.
If your firmware version number is lower than this, ensure your phone and Echo Buds remain connected and in close proximity for as long as possible. Check again later to confirm the newest firmware is installed.
Are your Echo Buds safe?
It seems a bug in earlier versions of the Echo Buds firmware allowed the headphones to charge a little too quickly, which can cause them to overheat. But Amazon insists this happens only in rare cases.
It’s likely that your Echo Buds are safe, then, but it is recommended that all users allow the latest firmware update to be installed as soon as possible to avoid the risk, and to prolong the lifespan of their batteries.
