SimpliSafe's firmware article says the system must be on wifi to update and that the method depends on the firmware version. Below 2.15 you update manually: in the app choose My System, Base Station Settings and look for an update next to Firmware, or on the Keypad press Menu, enter the Master PIN, choose System Settings then Check for Updates, and select Install Now when it says Updates are available. For firmware 2.15 to 2.23, updates install automatically after the system has been disarmed for at least ten minutes;
The checks in more detail
for 2.24 or greater they install right after you disarm. That way you are home and protected during the update. An amber or orange light circling the Base Station like a searchlight shows an update is running, and the Message Center in the app records it. Cameras and video doorbells update automatically once the Base Station is current; if motion or an alarm occurs during a camera update, the update pauses. Smart Lock updates are applied manually in the app.
If an update will not apply, check wifi, power and firmware version, keep the system disarmed, and use the troubleshooting section, then contact support. The Base Station needs to stay powered during an update. Note the firmware version before and after each update. An update that fails once often succeeds after a router restart. Give updates a quiet moment. Give an update a day of normal use before deciding it caused a problem, since a moved Base Station or a fresh battery often explains a change.
A system that sits armed almost all the time may not update as promptly on the newer firmware, since updates follow a disarm, so disarming for a while at home is the simplest way to let one begin. Note the firmware number in the app after each update so that if a behavior changes you can say exactly which version it began on. A firmware update can change menus or add features, so read SimpliSafe's firmware update notes for your version afterwards and check your settings, since a new option may default to on.
Differential
Likely causes of “SimpliSafe Base Station (Gen 3) firmware update is stuck or failed”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
No wifi
What separates it The update never starts because the Base Station has no wifi connection to download it
How to confirm Restore the wifi connection first, since the Base Station has to be online to update
- 2
Firmware below 2.15
What separates it There is no automatic update because the firmware is older than version 2.15
How to confirm Update it manually in the app under My System, choosing Base Station Settings and then the update option
- 3
Not disarmed long enough
What separates it The update waits because the system has not been disarmed for long enough
How to confirm Disarm the system and leave it disarmed for a while, so the update can begin
- 4
Power interruption
What separates it The update fails partway because the power to the Base Station was interrupted
How to confirm Keep the Base Station powered throughout, and try the update again once it is stable
- 5
A Smart Lock
What separates it The Smart Lock shows an old version because it needs its own update that runs separately
How to confirm Update the Smart Lock in the app, since it does not update at the same time as the Base Station
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The firmware version shown in the app
- Whether the Base Station has a wifi connection
- Whether the system is currently disarmed
- The exact update message or error you see
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the firmware version
ReversibleCheck the firmware version in the app, because it decides whether the update runs alone or by hand.
Confirm wifi
ReversibleConfirm the wifi works, since the Base Station must be online to download and install an update.
Disarm the system
ReversibleDisarm the system and wait, because updates run when the system is disarmed and idle.
Update manually if below 2.15
ReversibleUpdate it manually if the firmware is below 2.15, using the app or the Keypad as SimpliSafe describes.
Watch for the amber light
ReversibleWatch for the amber light, which shows that an update is running, and do not unplug the Base Station.
Update the Smart Lock
ReversibleUpdate the Smart Lock in the app, as it does not follow the Base Station's update on its own.
Contact SimpliSafe
ReversibleContact SimpliSafe if the update is stuck, and tell them the version and what the light is doing.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- 2.15 and above
- Automatic after disarming.
- Below 2.15
- Manual update.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If an update never applies, contact SimpliSafe support
- !If a lock will not update, use its article
- !If cameras lag, update the Base Station first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Update paths by firmware version.
Power, wifi, placement and reset steps.
Battery backup and network backup.
Device settings.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Do updates need wifi?+
Yes, the Base Station must be on wifi to receive an update, so check the connection first.
When do automatic updates run?+
Automatic updates run after you disarm the system, when the Base Station is idle and online.
How do I update manually?+
You can update it manually from the app, or from the Keypad, depending on the firmware version.
What is the amber light?+
The amber light shows that a firmware update is running, so leave the Base Station plugged in.
Do cameras update?+
Cameras update on their own in the background, so you usually do not need to do anything for them.
Does the lock update itself?+
No, the Smart Lock does not update itself, so you must start its update by hand in the app.
What if an alarm occurs mid-update?+
It pauses, because an alarm takes priority, and the update carries on again once the system is idle.
What is Away mode?+
Away mode arms all the sensors, including motion, so it is the mode to use when nobody is home.
What is Entry Delay?+
Entry Delay is the time you have to disarm the system after opening the door, before the alarm sounds.
What is Exit Delay?+
Exit Delay is the time you have to leave the home after arming the system, before the sensors are active.
What does a No White Light mean at setup?+
No white light at setup means the Base Station is not starting, so check that the battery tab has been removed.