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Firmware Update Failed

Updated

If your LIFX light won’t update its firmware, or the update stops partway through, it’s usually caused by a Wi-Fi interruption or the light briefly losing its connection during the process.

Try the steps below to complete the update successfully.

1. Make sure the light is powered on and online

Firmware can only install when the light is:

  • powered on

  • connected to Wi-Fi

  • showing in the app (not “Disconnected”)

If it appears offline, see LIFX Appears Disconnected before trying again.

2. Confirm the light is on the same Wi-Fi network it was originally set up with

Firmware updates must download through the original Wi-Fi network the light was onboarded to.

Updates may fail if:

  • you changed your Wi-Fi name or password

  • you switched ISPs

  • you replaced or reset your router

  • your phone is on a different network

  • the light is connected to a mesh satellite with poor signal

If your Wi-Fi changed, reset the light and set it up again before retrying the update.

3. Move the light (or phone) closer to the router

Weak or noisy 2.4 GHz signal is one of the most common causes of update failures.

Try performing the update within a few metres of your router or primary mesh point.

4. Restart your router or mesh system

A quick restart clears:

  • stalled cloud connections

  • DNS issues

  • congested channels

  • mesh steering loops

After the router comes back online, retry the update.

5. Turn off advanced router features temporarily

Some router features can interrupt firmware downloads:

  • Airtime Fairness

  • WMM / Wi-Fi Multimedia

  • QoS / bandwidth optimisation

  • 802.11ax-only mode

  • AP/client isolation

  • strict parental controls

  • DNS filtering

Disable these temporarily, run the update, then turn them back on if everything works.

6. Try updating the light individually

If you’re updating multiple lights:

  • open Settings → Update Firmware

  • update one light at a time

  • start with the light closest to the router

Large multi-light updates can create brief congestion that interrupts downloads.

7. Power cycle the light and try again

Turn the light off and on once, wait 10–15 seconds, then retry the update.

If the update begins but stalls again, repeat this step and restart the app.

Still not updating?

See:

• Router Settings That Affect LIFX Lights
• LIFX Appears Disconnected
• Troubleshooting Network Visibility Issues
• Setup & Connectivity Checklist