How do you perform a firmware update on hörbert?

Requirement: You have a hörbert model without a toggle switch.
If you’d like to upgrade your hörbert 2011 (old model with toggle switch), order the upgrade kit right now to retrofit it yourself, or have us upgrade your hörbert in our workshop.

How you carry out a firmware update depends on which firmware is running on your hörbert. If your firmware is older than November 2024, you have to use the manual method (further below). It’s most convenient if your hörbert already has the “Butterfly” firmware or newer.

Firmware update via Wi-Fi using the Browser Set Mode

Start the Browser Set Mode (click here to go to the explanatory video)

Activate and configure hörbert’s Wi-Fi function in the Wi-Fi menu item:
Select your Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) from the list of available networks and enter your Wi-Fi password.
Tip: If you’d like to use hörbert as a podcast player: Under “Advanced settings”, set the time at which hörbert should automatically look for new podcast episodes. Choose a time when hörbert isn’t being used, e.g. at night. hörbert won’t make any sounds while updating podcasts.

Then select the item “General” in the main menu and open the Advanced settings there. Click on “Check for updates NOW” to bring your hörbert’s firmware up to date.

Wait until the update has been carried out. You’ll know it’s done when hörbert automatically ends the Browser Set Mode. Please don’t switch hörbert off and wait until it plays content through its speaker again.

Done! You’re now using the latest firmware with the current features and bug fixes!

TIP: BETA VERSIONS

We’re constantly developing hörbert’s firmware further. We test new features in BETA versions, which aren’t yet stable or fully developed. If you’re curious and you have a backup copy of your memory card, you can also take a look at these BETA versions:

To do so, download the BETA firmware as a file. You mustn’t unzip the downloaded file, as it’s simply loaded onto hörbert as a .bin file:
Click on “Choose file“, then find the downloaded .bin file, and afterwards click on “Update“.

Manual firmware update via the memory card

1. Download the latest firmware file “hoerbert_firmware.bin” from this page: hörbert Firmware
2. Don’t unzip the downloaded file, it’s loaded onto hörbert as a .bin file.
3. Now insert the memory card into your computer and drag & drop the file onto the card.
   Place the file directly onto the card, and not into a subfolder.
   The file must be named exactly like this: hoerbert_firmware.bin
4. Eject the SD card properly and put it back into hörbert.
5. Watch our explanatory video for the further steps with hörbert or carry straight on with points 6 to 10.
6. Take one of the four batteries or rechargeable batteries out of the battery clips or the separate battery compartment, and unplug the USB charging cable if your hörbert has the charging function.
7. Wait at least 20 seconds until hörbert is completely without power.
8. Press the SET button inside hörbert and hold it down while you now put the last battery back in.
9. Keep the SET button pressed for a further 50 seconds or so, until the LED on the SET button flashes rapidly. Now you can release the SET button.
10. Wait at least 10 seconds before you switch hörbert on.

Done! From now on you can carry out future firmware updates quite easily via Wi-Fi using the Browser Set Mode.