How to Update Oura Ring Firmware: Tips, Tricks, & Troubleshooting

More than a fancy ring, Oura ring is like your digital wellness coach, silently cheering you on throughout the day. But even the most efficient coaches and tech need a refresh to stay on top of their game. Enter the firmware updates– designed to keep your gadget running at its peak performance.

Ever since I have had the Oura ring, it has seamlessly updated itself without needing me to check on the updates available. However, if automatic updates aren’t enabled on your ring for some reason, you should be equipped to ensure your Oura Ring continues to deliver to its full potential.

How Do I Update the Firmware on Oura Ring?#

How many of us actually spare time from our busy schedules to check for updates? Unless it’s hampering the performance of our product, I bet no one. Therefore, the famous Oura Ring works on automatic firmware updates, starting with version 2.9.11.

Staying up to date ensures that you have access to all available features. That’s why, check if your firmware version is 2.9.11 or later in order to make sure that you are eligible to enable the automatic firmware updates.

Upon enabling this, your Oura Ring firmware will update automatically as soon as a new version becomes available without any action on your end. Whenever a new version is successfully installed, a card automatically displays “Firmware updated!” on the home screen.

Automatic updates are enabled by default, but if, for some reason, that’s not the case for you, here are the steps you need to follow:

How to Enable Automatic Updates in The Oura Ring?#

1. On the Home tab, go to the ☰ menu in the top left corner

2. Select Settings > under the Software Information section, select Firmware.

3. Toggle on Automatic Update.

You can check the current version your ring is running, the date of update, and the availability of a new update, if any, on the ‘Firmware’ screen.

With automatic updates enabled, the updates continue in the background via Bluetooth, even if the app is closed.

But a few days ago, when my colleague said that he was not able to update the Oura ring firmware even after enabling the automatic update, we searched for some possible scenarios that might be preventing the same. Here’s what we found:

Reasons Why the Oura Ring Firmware Update Failed#

Reason 1: Battery Percentage Less than 30%#

Fix: When I asked Oura’s chatbot, Finn, it said that for the ring to be automatically updated with the new version, your ring battery must be at least 30%.

Reason 2: Airplane Mode Enabled#

Fix: Another thing you need to keep in mind is that Airplane mode should be disabled for the automatic firmware update of the ring. Simply place the ring on the charger to disable airplane mode. 

Reason 3: Disabled Bluetooth#

Fix: Without Bluetooth, the smart ring cannot be updated on its own. It will simply track the data but not sync with the app. So, for the updation, the Bluetooth must be enabled. 

Reason 4: Active Workout Heart Rate#

Fix: If your Workout Heart Rate is active, Automatic firmware updates will not run. Similarly, if you use the Explore session, which measures the HR/HRV, your firmware will not be updated automatically.

Reason 5: Deep Sleep#

Fix: Your ring’s firmware will update automatically if you are sleeping since the ring measures nighttime biosignals.

Reason 6: Outdated Operating System#

Fix: Make sure your device is running its latest operating system. This can be checked via your phone’s Settings.

Reason 7: Signal Interference#

Fix: The firmware update should ideally be attempted in a room with no other devices nearby and where the signal interference is low.

Reason 8: Other Interruptions#

Fix: in case you’re manually updating the firmware, keep your device’s screen unlocked during the update to prevent potential interruptions.

Even if after doing all these, your ring’s firmware is not updated, your last resort is:

– Reinstall the Oura App#

Uninstall and reinstall the Oura App, then check the Home tab for a firmware update message. You can also try to run the update on a different device. But remember to back up your data before uninstalling the app.

– Hard Reset Your Oura Ring#

To perform a hard reset, put the ring on its charger and keep it in place while tapping it a few times on a surface. The ring goes through a ‘hard reset’, which restarts the ring and helps with firmware updates.

– Contact Oura Support#

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, you can reach out to Oura support for further assistance. Their dedicated team is happy to help you get your ring back on track as they helped me.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Wrap Up#

Maintaining your Oura Ring’s firmware is crucial for an optimal experience. You can ensure your ring has the latest updates and continues to deliver valuable insights into your health and well-being by enabling automatic firmware updates on your Oura ring.

By keeping an eye on the firmware updates, the personal health and wellness coach is optimized to provide valuable insights you can rely on.