Front left view of the Sony SRS XB33 speaker.

Sony SRS XB33 Software Update Instructions

Here, we detail the software update procedure for the Sony SRS XB33 cordless speaker. This routine can take ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection, source device used to update the speaker, distance between speaker and that device, Etc. Plus, you cannot roll back the update once installed. That is, you’ll be unable to return to the prior software after you finish this upgrade. So, be sure that you indeed want the update, and have thought through all ramifications before proceeding.

Prepare for Sony SRS XB33 Software Update

You’ll need the following items:

    • High speed internet connection,
    • Bluetooth enabled mobile device,
    • The Sony Music Center app that runs on said mobile device,
    • the Sony SRS XB33 BT speaker you’re updating.
    • Compatible power adapters and charge cables for your speaker and mobile device.

Summary for Sony SRS XB33 Software Update Directions

Next, do the following to update the speaker. In short…

    1. Connect your source device to the internet.  We suggest using WiFi for this operation, and not your cellular connection.
    2. Install the Sony Music Center app if you haven’t already.
    3. Then, plug both the XB33 and your mobile device to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want either of their batteries going dead while updating the firmware. In fact, a low battery could leave a corrupted version of the software in the speaker’s memory. This could, and probably would brick the speaker. This would then likely render the unit useless and non repairable. So once again, connect the speaker to power before proceeding.  Please !
    4. Disconnect any other wireless speakers and devices from your source mobile device for this process.
    5. Then, power up your speaker and source device, if not already running.
    6. Next, pair your mobile device with the XB33.
    7. Run the Sony Music Center app. The app should then find your speaker and display the home screen for the 33, showing that a software update is available.
    8. Follow the on-screen instructions for updating.




Sony SRS XB33 Software Update, Step by Step Details

1. Connect the XB33 and your Mobile Device to AC Power

We connected ours to an AC outlet using a common USB power supply, as well as a common micro USB to USB-A cable. E.g. See this in the next picture.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB33 speaker, connected to charger and charging.
The Sony SRS XB33 speaker, connected to charger and charging.

You’ll know that the speaker is receiving outside power if you see the charging light glowing orange.

2. Pair this BT Speaker with your Source Device

Connect the speaker to your phone / tablet where you will run the update. Here’s an example screenshot of the XB33 connected to an iPad.

Screenshot of the iPadOS -Bluetooth Settings- page, showing the Sony SRS XB33 speaker as Connected.
iPadOS -Bluetooth Settings- page, showing the Sony SRS XB33 speaker as Connected.

Now keep both the speaker and your mobile device powered up and close to each other throughout the update, lest the update fail and result in a malfunctioning speaker.

3. Find the Sony Music Center App on your Source Device

We made a folder for all of Bluetooth speaker apps and put the Sony Music Center app in there on our test iPad, as you see in the next picture.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app icon on iPadOS.
The Sony Music Center app icon on iPadOS.

4. Run the Sony Music Center App to Continue with the Sony SRS XB33 Software Update

As the app runs, it scans the host device running it for compatible Sony speakers.  Wo, the app needs a brief period to find the XB 33. But eventually, it does, and then displays its status screen, as we show next.

If the speaker does not appear in the app after thirty seconds or so, move it closer to your mobile device. Next, close the Music Center app, and then run it again.

Note the tan bar on the XB33’s home screen.  This appears only when a software update is available.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XB33 Home page with a speaker update available, showing the More Info button.
Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XB33 Home page with a speaker update available, showing the More Info button.

Note that if there are no software updates pending for the 33, then you will see no brown bar. This situation we show in the next picture.

Screenshot of the SRS XB33 speaker Home page, with no software updates pending.
The SRS XB33 speaker Home page, with no software updates pending.

5. Tap the More Info Button Inside the Brown Update Bar

Tapping the More Info button brings up the Software Information screen, as follows.

Screenshot of the software information page for version 4800 of the Sony SRS XB43 software.
The software information page for version 4800 of the Sony SRS XB43 software.

6. Tap the OK Button

Tapping the OK button may bring up the following screen if you haven’t followed the above directions, and failed to plug your speaker into AC power.

Screenshot of the Connect Speaker to Power Supply Window.
Back at the Connect Speaker to Power Supply Window.

You might also get the following screen, even though you do indeed have the speaker connected to AC power.

Screenshot of the Insufficient Battery Power window.
The Insufficient Battery Power window.

This happens when the speaker has too little battery reserve power to complete the update should a power failure occur while you update. In fact, we suggest that you fully charge both speaker and the smart device before proceeding.  Doing so protects your XB33 speaker from a corrupt software upload in the event of a prolonged power outage, where the batteries could die before software updating is over.  Also, as a further safety measure, once you fully recharge both devices, please leave both of them connected to external power throughout the entire update process.

So, once both the speaker and smart device are charged, tap the OK button on the Connect Speaker to Power Supply   window. That should then take you back to the previous page once again, as follows.

Screenshot of the software information page for version 4800 of the speaker software.
The software information page for version 4800 of the speaker software.

Or, if you quit the app, go ahead and restart it and repeat the above steps.  This time, you should not get the Connect Speaker to Power Supply page. But instead, you will see the Software Information page that we see in the last picture.





7. The Sony SRS XB33 Software Update Begins

The updating then starts, as we show in the following screenshots. The Music Center app first downloads the new software package.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app downloading the new software, and at 6 percent done.
The Sony Music Center app downloading the new software, and at 6 percent done.

Once the app downloads the package, it unpacks and transfers it to the XB33 as the next pictures show.

Additionally, during the transfer to the speaker, the Power lamp on the speaker’s top flashes green in groups of four pulses then a pause.  E.g. Pulse-pulse-pulse-pulse-pause, pulse-pulse-pulse-pulse-pause,…  During this time, all other lamps on the speaker are OFF.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB33 speaker -Power- lamp lit up.
Sony SRS XB33 speaker -Power- lamp lit up.

7a. The Software Update Continues at Thirty Percent Complete

Now as we see in these screenshots, the Sony Music Center app displays a  progress line, that gradually gets more brown as the updating proceeds.

Screenshot of the app downloading the new software, at 30 percent done.
The app downloading the new software, at 30 percent done.

7b. Now at Seventy Percent Complete

Screenshot of the app during software transfer to the speaker, now at 70 percent done.
Software transfer to the speaker, now at 70 percent done.

Now we’re probably about five minutes into the update. Indeed this process takes a relatively short time as compared to some of the other speaker models we’ve tested.

7c. Now at Ninety-Nine Percent Done

The next screen shows that the software transfer and update to the speaker have almost finished (99 percent done). E.g. The progress bar is practically all brown now.

Screenshot of the software transfer to the speaker, now at 99 percent done.
The software transfer to the speaker, now at 99 percent done.

7d. Software Update on the Sony SRS XB33 Begins

Now that the software uploads from your device to the speaker, the update process on the 33 starts when you see this page.

Screenshot of the Software Update Has Started page. The OK button is highlighted.
The Software Update Has Started page. The OK button is highlighted.

7e Tap the OK Button

Touching the OK button takes you to the Speaker & Group page, where you see a list of previously connected speakers that the app knows about.  Note that all are grayed out.  So none are connected to the app during the XB33 update process.

Screenshot of the Speaker & Group page with no devices currently connected.
The Speaker & Group page with no devices currently connected.

8. Wait for the Sony SRS XB33 to Shut OFF After Updating its Software

While the speaker updates itself, its Power lamp flashes green.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB33 speaker -Power- lamp blinking.
Sony SRS XB33 speaker -Power- lamp flashing.

Then after a minute or two, once the 33 finishes updating, the Power light goes dark.  No more blinking.

The dark -Power- light on the Sony SRS XB33 speaker.
Sony SRS XB33 dark -Power- lamp.

9. Press the Power Button To Boot the Speaker Again

Press the Power button to turn this 33 on again, as pictured next.

The -Power- button on the Sony SRS XB33 speaker.
Sony SRS XB33 speaker -Power- button.

The XB33 should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the Sony Music Center app. The Power light turns solid green, and the Pairing lamp also glows steadily blue once the speaker has again linked to your mobile device.

The glowing -Bluetooth Status- light on the Sony SRS XB33 speaker.
Sony SRS XB33 -Bluetooth Status- lamp glowing.

Now after the XB33 reconnects to your smart device, the Sony Music Center app discovers that your speaker has come back online, and thus, displays an update-complete message, as follows.

Screenshot of the Software Update Complete window, with the OK button highlighted.
The Software Update Complete window, with the OK button highlighted.

10. Press the OK Button Back in the Sony Music Center App

With your speaker successfully paired to the app again, press the  OK button, as we show in the last screenshot.

The app then displays the Sony SRS XB33 home screen once again. But this time, note that there’s no longer the brown bar, as we see next. This means that the updating of the software worked, and that the speaker is now running the current program version.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app, showing the SRS XB43 speaker Home page.
The Sony Music Center app, showing the SRS XB43 speaker Home page.

11. Done with Sony SRS XB33 Software Update !

You’re now finished updating the software to the current version in your Sony SRS XB33 BT speaker.

Related Posts to Sony SRS XB33 Software Update

    1. Sony SRS XB43 Software Update Instructions
    2. Sony SRS XE200 Software Update Instructions
    3. SRS XE300 Sony Speaker Software Update Instructions
    4. Sony SRS XG300 Software Update Instructions
    5. SRS XG500 Sony Speaker Software Update Instructions

Other Posts About the Sony SRS XB33

    1. How to Turn Off Lights on Sony SRS XB33
    2. Sony SRS XB33 Charge Time for Full Recharging
    3. SRS XB33 Sony Speaker Bluetooth Pairing Instructions
    4. Sony SRS XB33 Charger Type and Replacement
    5. Sony SRS-XB33 Not Charging, How to Fix

References

    1. Sony SRS XB33 Party Bluetooth Speaker Product Page on Sony.com

Revision History

    • 2022-12-20: First published.