Picture of the front right of the Sony SRS XG500 Boombox Bluetooth speaker

Sony XG500 Software Update

Here, we detail the software update procedure for the Sony XG500 Bluetooth boombox 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 you install it. That is, you’ll be unable to return to the prior firmware version after you finish this upgrade. So, be certain that you indeed want the update, and have thought through all ramifications before proceeding.

Sony XG500 Software Update: Preparations

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 XG500 BT speaker you’re updating.
    • Compatible power adapters and charge cables for your speaker and mobile device.

Sony XG500 Software Update: Directions Summary

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

    1. Connect your mobile device to the internet.  We suggest using WiFi for this work, and not your cellular connection.
    2. Install the Sony Music Center app if you haven’t already.
    3. Then, plug your XG500 and your mobile device to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want either of their batteries going dead while updating. 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 to prevent this.  Please !
    4. Disconnect any other Bluetooth speakers and devices from your mobile device.
    5. Then, boot up your speaker and mobile device, if not already running.
    6. Next, pair your mobile device with the XG500.
    7. Run the Sony Music Center app. The app should then find your speaker and display the home screen for the XG500, showing that a software update is available.
    8. Follow the on-screen instructions for updating.




Sony XG500 Software Update: Step by Step

1. Connect the XG500 and your Mobile Device to AC Power

We connected ours to an AC outlet using the 80 watt power supply that comes with the unit. E.g. See this in the next picture.

Picture of the Sony XG500 boombox speaker on the charge.
The Sony XG500 boombox speaker on the charge.

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

2. Pair this Bluetooth Speaker with your Mobile Device

Connect the speaker to your phone / tablet where you will run the update. Here’s an example screenshot of the XG500 connected to an iPad.

Screenshot of the Sony XG500 showing as connected on iPadOS.
The Sony XG500 showing as connected on iPadOS.

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

3. Find the Sony Music Center App on your Mobile 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 XG500 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 XG 500 . But eventually, it does so, and 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 XG500’s home screen.  This appears only when a software update is available for this speaker.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XG500 Home page with a speaker update available, showing the More Info button.
Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XG500 Home page with a speaker update available, showing the More Info button.

Note that if there are no firmware updates pending for the 500, then you will see no brown bar. This situation we show in the next picture.

Screenshot of the The SRS XG500 speaker Home page in the app.
The SRS XG500 speaker Home page in the app.

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 7600060. OK button highlighted.
The software information page for version 7600060. OK button highlighted.

6. Tap the OK Button

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

Screenshot of the Connect Speaker to Power Supply window with the OK button highlighted.
The Connect Speaker to Power Supply window with the OK button highlighted.

In fact, we suggest that you fully charge both speaker and the smart device before proceeding with this update.  Doing so protects your XG 500 from a corrupt software upload in the event of an extended power outage, where the batteries could go dead before updating is complete.  Also, as a further precaution, once you fully recharge both devices, please leave both connected to external power until the update finishes.

Once speaker and smart device finish charging, 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, the OK button highlighted.
The software information page, the OK button highlighted.

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. Updating Software on the Sony XG500 Begins

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

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

Once the app downloads the package, it unpacks and transfers it to the XG500 as the next pictures show.

Additionally, during the transfer to the speaker, the Power lamp on it pulses 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 -Power- lamp on the Sony XG500, blinking green.
The -Power- lamp on the Sony XG500, flashing green.

7a. Updating the Firmware Continues at Thirty Percent Complete

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

Screenshot of the software download at 30 percent done.
The software download at 30 percent done.

7b. Sony XG500 Software Update is Now at Seventy Percent Complete

Screenshot of the software transfer at 70 percent done.
The software transfer 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 has 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 XG500 Begins

Now that the update has been transferred from your device to the speaker, the update process on the 500 begins when you see this page.

Screenshot of the Software Update Has Started page with the OK button  highlighted.
The Software Update Has Started page with the OK button  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 XG500 update process.

Screenshot of the devices list page with no devices currently connected to the app.
The devices list page with no devices currently connected to the app.

8. Wait for the Sony XG500 to Shut OFF After Updating its Software

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

Picture of the -Power- lamp on the Sony XG500, flashing green.
The -Power- lamp on the Sony XG500, blinking green.

Then after a minute or two, once the 500 finishes updating, the Power light goes dark.  No more blinking.

Picture of the dark status and Bluetooth lamps on the XG500, which is now powered OFF.
The dark status and Bluetooth lamps on the XG500, which is now powered OFF.

9. Press the Power Button To Boot the Speaker Again

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

Picture of the -Power- button on the speaker.
The -Power- button on the speaker.

The XG500 should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the Sony Music Center app. The Power  lamp glows solid green, and the Pairing lamp also glows steady blue once the speaker again links to your mobile device.

Now after the XG500 reconnects to your smart device, the app discovers that your speaker has come back online, and thus, displays an update-complete message, as follows.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app on iPadOS, displaying the Software 7600060 Update Complete screen, with the OK button highlighted.
The Sony Music Center app on iPadOS, displaying the Software 7600060 Update Complete screen, 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 shown in the last screenshot.

The app then displays the XG500 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 version.

Screenshot of the XG500 speaker Home page.
The XG500 speaker Home page.

11. Done with Sony XG500 Software Update !

You’re now finished updating the software to the current version on your speaker.

Related Posts to Sony XG500 Software Update

    1. Sony XE200 Software Update
    2. Sony XE300 Software Update Routine
    3. Sony XG300 Software Update
    4. Sony XB43 Software Update Help

Other Sony XG500 Posts

    1. Sony XG500 Specs
    2. How to Pair Sony XG500 to iPhone
    3. Sony XG500 Power Button Not Working
    4. Sony XG500 Blinking Orange Light
    5. Sony XG500 Orange Light Stays On

References

    1. Official Sony XG500 Support Page
    2. Where to Buy the Sony XG500

Revision History

    • 2023-03-30: First published.