I have a Panasonic DMP-BDT320 blu-ray DVD player and it’s starting to report that I need a ‘firmware’ update or upgrade. I have no idea what it’s talking about, nor do I have a clue how to update it. I do have it hooked up to the Internet (thanks to my daughter) so I can watch Netflix, though. Is that helpful? How do I update or upgrade this thing?
The firmware is the “operating system” of your Blu-Ray player. As you know, the latest generation of players does a lot more than just play the disk that you’ve popped onto the tray. This generation of Panasonic players can read USB thumb drives, access data on the Internet, play music, and even let you enjoy your Netflix streaming video subscription, all without leaving the slim little box. Pretty amazing, actually.
Every so often, however, Panasonic, like so many consumer electronics companies, decides that there are certain new features — and probably bug fixes — that are important enough to push the update out to existing customers. This happens because every so often your Blu-Ray player goes out onto the Internet and asks Panasonic HQ if the version of the software — the firmware — is the latest. If it is, you’re good. If not, well, you know what happens.
I can show you what happens based on my own experience, but it’s with my own Panasonic 3D Blu-Ray player, a Panasonic DMP-BDT310 that I bought just a few months ago. Why? Because I too have seen the same message.
The follow screen shots are quite literally photographs of my TV screen during the upgrade process. They’re not all perfectly rectilinear or in crystal focus. But you’ll see how it works…
First off, when you turn on the Blu-Ray player, I’m expecting you see something like this:
On the lower right it says New firmware is available. Please update firmware in Setup.
Not really super explanatory but if you look at the icons in the “plus layout” you’ll notice that the one in the middle, with the wrench, is labeled “Setup”. A ha! Using your remote, click on the button in the middle of the circular remote buttons. It’s labeled “OK”.
That takes you here:
This is confusing because there’s no indication which to select. In fact, you want to choose Player Settings, the option on the bottom. Click on the down button on the remote and you’ll suddenly change to a completely different type of interface, one that’s frankly a bit easier to understand:
None of these seem to be about firmware updates, so you’ll need to go to “Others”. You would have guessed that, right? Use the arrows around the “OK” button to move to the bottom, then click “OK” to proceed.
There you go. The last option on this second menu. Don’t worry about the other stuff (though it’s interesting to monkey with things like the touch free sensor settings), just “OK” the Firmware Update.
One more selection to make:
Go to the second option, “Update Now”, and select it.
Yup, and you said your unit’s already online for Netflix, so your life will definitely be easier. Fortunately. Select “Yes” to proceed.
Look! There is a firmware update available after all. I’m running 1.70 and the new version is 1.80. You can check out the information on Panasonic’s site at http://panasonic.net/support/ or… you can just proceed by selecting “Yes” again.
And, finally, it’s starting the download and update process:
Be aware that the update is not speedy. Mine took about ten minutes to download. Just have patience and definitely don’t unplug it during the procedure.
Eventually…
Notice what’s missing? No Japanese or Chinese. Interesting. They must have a completely different version of their Blu-Ray product line for those markets, eh?
Meanwhile, look at the player itself. Mine was flashing the following cryptic message during the entire update process:
Interesting. When the process was completely, it showed “FINISH” and the screen showed:
At that point the player automatically restarted and I was done. Ready to watch a movie with the new, presumably improved firmware.
Not the easiest process in the world, so I hope this tutorial helps you figure things out!
can someone answer me please……anyone
hello why does my firmware update keep stopping on the download?
I have found where to download a firmware update for my bdt220 blu ray player but cannot find a version that I can download to my iMac only windows version. Can’t connect player to internet without this. How can I do this?
I followed the instructions exactly like the steps you showed. When it said finished, the screen turned blue and the power button is on and won’t turn off. I can’t get anything of the screen to work. Help!
Sorry to say, sounds like something went wrong (as you have already realized). I would call Panasonic and see what they suggest. Oh, and try unplugging the unit and letting it sit for 30min or so before plugging it in again. Good luck!
I own a blue ray 3D home theater panasonic player. It plays Regional disc only. I want to convert it as a multi region player. Please inform method of conversion.
Changing to a multi-region player is a completely different thing and out of the scope of my site. I suggest you do some Google searches for your exact Panasonic player and “region free” and see if you get lucky. Realize, however, if the directions you find brick or freeze up or otherwise damage your Blu-Ray player, you’d be on your own and Panasonic would be unlikely to help.
Thanks Dave for your web page! You helped me get it figures out and going!
Here’s my ‘two bob’ worth. Blu-ray 3D SC-BTT775GNK
I commenced the firmware update process but got a blank blue screen. No notices, no information just a blank screen. After 20 minutes of waiting for something to happen, I gave up. I tried to switch it off but couldn’t. I tried to reset it but couldn’t. I powered it off from the mains and powered on but it froze with error message – W OPE.
I called Panasonic. They told me to switch it on and leave it for a few day it may work. It didn’t.
Then they told me I must have interrupted the process, which I did after twenty minutes of blank blue screen with no notices, and that it was my fault and had to be repaired at my expense which I did at a cost of $335.00 for a new digital PCB.
Now, with the new PCB, it won’t play certain region dvd’s even with an open region!
It’s been back and forth between Panasonic and their recommended repairer for a month. It was playing perfectly well before the firmware upgrade and playing all my discs, but not anymore.
Panasonic products are of excellent build quality but the SERVICE in Australia is atrocious and lacking any integrity for such a high quality product.
I am disappointed to say the least with Panasonic Australia, and, I WANT MY BLU-RAY 3D DVD AS IT WAS, Panasonic!
Hey I was doing a firmware update now my blu ray wont even turn on it didn’t say anything about it turning off on its own it just said that play back wouldn’t work I left my room so it could update and now nothing can you please tell me what could have happened
I would strongly suggest that you call Panasonic customer service, Teresa, and tell them what happened. Their number appears to be 1-800-211-7262 (based on this page: http://shop.panasonic.com/ecom/support/contact-us ) Good luck!
I bought a Panasonic Blu-Ray player in December 2013. I have used it to play movies a few times only and it worked just fine. Yesterday, I connected my blu-Ray player to the wifi and did the update. It has not been powered off, the screen is blue, and has been this way for over 12 hours now. I have not seen a message indicating the update has finished. The player will not power off from the remote nor manually and none of the functions on the remote seem to work, except being able to switch the input to cable. The player was working fine before the attempted update. Should I unplug it and hope for the best? A movie is in the player now and I can’t even eject it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
I just hooked mine to our wifi and it alerted me of an update that was needed. I allowed it and now mine is doing the exact same thing with the blue screen and everything else. I never even messed with it while it was updating. Did you ever figure out what was wrong with yours?
Thanks, Dave.
Great walk through. Great screen shots and explanations! Update was success thanks to you.
There updates really upset me !!!!! Why MUST I UPDATE if I dont want to ?
my machine worked just fine before this. Another weird thing is when i clicked on the update button it says cannot connect but after i go into network and test it the update can connect then.
Not all people have fast internet speeds where the update is a minute or two……These updates for me are more like an hour or more to complete…. Thanks Panasonic !
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for and it worked perfectly.
I am so frustrated! I just spent an hour talking to Panasonic about the ‘firmware’ disc that they sent me. It killed my Blu-ray player. My player worked just fine before I inserted the disk that I got from Panasonic. Panasonic wont do anything about the fact that they broke my player. They won’t even send me a postage paid label to get the player looked at. I won’t be buying a Panasonic anything ever again!
What happens when you put a Blu-Ray disc in the player, Regina? What happens with a regular DVD?
Hi Dave, Thanks for the walk through on the firmware update. I think I would have actually found my was but my issue was that when I went to “set up” the menu did not appear. I finally had the usual thought;this device like everything else might need a reboot. I disconnected the power cord reconnected and of course the menu appeared. then on to the update.
So you might reiterate the “did you rebboot the unit” to your helpful directions.
Cheers.
Michael
I have model DMP-BD60. I know it’s not a newer model, but I can’t get it to play any blu-ray discs, not even brand new ones. The player is not connected to the internet and I am a novice when it comes to burning discs, etc. I hope you can help me so I don’t have to pay $ to get it fixed.
I haven’t had any such message with my BluRay player but you have explained the experience so clearly I would like to thank you anyway.
Thanks a lot! I hope this helps so I can play the new blu ray discs without it stopping part way through. Your instructions, and photos helped this technically-challenged lassie figure it out.
Hi Dave
I would like to update the firmware on my Panasonic blu-ray model DMP-BD35 with a SD card slot.
It isn’t connected to internet. Can I download the latest firware and write a CD to use on my machine?
Thanks
it took me 3 tries until I got updated the firmware of my Panasonic DMP BDT220 two days ago. I’m also using this unit for Skype since last December . but after the firmware was updated I cannot log in to my Skype account anymore with the message on the screen ” Error Cannot sync your contact list “. once I click the OK below the Error message it sending back to Main Skype Menu to log in again. Any ideas to solve this problem? Thanks!
I was able to complete all the steps you listed on my own, and it worked fine. The Pandora ap downloaded along with several others including Amazon instant video. However, the firmware update did not include Netflix. My blu ray is several years old. Is Netflix incompatible with some blu rays? I rechecked for more firmware updates, but it says I have the most recent update. Is there another way to download it?
It actually says the Firmware Download has stopped. No reason. I have done this about 10 times and get the same error. Any help would be appreciated.
This works, but I consistently get an error message saying it has stopped and will now restart. Any ideas on how to trouble shoot this? Is it better to do it through a wired internet connection?
Yes, but what’s different after doing it?
Thank you! Thank you! I have been trying to figure this out for months. Your instructions worked perfectly even though I have a different model.
Cheers!