Why New Pet Tech Wants a Firmware Update Before First Use
Quick answer: A first-use firmware update installs the actual current software onto a device that may have sat in a warehouse or on a shelf for months since manufacturing — it's genuinely necessary, not a stalling tactic. Expect it to take anywhere from a few minutes to 20+ minutes depending on the device and your WiFi speed, and don't unplug or close the app during it; a failed mid-update is the most common cause of a device that won't respond afterward.
A brand-new pet camera or GPS tracker asking for a firmware update before you can use it isn’t unusual, and it isn’t a stalling tactic — it’s doing something genuinely necessary. Here’s what it’s actually for, what to expect, and what to do if it doesn’t go smoothly.
What the update is actually doing
A device is manufactured with whatever firmware version existed at that point in production — which could be months before you actually bought and unboxed it, given typical warehouse and retail timelines. The first-use update installs the actual current software: bug fixes, security patches, and sometimes features added since manufacturing. This is standard across most current connected devices generally, not something specific to pet tech, and it’s a real, necessary step rather than something you can safely skip.
What to expect during the process
Update time varies genuinely by device and connection speed — anywhere from a few minutes to over 20 minutes for a larger update on a slower WiFi connection. If the app shows a progress indicator, trust that over any fixed time estimate, since device and update sizes vary too much for one universal number to mean much. This is a normal part of setup, not a sign something’s wrong, even when it takes longer than you’d expect for a “quick setup.”
What not to do during an update
Don’t unplug the device or force-close the app while an update is actively running — this is the single most common cause of a device that won’t respond correctly afterward, since an interrupted update can leave the device in a partially-updated state rather than cleanly rolling back. If you need to step away, let the update finish first; this isn’t a process worth trying to speed up or interrupt.
If it seems genuinely stuck
If an update appears stalled well past what the app’s own progress indicator suggested — not just “taking longer than expected,” but visibly frozen with no progress for an extended period — check the manufacturer’s support page for your specific model before assuming the device is defective. Some brands have a specific recovery process for a stuck update (often a particular button-hold sequence) rather than needing a full factory reset, so it’s worth checking the model-specific guidance first.
WiFi stability is a common hidden cause
A firmware update needs a stable connection for its full duration, so an unstable WiFi signal at the device’s actual physical location is a common underlying cause of a stalled or failed update — even though the visible symptom is the update itself, not an obvious connectivity problem. If updates keep failing on the same device, check signal strength at the specific spot you’re setting it up, not just your general home WiFi status, before assuming the device itself is faulty.
Bottom line
A first-use firmware update is genuinely necessary, not a formality — it brings a device manufactured months ago up to its actual current software. Expect it to take anywhere from a few minutes to 20+ minutes, don’t interrupt it once started, and check for a model-specific recovery process (not necessarily a full factory reset) if it does get stuck, since WiFi instability at the setup location is a common underlying cause worth ruling out first. If the device won’t even find your network in the first place, that’s usually a different, earlier problem — see our WiFi setup troubleshooting guide for the common 2.4GHz-only/band-steering mismatch behind it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a brand-new device need an update before I can even use it?
The device was manufactured with whatever firmware version existed at that time, which could be months before you actually bought and unboxed it — the first-use update brings it up to the actual current software, fixing bugs and adding features shipped since manufacturing. This is standard across most current connected devices, not specific to pet tech, and it's a real update, not a stalling tactic or a way to force you to open the app.
How long should a first-use firmware update actually take?
It varies by device and connection speed, but expect anywhere from a few minutes to over 20 minutes for a larger update on a slower connection. If an app gives a progress indicator, that's a more reliable signal than a fixed time estimate — devices and update sizes vary too much for a single universal number to be meaningful.
What should I do if a firmware update fails or gets stuck partway through?
Don't unplug the device or force-close the app while it's actively updating — that's the most common cause of a device that won't respond correctly afterward. If it does appear stuck for an unusually long time (well past what the app's own progress indicator suggests), check the manufacturer's support page for that specific model's recovery process before assuming the device is defective, since a stuck update sometimes has a specific recovery procedure rather than needing a full reset.
Does a WiFi connection issue during setup usually show up as a firmware update failure?
Often, yes — a firmware update requires a stable connection for its full duration, so an unstable WiFi signal during initial setup is a common, underlying cause of an update that stalls or fails, even though the visible symptom is the update itself. If updates keep failing, check your WiFi signal strength at the device's actual physical location before assuming the device itself is the problem.