Note: When you click the links below to download the firmware, it indicates that you have already read and agreed to the Open source licenses.

How to upgrade the firmware of UTWS5: Click here

(Video instruction: Click here)

FiiO Control app: Click here

Updated at 2023-07-11

UTWS5 v1.74 download link: Click here

The following changes and improvements have been made in the new firmware: 

1. Added support for Bluetooth codec LDAC

2. Miscellaneous bug fixes.

Notes:

(1) If the new firmware affects the experience, you can revert to the previous firmware version. Download it at the above link.

(2) After the successful upgrade, please reset the device.

Reset the FW5: Hold the button with a raised dot on the earbud

Reset the UTWS5: Put the two ear hooks inside the charging case. Close the case and reopen it, and then hold the button on the case for about 12s.

Firmware Explanation

Since LDAC requires extremely high transmission bandwidth, and TWS earbuds contain double wireless units which require double the bandwidth to transmit two channels simultaneously, we can only guarantee that the firmware released this time supports LDAC in some devices instead of perfectly being compatible with all. So please decide whether to upgrade or not based on your needs. If it affects your experience, it is suggested to revert to the previous stable version.

After updating the firmware, please enable LDAC from FiiO Control App-Select Bluetooth codec before using LDAC Bluetooth codec  (LDAC Bluetooth codec is off by default.) If the output audio is not stable when using the LDAC for the first time, please reset the FW5/UTWS5 again.

Devices supporting Snapdragon Sound are suggested to upgrade the firmware

According to our technical analysis and user feedback, phones with Qualcomm processors that support snapdragon sound can better support LDAC.

Snapdragon Sound includes high-bandwidth technology QHS and TrueWireless Mirroring technology.

QHS (Qualcomm High Speed) is Qualcomm’s new Bluetooth wireless transmission program. By modifying the Bluetooth protocol, and optimizing the modulation system, transmission of packet loss, and information integration, it maximizes the Bluetooth transmission bandwidth to up to 6Mbps, and the effective bandwidth to 1 ~ 1.2Mbps, so as to provide more space for audio transmission. Therefore, it can meet the high bit rate transmission of 990kbps of LDAC.

TrueWireless Mirroring technology solves the problem of traditional Bluetooth audio transmission technology that requires relay forwarding, which will occupy double the Bluetooth bandwidth.

Check out if your mobile phone supports Snapdragon Sound here:

https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?aptx_type=766

If the device does not support Snapdragon Sound or the upgrade is unstable, it is suggested to revert the firmware

The current main problems with phones that do not support Snapdragon Sound are as follows:

(1) Do not support 990kbps bitrate;

(2) Stutter may occur when listening to music in LDAC adaptive mode;

(3) Muteness may occur when listening to music.

At this time, you can set the bitrate to 330kbps or 660kbps in the developer options to ensure the stability of audio playback. If there is still stutter or muteness, please hold the physical button with a raised dot on the earbud for about 8s, and then reset the two earbuds and reconnect them.

If the above measures still can not enable LDAC codec normally, please go to the Settings - Bluetooth code menu in the App to disable LDAC, or revert the firmware to the previously stable firmware.

We are very glad that we succeeded in improving the sound quality with LDAC for most TWS users, and also very guilty for not being able to solve the compatibility issue of LDAC for all connected devices. We promise we will keep working with Qualcomm and Sony to optimize the Bluetooth firmware and LDAC codec, trying our best to improve user experience.

Thank you so much for your support to FiiO! If you have any questions or suggestions about the firmware upgrade, please feel free to reach us out.

Updated at 2023-2-8

UTWS5 V1.5 firmware download link: Click here

The following changes and improvements have been made in V1.5:

1. Added a new function of Bluetooth multipoint (can be connected to 2 Bluetooth devices at the same time); 

2. Added PEQ support (should upgrade the FiiO Control app to the latest version);

3. Added a new function of Bluetooth codec selection;

4. Added a new function of auto-reconnection if there is disconnection due to over distance within 3 minutes;

5. Fixed the issue where playback stutter may occur when playing 96kHz aptX Adaptive in some mobile phones.

UTWS5 V1.42

Improved the calling quality.

Updated at 2022-03-29

UTWS5 V1.4 firmware download link: Click here

The following changes and improvements have been made in V1.4:

1. Added Ambient Sound Mode

After enabling the Ambient Sound Mode, we can easily catch up with small talks with our friends, hear the sound of vehicles on the road as well as the arrival reminder in the subway without taking off headphones.

Triple-click the button on the right earhook to enable the Ambient Sound Mode. Also, we can enable it on the FiiO Control APP: UTWS5->Audio->Ambient Sound, and adjust the gain here.

2. Added Game Mode

Turning on the Game Mode can significantly improve the low latency in the Bluetooth transmission process.

Tested by FiiO Labs, the aptX Adaptive can improve the latency by about 27% while the aptX can improve by about 41%.

**When connecting the UTWS5 to the Mi 10 in aptX Adaptive codec, the measured latency goes up to 165ms with the Game Mode off, while the latency goes down to 121ms with the Game Mode on.

**When connecting the UTWS5 to the Huawei P20 in aptX codec, the measured latency goes up to 255ms with the Game Mode off, while the latency goes down to 150ms with the Game Mode on.

3. Added LHDC Bluetooth codec (beta version)

LHDC is a high-definition Bluetooth audio codec technology with similar performance to LDAC, both of which support up to 96k/24bit audio transmission.

When LHDC was HWA at first, FiiO took the lead in applying this technology to the BTR3 stereo Bluetooth amp. After years of technical iterations, it is now becoming more and more mature. In addition, some Chinese mainstream mobile phone manufacturers (such as OPPO, Xiaomi, vivo) have gradually included the HD Bluetooth transmission of LHDC, making this technology more and more popular.

In order to meet the needs of more audiophiles for high-definition sound quality of TWS Bluetooth transmission, we decided to introduce LHDC again and try it out on the UTWS5 first after careful consideration.

4. Miscellaneous improvements on performance.