Samsung Q990D unresponsive after 1020 firmware update

[Jwrc]

Since the update, the soundbar is unresponsive and can't be reset.

Seems like quite a few people with the issue

[Marcocce]

Samsung’s handling of this issue raises serious concerns. A firmware update should never be capable of completely bricking thousands of devices unless there is a serious design flaw in the main board hardware. Well-engineered systems include built-in protections to prevent catastrophic failures, ensuring that even a faulty update can be reversed or recovered. Yet, in this case, not even manual USB recovery works, leaving users with no option but to replace the entire main board.

This strongly suggests that the issue goes beyond just bad software. If a simple firmware update was enough to render so many devices unusable, it points to a critical design flaw in the hardware itself. How did a premium sound system end up so vulnerable to a single bad update?

Even more concerning, Samsung appears to be replacing the faulty units with the exact same board model, without publicly addressing the root cause. This means the fundamental issue hasn’t been fixed—just temporarily patched. Even if repaired units are working now, there’s nothing preventing the same failure from happening again.

Without an official statement or a real long-term solution, users remain at serious risk. If another update triggers the same issue, we’ll be right back in this situation. Samsung needs to acknowledge this as a potential hardware design failure and provide transparency, not just leave consumers to deal with the consequences of what could be a major engineering flaw.

[userIGnei5PCYf]

I believe the thing resembles updating bios in motherboards a while back. Then if you installed wrong file, you rewrote original file and bricked the device. At some point motherboards started coming with 2 separate bios and a physical switch that would toggle other one in case of failure. Nowadays motherboards also check if the file is for correct device, but I believe this is just some string in file reading what device it is for. 

In Samsung's case it really isn't hardware's fault, because every hardware stops working if you replace firmware with trash. The problem is solely in update process and in maintaining and testing those updates. Samsung has long history of pushing out untested updates that mess hardware.

[JC98989898]

I have this issue as well. Out of warranty and was told I'd need to pay for the repair. Imagine remotely bricking your flagship soundbar then asking customers to pay for the repair. I was able to escalate to a supervisor and they put me in for a no cost repair. No idea how long it will take. Really unacceptable and I won't be buying any more Samsung devices. 

[Tjc2005]

This is absolutely unacceptable. If it were me I wouldn't be paying, I'd be looking in to who I need to talk to, to start proceedings against Samsung. They broke it, not you! They should be fitting the bill. Absolutely disgraceful disgusting behaviour. I'm never buying Samsung again, absolute amateur cowboys.

[DT2122]

Had my soundbar sent to the repair center on the 18th, got a notice today the repair was complete and got a notice from UPS it should be delivered by tomorrow. I’ll update when I get it back. 

[viciouschloe]

Got on the phone after three days of not hearing back.   Tech said to wait another two days, they are trying to fix it.  I said, how?  Nothing is operational, how will me waiting two days allow to fix something they can't fix in over 10 days?   Anyway, he the did get me free packaging and shipping to the NJ repair center.   That took a bit also because they send a UPS shipping label AND another email with a QR code that you need for UPS to scan do the packaging for free.   Well that one ended up in junk mail, so I did not know about it.   so, after a 20 conversation on the phone with them while in the UPS lobby finally fixed that.    At least they did pay for the packing and shipping.   Of course mine was still under warrantee.   I'm sure it is more hassle if it is not.   I would say to argue for it though.   They should pick up the tab for this as they caused it.   When it comes back, auto-update will be OFF!   I see no need to ever update a sound bar really.   

[MetroidTalon]

3 days at NJ service center. No updates.

[FatKidFriendly53]

Same here, text said give them at least 4 days tomorrow (Friday) will be the 4th day

[Jcpm]

Same problem. Took the soundbar to a repair shop. They advised me that the required part is on back order.

[userE1CId43zwR]

I'm having the same issue with my q990c. I called Samsung and they said they haven't had any other reports of this problem. It looks like he was wrong. Samsung did something that broke our sound bars. It can't be a coincidence that so many are having the same problem at the same time