mpshizzle

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There seems to be a lot of confusion around OTA. What updates are out, how they work, and how to know what you have. So I thought I'd make a guide to help clear things up.

1) What do the numbers mean?

Power Ups (OTA updates) are numbered, but the numbers mean nothing. They might as well be named Sharon, Bill, and Tim. They can come in any order and do not (necessarily) depend on each other.

2) Can the updates be installed by the dealer (or FDRS)?

Yes, they are being released via FDRS at the same time they are publicly released on OTA. The caveat here is they're not labeled or organized in the same way as the OTA - they just show as a set of modules needing updates. So if you ask your dealer for PowerUp x.x.x they may not know what you're asking for. Instead ask them to run all of the module updates in FDRS.

3) Can I force an update or get the current status of an update?

No. Unlike app updates, they are not available to go "fetch". We are totally at Ford's mercy here. Even if the update has been publicly "released" they still need to specifically send an update to your car, and it has a limited time window to download and install it.

While there's no OFFICIAL way to get more info about updates, it has been discovered that hidden in the Ford website you can get a bit more detail on the latest update push for your car. The easiest way to access this is via an iOS widget developed by @tonesto7 or an android widget developed by @kennelh and @DevSecOps

4)Automatic Updates vs Update Schedule (Settings found in Sync)
More details on this (courtesy of @Mirak) Can be found here

There are two kinds of updates that can be sent out.
1) Updates that can be installed on the fly while you're driving
2) Updates that require your car to be parked for a while

If you have auto updates turned on it will install "on the fly" updates as soon as it can (probably the next time you drive the car). Scheduling does not apply to these updates.

For updates that require your car to be parked for a while, it will wait until your next scheduled time. If you do not have a schedule set, it will not automatically install. As of power up 2.3.0 there is a button that will allow you to install these updates immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled time.

5) How do I know which updates I have?

There's no good way to tell. If your car has had an update, the most recent one will show under "software updates" on your sync screen. Beyond that, only your dealer can access the update history for your car.

6) What caused my update to fail and how do I fix it?

There are a plethora of reasons an update can fail but here are some of the more common ones I've seen on the forum
  • Download failed or interrupted due to weak cell signal or wifi anomalies
  • Battery level on car is too low
  • Car was not driven enough times during the update window and update timed out
  • Ford botched the update and sent out a corrupted file (this has only happened a small number of times, mostly to people in the early access program)
If the update failed there's not much you can do besides making sure your battery is charged and you are driving your car. In most cases your car will automatically try again in the coming days or weeks

7) What updates have been released?
*Updates marked with a star have not been publicly released

For cars built before July 7, 2021:
1.4.0 - Added Securialert
1.6.0 - Nothing you'd notice
1.7.1 - Sync update, added notes
2.1.0 - Nothing you'd notice
2.3.0/2.6.0 - Sync update, added games, update scheduling abilities, and full screen CarPlay
2.4.1/2.7.1 - BlueCruise prep 1/7 - Nothing You'd Notice
2.4.2/2.7.2 - BlueCruise prep 2/7 - Changed brake pedal calibration
2.4.3/2.7.3 - BlueCruise prep 3/7 - Instrument Panel UI update
2.4.4/2.7.4 - BlueCruise prep 4/7 - Instrument Panel again
2.4.5/2.7.5 - BlueCruise prep 5/7 - APIM nothing you'd notice
2.5.1/2.8.1- BlueCruise prep 6/7 - Various driver assist modules
2.5.2/2.8.2 - BlueCruise prep 7/7 - Blue Cruise enabled
2.5.3/2.8.3 - Nothing you'd notice

For cars built after July 7, 2021:
BlueCruise Map update
Sponsored

 
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RickMachE

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There seems to be a lot of confusion around OTA. What updates are out, how they work, and how to know what you have. So I thought I'd make a guide to help clear things up.

1) What do the numbers mean?

Power Ups (OTA updates) are numbered, but the numbers mean nothing. They might as well be named Sharon, bill, and Tim. They can come in any order and do not (necessarily) depend on each other.

2) Can the updates be installed by the dealer (or FDRS)?

Short answer: no. Some of the updates (but not all) are also available via FDRS. But the few that are there are not numbered or labeled in the same way as the OTAs.

3) Can I force an update?

No. Unlike app updates, they are not available to go "fetch". We are totally at Ford's mercy here. They will specifically send an update to your car, and it has a limited time window to download and install it.

4) How do I know which updates I have?

There's no good way to tell. If your car has had an update, the most recent one will show under "software updates" on your sync screen. Beyond that, only your dealer can access the update history for your car.

Here's a list of what updates have been released so far (as of the writing of this post, this only applies to cars built before June 2021. Newer cars have not yet had any updates)

1.4.0 - Added Securialert
1.6.0 - Nothing you'd notice
1.7.1 - Sync update, added notes
2.1.0 - Nothing you'd notice
2.3.0 - Sync update, added some games and update scheduling abilities.
Why does bill not get his name capitalized?

An upcoming change is going to allow us to request a pending update, per several posts.

What does OTA stand for? Open Transmission Area? Opposing Transversal Appendix?

?
 

Jimrpa

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There seems to be a lot of confusion around OTA. What updates are out, how they work, and how to know what you have. So I thought I'd make a guide to help clear things up.

1) What do the numbers mean?

Power Ups (OTA updates) are numbered, but the numbers mean nothing. They might as well be named Sharon, bill, and Tim. They can come in any order and do not (necessarily) depend on each other.

2) Can the updates be installed by the dealer (or FDRS)?

Short answer: no. Some of the updates (but not all) are also available via FDRS. But the few that are there are not numbered or labeled in the same way as the OTAs.

3) Can I force an update?

No. Unlike app updates, they are not available to go "fetch". We are totally at Ford's mercy here. They will specifically send an update to your car, and it has a limited time window to download and install it.

4) How do I know which updates I have?

There's no good way to tell. If your car has had an update, the most recent one will show under "software updates" on your sync screen. Beyond that, only your dealer can access the update history for your car.

Here's a list of what updates have been released so far (as of the writing of this post, this only applies to cars built before June 2021. Newer cars have not yet had any updates)

1.4.0 - Added Securialert
1.6.0 - Nothing you'd notice
1.7.1 - Sync update, added notes
2.1.0 - Nothing you'd notice
2.3.0 - Sync update, added some games and update scheduling abilities.
Thanks for publishing!
 

COACH CHRIS

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Worthing noting that for CarPlay users, 1.7.1 and, from what I've read, 2.3.0 have some worthwhile updates:

1.7.1 - Displays directions on GOM screen
2.3.0 - CarPlay now works fullscreen (+ volume bar adjustments.)

I don't yet have 2.3.0 so I could be wrong here.
 


sharkcom

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Why does bill not get his name capitalized?

An upcoming change is going to allow us to request a pending update, per several posts.

What does OTA stand for? Open Transmission Area? Opposing Transversal Appendix?

?
OTA = Over The Air
FRDS = Ford Diagnostic & Repair System
 

dougni

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An upcoming change is going to allow us to request a pending update, per several posts.
Would be a nice feature to have! I'm currently stuck in 1.7.1. It didn't finish installing it, now can't enable Auto Update or schedule updates. Shows expired on the OTA info, so not sure if/when it will attempt again.
 

Mach1E

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There seems to be a lot of confusion around OTA. What updates are out, how they work, and how to know what you have. So I thought I'd make a guide to help clear things up.

1) What do the numbers mean?

Power Ups (OTA updates) are numbered, but the numbers mean nothing. They might as well be named Sharon, bill, and Tim. They can come in any order and do not (necessarily) depend on each other.

2) Can the updates be installed by the dealer (or FDRS)?

Short answer: no. Some of the updates (but not all) are also available via FDRS. But the few that are there are not numbered or labeled in the same way as the OTAs.

3) Can I force an update?

No. Unlike app updates, they are not available to go "fetch". We are totally at Ford's mercy here. They will specifically send an update to your car, and it has a limited time window to download and install it.

4) How do I know which updates I have?

There's no good way to tell. If your car has had an update, the most recent one will show under "software updates" on your sync screen. Beyond that, only your dealer can access the update history for your car.

Here's a list of what updates have been released so far (as of the writing of this post, this only applies to cars built before June 2021. Newer cars have not yet had any updates)

1.4.0 - Added Securialert
1.6.0 - Nothing you'd notice
1.7.1 - Sync update, added notes
2.1.0 - Nothing you'd notice
2.3.0 - Sync update, added some games and update scheduling abilities.
Which one updated the charging curve? I think that’s something people will notice.

Good list though! Would be helpful if there were links to the detailed update notes on those that have them.
 
OP
OP
mpshizzle

mpshizzle

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Which one updated the charging curve? I think that’s something people will notice.

Good list though! Would be helpful if there were links to the detailed update notes on those that have them.
None of them.. it was an FDRS only update. Never came OTA.

Lol I thought about it, but I was too lazy to dig and find each thread ?
 

SnBGC

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There seems to be a lot of confusion around OTA. What updates are out, how they work, and how to know what you have. So I thought I'd make a guide to help clear things up.

1) What do the numbers mean?

Power Ups (OTA updates) are numbered, but the numbers mean nothing. They might as well be named Sharon, bill, and Tim. They can come in any order and do not (necessarily) depend on each other.

2) Can the updates be installed by the dealer (or FDRS)?

Short answer: no. Some of the updates (but not all) are also available via FDRS. But the few that are there are not numbered or labeled in the same way as the OTAs.

3) Can I force an update?

No. Unlike app updates, they are not available to go "fetch". We are totally at Ford's mercy here. They will specifically send an update to your car, and it has a limited time window to download and install it.

4) How do I know which updates I have?

There's no good way to tell. If your car has had an update, the most recent one will show under "software updates" on your sync screen. Beyond that, only your dealer can access the update history for your car.

Here's a list of what updates have been released so far (as of the writing of this post, this only applies to cars built before June 2021. Newer cars have not yet had any updates)

1.4.0 - Added Securialert
1.6.0 - Nothing you'd notice
1.7.1 - Sync update, added notes
2.1.0 - Nothing you'd notice
2.3.0 - Sync update, added some games and update scheduling abilities.
For item #3
I agree you can't force an update before one is available to you. But once it becomes available via the notification icon on the screen and/or notice in FordPass then you are then able to force it to install. There is a button on the screen for that purpose.

20220106_081450.jpg
 

SnBGC

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Does anyone know or have any theories as to what happens (if anything) in the time between when the update says it is complete on the Sync screen vs the completed notification in FordPass?

For the 1.7.1 update.....that time was about 46 hours.
For the 2.1.0 update it took about 70 hours.

Is this just a delay in messages pushing to FordPass or is there something happening in that time span?
 

benk016

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Does anyone know or have any theories as to what happens (if anything) in the time between when the update says it is complete on the Sync screen vs the completed notification in FordPass?

For the 1.7.1 update.....that time was about 46 hours.
For the 2.1.0 update it took about 70 hours.

Is this just a delay in messages pushing to FordPass or is there something happening in that time span?
All of mine gave me the notification on fordpass about 5 minutes after completion. I always knew it was coming and was in the car watching it tho.
 

generaltso

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Does anyone know or have any theories as to what happens (if anything) in the time between when the update says it is complete on the Sync screen vs the completed notification in FordPass?

For the 1.7.1 update.....that time was about 46 hours.
For the 2.1.0 update it took about 70 hours.

Is this just a delay in messages pushing to FordPass or is there something happening in that time span?
I'm not sure how long it took for 1.7.1 and 2.1.0, but for 2.3.0 it only took about a minute from the time I saw "success" in the widget to the time I got a push notification from FordPass. Then I went out to the car and had the update notice there as well.
 

SnBGC

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All of mine gave me the notification on fordpass about 5 minutes after completion. I always knew it was coming and was in the car watching it tho.
Interesting. I wonder if I am the only one with the delayed message in FordPass?

Has anyone received a "your update was unsuccessful " message?
Sponsored

 
 




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