A Guide to Understanding OTA Updates

[mkhuffman]

Do module updates come OTA or are those only via FDRS?

My local dealer updated my car using FDRS. They did all the updates as 2/7/2022. They did the updates for no charge because (I am not sure about this) I had an open case with Ford CS regarding the profile issue. I think my dealer used that case to charge Ford the cost of the update.

So if you have a problem that a software update can resolve, report it to Ford CS and then they will arrange for your dealer to do the updates. Probably. At least that is how it worked for me.

OTA can theoretically update all software modules but some updates require the car to be off and require the battery to be connected to a power source. So probably some module updates cannot be performed via OTA. Refer to Jonathan's post.

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[mamejunkie]

I just received the 2.7.4 update and was testing it out to see what changed. I know it doesn't have BC but was turned on the cruise control just for kicks. It didn't have the blue bubble, lane-centering. No cars in road and it drifted to the other lanes. I figured maybe the settings were reset to default or something. Went to settings and everything related to it was turned ON/Enabled. Is it a bad update or did we lose that function?

 

[mattbostonmache]

@mamejunkie do you have lane keeping turned on? The bottom right button on the left side of the steering wheel. I think that has to be on for lane centering cruise control to work.

 

[mamejunkie]

 

[bs1055]

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

Cars built after July 7, 2021 have also gotten 2.8.2

 

[Mike G]

Didn't see an update on this...but...you've figured it out right?

Lane keeping mode needs to be set to more than "Alert" or it won't help keep you in your lane.

Also that steering wheel button on the left side needs to be turned on if it isn't, or LK won't work either.

Mike

 

[Kneebeard]

I'm still not understanding how the OTAs are pushed out.

I got a wave of updates taking me from 1.7.1 up to 2.7.1. Last OTA was July 5th. It's been 20 days and I have yet to receive any other OTAs, but I've been driving my car around areas with good cell reception. Does Ford have to push the OTAs out to my car specifically?

 

[mpshizzle]

I'm still not understanding how the OTAs are pushed out.

I got a wave of updates taking me from 1.7.1 up to 2.7.1. Last OTA was July 5th. It's been 20 days and I have yet to receive any other OTAs, but I've been driving my car around areas with good cell reception. Does Ford have to push the OTAs out to my car specifically?

Yes, when they send out an ota, they send it to a specific list of VINs. Your car has a week to download it before it expires

 

[jddrews]

Yes, when they send out an ota, they send it to a specific list of VINs. Your car has a week to download it before it expires

If the expiration date passes does your vin come up gain for another turn at a later date?

I received 2.8.2 two weeks ago but haven’t received the PU or 2.8.3 yet.

 

[Illinibird]

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.

I was stuck on 1.7.1 also and had to take it into my dealer to have it updated further. I don't think your car can get out of this on its own via an OTA.

 

[mpshizzle]

If the expiration date passes does your vin come up gain for another turn at a later date?

I received 2.8.2 two weeks ago but haven’t received the PU or 2.8.3 yet.

Yes, try will try again

 

[HuntingPudel]

If the expiration date passes does your vin come up gain for another turn at a later date?

I received 2.8.2 two weeks ago but haven’t received the PU or 2.8.3 yet.

2.8.3 installed itself on my GT-PE last night. Blocks. Whoopee?

 

[rmillis]

Got 3.1.1 update last night but this might not mean much. Said something about Alexa Built In and a future update coming very soon.

 

[dougni]

I was stuck on 1.7.1 also and had to take it into my dealer to have it updated further. I don't think your car can get out of this on its own via an OTA.

I got my car unstuck at the dealer back in April. Since then I already got two OTA updates and last night I got the recall update. So far so good.

 

[theganyo]

Looks like I made it! Our Dealer finally (third time’s the charm!) got me unstuck and OTAs working. Very exciting! (Thank you, @Gimme_my_MME for added support.)

But it seems there’s always something… now neither my wife nor I can get Phone As A Key working again. Even tried a master reset a couple of times, the app just “downloads the key” and fails to connect to the car every time.

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