Update Arctis GameBuds firmware through the SteelSeries GG desktop app, not from the mobile Companion app. Put both earbuds in their charging case, connect the case to a supported computer, open Engine, select the GameBuds card, and follow the firmware banner when it appears. Xbox-version owners updating on a PC must also set the wireless dongle’s physical switch to PC mode.
The correct update route
SteelSeries manages GameBuds firmware in the Engine section of its GG desktop application. The computer connection is made through the charging case: place both GameBuds inside the case and connect the case to the computer. Do not connect only one earbud and expect the documented updater to work.
After GG detects the device, its GameBuds card can display a firmware-update banner. Select that banner and complete the instructions shown by GG. If no banner is displayed, SteelSeries says the device has no update available through that check. A missing banner is therefore different from a failed update.
The Arctis Companion app has a separate role. It is compatible with GameBuds for mobile features, but SteelSeries’ support procedure sends firmware checks through GG first. Use the Companion app only after the firmware is current and the phone has been paired correctly.
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What you need before starting
| Requirement | What to prepare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| GameBuds and case | Put both earbuds in the charging case before connecting it. | The case is the computer connection point used by the documented update process. |
| SteelSeries GG | Install and open the current desktop release on a supported computer. | Engine is the GG area that manages device firmware. |
| Operating system | Windows is the primary supported update environment. macOS has a more limited update scope; Linux is unsupported. | Device detection and available update functions depend on platform support. |
| Xbox model on a PC | Set the wireless dongle’s physical switch to PC. | The Xbox article identifies PC mode as necessary for GG recognition on a computer. |
| Time to finish | Leave GG open and do not disconnect the case while an update is running. | Following the on-screen sequence without interruption gives the updater a stable session. |
The support material does not establish a separate cable requirement or a special accessory. Use the normal case-to-computer connection supplied for your GameBuds setup.
How to update GameBuds firmware in GG
1. Start with the current GG desktop app
- On a supported computer, install the current SteelSeries GG desktop application if it is not already installed.
- Open GG and allow it to finish loading before connecting or selecting the device.
- If GG offers an application update, complete that update first and reopen GG when requested. Interface wording can change between GG releases, so use the update prompt presented by your installed version rather than relying on an older screenshot.
GG is the desktop software for SteelSeries device setup and firmware management. The mobile Companion app is not the documented first step for installing GameBuds firmware.
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2. Put both earbuds in the case
- Place the left and right GameBuds in their charging case.
- Check that they are seated in the case before making the computer connection.
- Connect the case to the computer. The instruction applies to the case with the earbuds inside, not to an individual earbud connected by itself.
This arrangement lets GG communicate with the complete GameBuds set through the case. If you connect only an earbud, the expected device card or update prompt may not appear.
3. Put an Xbox dongle in PC mode when updating on a computer
This step applies to the Xbox version when you are using a PC. Find the wireless dongle’s physical mode switch and set it to PC. A dongle left in Xbox mode can prevent GG from recognizing the device on the computer, even when the case is connected.
Owners of another GameBuds version should not change a mode switch that their hardware does not have. The PC-mode instruction is specific to the Xbox model’s dongle.
4. Open Engine and select GameBuds
- In GG, open Engine.
- Locate the GameBuds device card.
- Select the card to view its available device actions.
If the card is missing, stop at the detection troubleshooting section below rather than trying to update from the Companion app.
5. Follow the firmware banner
- Look for a firmware-update banner on the GameBuds card.
- Click the banner when it is present.
- Read each instruction in GG and proceed through the update until the application reports completion.
- Keep the case connected and the earbuds inside it for the entire process.
The banner is conditional. GG does not need to show an update control every time you open Engine. When there is no banner, SteelSeries says there is no firmware update available through that check.
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What the GG app does, and what it does not do
GG is a desktop hub. Its Engine section identifies compatible SteelSeries hardware and presents firmware actions when SteelSeries makes an update available for that device. Firmware availability is therefore determined by the device card and the installed GG release, not by a permanent update button that should always be visible.
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- 100+ GAME AUDIO PRESETS — Easy-to-use SteelSeries Arctis Companion App contains 100+ presets to boost critical sounds in game on your Xbox, PC and more
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The phrase “update the SteelSeries GG app” can mean two different tasks:
- Updating GG itself: use the current desktop release offered by SteelSeries and complete any update notice shown by the application before starting the firmware session.
- Updating GameBuds firmware: use GG’s Engine device card, with the case connected and both earbuds inside.
Keeping the desktop app current is sensible because device support and prompts are delivered through GG, but an application update is not the same thing as a GameBuds firmware update. Confirm which banner or prompt you are acting on before proceeding.
Windows, macOS and Linux compatibility
Windows
Windows is the clearest supported route described for firmware updates. Install the current GG release, connect the case with both earbuds inside, open Engine and use the GameBuds firmware banner. For the Xbox model, set the dongle to PC mode before expecting the PC application to recognize it.
macOS
SteelSeries lists macOS support with a more limited update scope than Windows. Do not assume that every Windows Engine function, device prompt or firmware path is available on a Mac. Install the current GG release for macOS, connect the case as instructed and rely on the prompts that the current application actually presents. If the expected GameBuds card or banner is absent, use a supported Windows computer rather than treating the absence as proof that the earbuds have failed.
Linux
SteelSeries lists Linux as unsupported for GG. The documented firmware procedure should not be represented as a Linux workflow. Use a supported Windows computer, or a macOS installation only within the limited functions SteelSeries currently provides there.
If GG does not recognize the GameBuds
The case is not connected correctly
- Remove and reseat both earbuds in the charging case.
- Reconnect the case to the computer rather than trying to connect one earbud on its own.
- Close and reopen GG, then return to Engine.
The key check is whether the complete case-and-earbuds assembly is connected. The individual earbuds are not the documented computer connection point.
An Xbox dongle is still in Xbox mode
For the Xbox version on a PC, inspect the dongle’s physical switch. Move it to PC mode, then reopen or refresh GG and check Engine again. This is a hardware-mode issue, not a firmware-banner setting inside the application.
The computer runs an unsupported platform
Linux is not supported by GG. On macOS, support is limited and may not match Windows. Move the update attempt to Windows when the device is not detected or the required firmware action is unavailable.
GG opens but the card is still absent
- Exit GG completely and start it again.
- Reconnect the case with both earbuds inside.
- For an Xbox model on PC, confirm the dongle is set to PC mode.
- Open Engine and check for the GameBuds card again.
- If the card remains absent, retry on a supported Windows installation so you can separate a platform limitation from a connection problem.
Do not jump to the mobile Companion app as a substitute for these checks. SteelSeries’ troubleshooting order puts firmware verification in GG first.
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- 100+ GAME AUDIO PRESETS — Easy-to-use SteelSeries Arctis Companion App contains 100+ presets to boost critical sounds in game on your PS5, PC and more
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If there is no firmware banner
A missing banner is normally an availability result, not an instruction to force an update. SteelSeries states that when no banner appears on the device card, no update is available through that check. Confirm that you are viewing the correct GameBuds card in Engine and that GG is the current desktop release, then stop if the banner is still absent.
Do not claim that every opening of GG will produce an update. Firmware prompts appear only when an update is offered for the recognized device and software combination.
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The supplied support procedure does not specify a separate recovery utility or a manual firmware file. For that reason, do not substitute an unofficial file or attempt to update an individual earbud. Keep the case connected with both earbuds inside, reopen GG and return to Engine. If the application again detects the device, follow the banner presented by that current session.
If the device is no longer recognized after an interrupted attempt, apply the detection sequence: reseat both earbuds, reconnect the case, verify PC mode for an Xbox dongle, restart GG and retry on Windows if necessary. Escalate through SteelSeries support when the recognized device does not recover; the available instructions do not establish a universal manual rollback procedure.
Why the Companion app may not find GameBuds
GameBuds are compatible with the Arctis Companion mobile app, but the app’s discovery problem is handled separately from desktop firmware management. SteelSeries recommends checking and updating firmware through GG first. Once that is done, work through the phone-side pairing sequence.
- Update the Companion app to its current release.
- In the phone’s Bluetooth settings, forget the existing GameBuds pairing.
- Toggle Bluetooth off and back on.
- Pair the GameBuds with the phone again.
- Open the Companion app and check whether the device appears.
- If discovery still fails, reinstall the Companion app and repeat the pairing process.
This sequence addresses app discovery and Bluetooth pairing. It does not replace the GG Engine procedure for firmware.
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| Symptom | Most relevant check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| GameBuds card is missing in GG | Case connection, both earbuds seated, and platform support | Reconnect the case, restart GG and use Windows if the computer is on Linux or a limited macOS setup. |
| Xbox GameBuds are not recognized on a PC | Wireless dongle mode | Set the physical dongle switch to PC, then reopen GG and check Engine. |
| GameBuds card appears but has no banner | Update availability | SteelSeries says no banner means no update is offered through that check. |
| Companion app cannot find the earbuds | Firmware currency and Bluetooth pairing | Check firmware in GG, update the mobile app, forget pairing, toggle Bluetooth, pair again and reinstall the app if needed. |
| Firmware process was interrupted | Device detection after reconnecting | Keep both earbuds in the case, reconnect it, restart GG and retry the recognized banner; seek support if detection does not return. |
A safe completion checklist
- Both GameBuds are inside the charging case.
- The case, not a single earbud, is connected to the computer.
- GG is open and you are using Engine.
- The Xbox dongle is set to PC when an Xbox model is being updated on a PC.
- You clicked the firmware banner only when it appeared on the GameBuds card.
- You left the case connected until GG completed its instructions.
- If the banner was absent, you treated that as no update available through the check rather than forcing a manual installation.
- If the mobile app still failed, you completed the separate update, forget-pairing, Bluetooth-toggle and re-pair sequence.
Which version should you identify before troubleshooting?
Start by determining whether you own the Xbox version or another GameBuds version. The Xbox model has a dongle-mode consideration when it is connected to a PC; that detail does not automatically apply to other versions. Then identify the computer platform. Windows is the supported baseline for the documented firmware workflow, macOS has a narrower scope, and Linux is unsupported.
These two facts—model and operating system—explain most differences in the instructions. They also prevent a common mistake: applying the Xbox PC-mode fix to hardware that does not use that dongle, or assuming that a Mac or Linux installation should expose the same Engine controls as Windows.
Quick Recap
Bottom line for updating
Use the current SteelSeries GG desktop app, connect the GameBuds charging case with both earbuds inside, open Engine and act only on the firmware banner shown for the recognized device. For Xbox GameBuds on a PC, set the dongle to PC mode. The Companion app is for mobile pairing and features, not the documented first-line firmware updater. If there is no banner, SteelSeries says no update is available through that check.
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