To update the firmware on a Denon AVR-S960H, connect the receiver to the internet, press SETUP on the remote, and go to General > Firmware > Check for Update. If an update is available, choose Update Now and leave the receiver alone until it finishes. Denon says the process can take about an hour, and you must not turn the receiver off or unplug it while it runs.
The S960H updates itself over your home network. Denon’s manual doesn’t describe a USB update method for this model, so the receiver needs a working Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. You can also turn on Auto-Update so new firmware installs by itself while the receiver is in standby.
Before you start
Nearly every update error Denon lists for this receiver points back to the network. Spend two minutes on these checks first.
- Your TV is on and showing the receiver’s menu. The firmware options live in the on-screen menu, which appears on the TV connected to the receiver’s HDMI output.
- The receiver is online. Go to SETUP > Network > Diagnostics. All three tests (Physical Connection, Router Access, and Internet Access) should pass. If they don’t, fix the connection first with our guide to connecting the AVR-S960H to Wi-Fi.
- Updates are allowed. Under General > Firmware, Allow Update should be On. It’s on by default. When it’s off, the other firmware options can’t be selected.
- Your settings are backed up. Denon warns that an update can sometimes reset settings stored on the receiver. Save a copy to a USB flash drive with General > Save & Load > Save Configuration. The drive needs at least 128 MB free and must be formatted as FAT32.
- You have time. Denon estimates about an hour. You can’t use the receiver while it updates, so don’t start right before movie night.
How to check your current firmware version
- Press SETUP on the remote.
- Select General, then Information.
- Select Firmware. The screen shows the current version, along with DTS decoder information.
Write the version down. After the update, you can come back here to confirm the number changed. Denon has not published a version history for the AVR-S960H on its public product or manual pages, so the receiver’s own Check for Update result is the best way to know whether you’re current.
How to update the firmware now
- Press SETUP on the remote. The menu opens on your TV.
- Select General.
- Select Firmware.
- Select Check for Update. The receiver contacts Denon’s servers to look for new firmware.
- If an update is found, select Update Now. To put it off, choose Update Later instead.
- Watch the menu close. That’s normal. From this point, the update’s progress appears on the receiver’s front display, not on the TV.
- Wait until the update finishes. Don’t press buttons, switch inputs, turn the receiver off, or unplug it.
When the update is done, the receiver works normally again. Go back to General > Information > Firmware to confirm the new version number.
Turn on automatic updates
If you’d rather not check by hand, the S960H can update itself overnight.
- Press SETUP and go to General > Firmware.
- Select Auto-Update and set it to On. It’s off by default.
- Select Time Zone and choose the one where you live.
With Auto-Update on, the receiver downloads and installs new firmware while it’s in standby. You don’t have to do anything else. If you ever want to see whether it worked, check the version number as described above.
What each Firmware menu option does
| Option | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Check for Update | Looks for new firmware and offers Update Now or Update Later | — |
| Auto-Update | Installs new firmware automatically while in standby | Off |
| Time Zone | Sets your local time zone for automatic updates | — |
| Allow Update | Lets the receiver receive updates and upgrades at all | On |
| Upgrade Notification | Shows a message on the TV at power-on when upgrade firmware is available | On |
| Add New Feature | Shows and installs optional feature upgrades | — |
Update vs. upgrade: what’s the difference?
Denon uses two words on purpose. An update is regular firmware that fixes bugs and improves the receiver. An upgrade adds a new feature, and you get it through Add New Feature. That screen lists the Upgrade Package, the Upgrade Status, and an Upgrade button. When an upgrade has been set up, the menu shows “Registered.” If not, it shows a row of dashes.
Most owners only need Check for Update. Look at Add New Feature only if the receiver shows an upgrade notice at power-on.
Should you turn off Allow Update?
Probably not. Denon’s manual says turning Allow Update off causes incompatibilities between the receiver and the HEOS app. If you use HEOS, AirPlay, or streaming services, keep it on.
If the update fails or seems stuck
The S960H retries on its own if an update fails. If it still can’t finish, “Update Error” appears on the display. Here’s the recovery path Denon gives, in order:
- Press and hold the power button on the receiver for more than 5 seconds. You can also unplug the power cord and plug it back in.
- Wait about a minute. “Please wait” appears on the display, and the update starts again.
- Let it run. The full process can take about an hour, so a long “Please wait” isn’t a failure by itself.
- If the error comes back, check your network. Run Network > Diagnostics again. On Wi-Fi, try moving the router closer or using an Ethernet cable for the update.
Error messages and what they mean
| Message | What happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Connection failed. Please check your network, then try again. | The network is unstable, or the receiver couldn’t reach Denon’s server. | Check your network and try again. |
| Update failed. Please check your network, then try again. | The firmware download was interrupted. | Check your network and run the update again. |
| Upgrade failed. Please check your network, then try again. | A feature upgrade download was interrupted. | Check your network and run the upgrade again. |
| Please check your network, unplug and reconnect the power cord, and try again. | The update process failed. | Hold the power button for 5+ seconds or unplug and replug the power cord. The update restarts on its own. |
| Please contact customer service in your area. | Possible hardware fault. | Contact Denon customer service. |
When the receiver won’t recover
If the receiver still won’t finish an update, or it acts strangely afterward, Denon has a firmware restore procedure. With the receiver connected to the internet, hold MODE and BAND on the front panel and press the power button. Let go when “Restoring FW…” appears. The receiver reloads and updates its firmware, shows “Completed” for about 5 seconds, and restarts.
This also resets all your settings. Our AVR-S960H reset guide explains the restore alongside the regular factory reset, and what to set up again afterward. If the restore doesn’t help, Denon says to contact customer service.
After the update
- Confirm the version at General > Information > Firmware.
- Test your sources. Play something from your TV, a streaming app, and HEOS to make sure sound still comes through.
- Check your speaker settings. If anything reset, load your USB backup with Save & Load > Load Configuration. No backup? You’ll need to run Audyssey Setup again to restore your room calibration.
Common questions
Can I update the AVR-S960H from the HEOS app?
Denon’s HEOS documentation describes a Software Update option in the HEOS app’s settings. The AVR-S960H manual, though, documents only the receiver’s own Firmware menu. Use the method above, which is the one Denon describes for this model.
Is the AVR-S960H still getting updates?
Denon lists the S960H as an archived model on its website. The Check for Update option remains the way to find any firmware Denon offers for it. Denon doesn’t post a public firmware changelog for this model, so we don’t list a “latest” version here.
Where’s Denon’s official page?
The Firmware page of the AVR-S960H online manual lists every option described above.