Blu-ray.com - Blu-ray Firmware

What is firmware?

Just as computers require software to run, a Blu-ray player requires firmware to run. Firmware is a type of computer program that resides inside the hardware device and makes it possible to play movies and access other features.

Purpose of firmware

The great thing about firmware is that it can be easily updated, so even though a Blu-ray player might not support a feature when it is released that feature might be added later as long as the hardware can support it. Firmware updates can also fix problems with existing features and offer other improvements.

Hardware problems

If you experience any problems with your hardware, whether it's a player or anything else, the first thing you should do is to make sure that you have the latest firmware installed. If not, then it's very likely that a firmware update will solve your problem.

Limitations of firmware

Unfortunately some features can't be added with a firmware update because they also require a hardware upgrade, but as long as the current hardware can support the new features, all that is needed is a firmware update.