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Update Arctis GameBuds firmware through the SteelSeries GG desktop app: put both earbuds in their charging case, connect the case to your computer, then open Engine and follow the update banner on the GameBuds device card if one appears. For the Xbox version connected to a PC, set the wireless dongle’s physical switch to PC mode. The Arctis Companion app is separate; it is not the documented route for installing GameBuds firmware.
What you need before updating
- The current SteelSeries GG desktop app, installed and open on a supported computer.
- Your Arctis GameBuds and charging case. The case—not an individual earbud—is the connection point for the computer.
- For the Xbox version when updating on a PC, its wireless dongle, with the physical switch set to PC mode.
SteelSeries’ instructions direct users to connect the case with the earbuds inside. They do not establish a need to buy a separate accessory for this procedure. If you have the Xbox model, distinguish it from other GameBuds versions when following device-specific support instructions.
Update GameBuds firmware in SteelSeries GG
- Install or open the current desktop app. Use SteelSeries GG on a supported computer. GG is SteelSeries’ desktop software for device setup and firmware management; it is separate from the phone app.
- Place both earbuds in the charging case. Leave them inside the case while connecting it to the computer.
- Connect the case to the computer. Do not connect only one earbud and expect the documented update process to work.
- Check the Xbox dongle mode if applicable. On an Xbox-version GameBuds set connected to a PC, make sure the wireless dongle’s physical switch is set to PC mode. This is a recognition requirement called out by SteelSeries for this model and setup.
- Open Engine in GG. Find the GameBuds device card in Engine.
- Use the firmware banner if it appears. Select the banner and follow the on-screen instructions until GG indicates that the process is complete. Do not treat the banner as a permanent control that must always be present; it appears when an update is offered.
- Interpret no banner as the result of this check. SteelSeries says that if no firmware banner appears on the device card, there is no newer update to install through that check. It does not mean you should search for an update button elsewhere in the Companion app.
How to update the SteelSeries GG app
GG itself and GameBuds firmware are different updates. GG is the computer application that manages devices; firmware is software installed on the earbuds. The documented GameBuds firmware route begins inside GG’s Engine section, while SteelSeries’ instructions do not specify a particular GG self-update menu, button label, or version number.
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To use the documented route, install or open the current SteelSeries GG desktop app, then follow any current app update prompt provided by GG or SteelSeries before proceeding to Engine. The precise app-update controls can vary with the app version, so follow the labels shown in your installation rather than relying on an outdated menu path. Once GG is current and open, use the device-card banner—not the GG app’s own update notice—to install an available GameBuds firmware update.
If you cannot find an app update control, consult SteelSeries’ current GG download or support information for your operating system. Do not assume that updating GG also updates the earbuds automatically: check the GameBuds device card in Engine and complete its firmware prompt separately if one appears.
Windows, macOS, and Linux support
SteelSeries’ published compatibility information distinguishes operating systems. Windows is supported for GG. macOS support has a more limited update scope, and SteelSeries’ firmware guidance describes Windows as the update route; a related support page also refers to Windows and macOS. As a result, Mac users should rely on the current GG interface and official prompts for their setup rather than assume the same update coverage as Windows. Linux is listed as unsupported.
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| Operating system | What the published support information establishes | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Supported by GG; SteelSeries’ firmware-update material describes Windows as the update route. | Use GG, open Engine, and check the GameBuds device card for a firmware banner. |
| macOS | GG support is more limited for updates; related SteelSeries material mentions macOS, but does not establish Windows-equivalent firmware coverage. | Use the current app and follow any prompt shown for your device. Do not assume every Windows update function is available. |
| Linux | GG is listed as unsupported. | Do not expect the documented GG firmware workflow to work on Linux. |
If GG does not recognize the GameBuds
Check the physical connection
Confirm that both earbuds are inside their charging case and that the case is connected to the computer. The instructions specify the case with the earbuds in it, not a standalone earbud connection. Then reopen or revisit Engine and check for the GameBuds device card.
Check the Xbox dongle switch on a PC
If you have the Xbox version and are connecting it to a PC, inspect the switch on the wireless dongle and set it to PC mode. The Xbox support guidance specifically identifies this mode as necessary for GG to recognize the device on a PC. This advice is specific to the Xbox version; do not treat it as a general setting for every GameBuds model.
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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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Separate recognition problems from update availability
A missing device card means GG has not presented the device for this check; a visible card without a firmware banner means SteelSeries reports no update to install through that check. Those are different situations. First make the device visible in Engine; only then interpret whether an update banner is available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the Arctis Companion app cannot find the GameBuds
The Arctis Companion app is a separate mobile app, and SteelSeries lists GameBuds as compatible with it. If the phone app does not discover the earbuds, SteelSeries’ troubleshooting sequence is to verify firmware through GG first, then address the mobile app’s pairing and discovery state.
- Check GameBuds firmware using GG on a supported computer, following the procedure above.
- Update the Arctis Companion app on the phone.
- In the phone’s Bluetooth settings, forget the existing GameBuds pairing.
- Toggle Bluetooth off and back on, then pair the GameBuds with the phone again.
- If the Companion app still cannot find them, reinstall the app and try discovery again.
Re-pairing addresses a phone-to-earbuds Bluetooth discovery problem; it does not replace the GG firmware check. Likewise, compatibility with Companion does not make that app the documented firmware installer.
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- ACTIVE NOICE CANCELLATION — 4-mic hybrid ANC provides true gaming immersion; ability to switch transparency mode for awareness
- 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
- 360° SPATIAL AUDIO — Immersive sound puts you right in the action with directional awareness, enhanced by custom Neodymium Magnetic Drivers
- LONG BATTERY — 10-hour battery satisfies marathon sessions, extendable with a Qi Charging Case using 3x extra charges for up to 40 hours of use
Common mistakes to avoid
- Connecting only an earbud: connect the case with both GameBuds inside.
- Looking for a firmware prompt in the phone app: check GG’s Engine device card instead.
- Assuming every session offers an update: the banner appears only when an update is offered; no banner means none is available through that check.
- Using the wrong dongle mode on an Xbox model: set the physical switch to PC mode when updating that version on a PC.
- Expecting equal operating-system support: GG support is limited on macOS and unavailable on Linux according to SteelSeries’ compatibility information.
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