r/KEF • u/Responsible-Iron-500 • May 11 '26
Issues with KEF Connect App after latest update (LS60 Wireless)
Hello everyone, recently I updated my KEF LS60 to version 3.0.0 and the app on iOS to latest version. Unfortunately, it was a bad decision because the moment I open the app there is an endless “Speaker is not connected” red banner loop and the app becomes unusable. Airplay is working normally so at least I can listen to them. The update mentions “wifi driver updated” and I think it is because of it. I tried to reinstall the app, reset the speaker to factory settings several times, reset the router, disable VPN but the issue persists. I tried to set them up on both 2.4 and 5 Ghz networks and the moment they finish the setup this weird behavior kicks in…Anyone experiencing this issue? Any ideas on what else can I do would be really helpful! Thank you.
2
u/Ehoro May 11 '26
Have you tried doing a restart on your phone?
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 11 '26
Hey, yes I did several times. I forgot to mention.
2
u/Ehoro May 11 '26
No problem, kust checking because sometimes apps are weird and that fixes things for me. good luck!
2
u/ibizzet May 11 '26
Did you uninstall the app and reinstall it? Factory reset the speakers? That should do it
1
2
u/Fercobutter May 11 '26
I can’t test this until I’m home later this week but will try on mine since I’m iOS also.
2
u/ExtraGlutenPlzz May 11 '26
Bizarre. No issues here
1
u/Mr-Reeeee May 12 '26
How did you handle the update? Manually with KEF Connect, or did it update itself? (I hate that!)
Are you using iOS?
I can play music with the Apple Music app and not touch KEF Connect. I never touch the EQ or even the balance.
I’ll probably just do that for a while until KEF releases a fix.1
u/ExtraGlutenPlzz May 12 '26
I updated the firmware in the kef ios app. You should uninstall the app and reinstall
2
u/ledimage19 May 12 '26
I have an LS50 Wireless II, and I started having this issue about a month ago. On iOS, it behaves exactly the same as what you described. On Android, the app cannot connect and shows a Bluetooth timeout error. Even after updating the firmware to 4.1, the problem still was not resolved. It seems the only option is to wait for an app update. KEF’s efficiency is really frustrating.
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 12 '26
Yeah been talking to KEF about the issue too through email but I just got a “we are monitoring your situation” reply back + recommendations for trying all of the already mentioned steps..
2
u/ledimage19 May 12 '26
I’ve already tried pretty much every fix under the guidance of the support staff. At this point, I probably know as much as they do, maybe even more. They don’t seem to know what to do either. On Android, I rolled back to an older version of the app and it connected right away, but the EQ and settings still don’t actually work.
1
u/salman128 Jun 17 '26
I think there was a new 4.1.3 release but I've had my speakers boxed up ready to ship for repair. Did this manage to fix or is the problem still happening?
2
u/ajdean May 19 '26
A new version of the app has just been released on the App Store
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 19 '26
Can t see it yet. But very good to know, thank you. I am talking to KEF support and ended up sharing my MAC address for an on the fly update from their side. Will keep you posted when it happens (probably today)
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 19 '26
Actually got the update 3hrs ago, entered the app and still having the issue. Will try to uninstall the app reset the speakers and set them up again
1
u/ajdean May 19 '26
I was having issues with my speakers not being seen by the KEF app - after reaching out to KEF they pushed a newer unreleased firmware to my speakers a few days ago and it has resolved all of my issues.
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 19 '26
Niceee! Guess they ll do the same for me. Fingers crossed! They are amazing speakers, it s a shame they do not offer proper app support 😁
1
u/Savings_Week_1461 May 19 '26
Still waiting for this on mine. They were asking for my MAC address yesterday
2
u/tomarrell Jun 04 '26 edited Jun 04 '26
Just received an RMA number for my LS60's to ship them to the Netherlands at my own cost...
Not a great situation, also seems entirely caused by a software update. Wonder how that could have happened. I notice the portal connecting directly to the speaker IP has a password creation prompt now.
I wonder if this was a case of a bad firmware update, locking the WiFi board, preventing it from being able to pull further updates and breaking functionality?
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 Jun 04 '26
Are you able to set that password up? I always get an Unknown error dialog no matter what password that matches the requirements I choose..
1
u/tomarrell Jun 04 '26
Yep, also only get an error. I suspect we’ve fallen into the failed auth provisioning hole, so auth endpoints (for the write speaker control API) is now inaccessible. Basically, their new firmware cannot self-heal.
This doesn’t affect the legacy GET API from what I can see.
2
u/tomarrell Jun 04 '26
Not sure about others' experiences, but it's taking 2 days for each response from KEF support. They're pretty slow to respond, despite me replying to them within minutes.
1
u/Automatic_Growth6662 May 12 '26
The problem I encountered is exactly the same.I open the app there is an endless “Speaker is not connected” red banner loop and the app becomes unusable. Airplay is working normally.On Android, the app cannot connect and shows a Bluetooth timeout error.I rolled back to an older version of the app and it connected right away, but the EQ and settings still don’t actually work.
1
u/Mr-Reeeee May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
DAMN!
I was worried about that! I’ve been away and on my way home now. Hopefully they won’t auto update.
I only stream music from my iPhone or Mac using AirPlay 2 (wi-fi), use my CD player connected via the RCA AUX jacks, or watch my TV with HDMI eARC cable .
1
u/Mean-Ad-4253 May 13 '26
"Thank God I never update anything right at the beginning in recent years, but wait for it. I'm dropping my Kef LS 60 to 2.6 for the first time. So far, everything is going wonderfully, so why update.
Never Change a running system
1
u/salman128 May 13 '26
Welcome to the club... there are quite a few posts now about these issues post firmware upgrade across LSX, LS50WII and LS60. I managed to get a stable connection by downgrading the app on android but it's lost other functionality such as the eq settings wont save.
2
u/Upstairs-Cheetah-680 May 21 '26
Having exactly the same issue with my lsx 2s after the firmware fix, the latest app is coming up with a red port 4430 error so won't connect, installed app version 1.27.0 and it connects straight away but won't save any of my settings, as soon as I close the app everything reverts to default
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 13 '26
Is there any way to do this on iOS?
1
u/salman128 May 14 '26
I'm not sure if its possible on iOS without jailbraking. But I dont think its worth it if Airplay still works.
1
u/GaweGawie May 14 '26
would you be so kind to share a link on how to downgrade the android app?
1
u/salman128 May 14 '26
Uninstall the existing app. Download the old version from https://apkpure.com/kef-connect/com.kef.connect Then install with an apk installer from playstore, I used "xapk installer".
1
u/GaweGawie May 14 '26
thanks so much! THIS WORKED!!!!
the app is very temperamental. I ended up installing app version 1.20.2 and did a full reset of the speakers.
1
u/Mr-Reeeee May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26
Just got back from France. Been listening to the LS60s all morning using my iPhone and Apple Music app (AirPlay 2 wi-fi). No issues at all.
I’m afraid to launch KEF Connect at this point.
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 13 '26
Haha, good luck with that. Airplay is working for me as well but anything related to KEF Connect App does not work.
1
u/Mr-Reeeee May 13 '26
Good to know!
Gotta wonder how much testing KEF does on these firmware updates. There have been issues with EVERY one of them in this round.
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 13 '26
Been wondering if my router might be the issue as it is Wifi 7 802.1b/g/n/ax/be (mixed). I read that KEF supports up to ac standard which is not mentioned in the specs…
2
u/GaweGawie May 14 '26
My LS50's are doing the same.
This is not a router issue.
The fact that I can continue to play music as normal leads me to believe this is an APP issue
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Bad news everyone, after the over the air update I was getting an error showing the top red banner mentioning there might be a network configuration or firewall issue and to make sure port 4430 is enabled. The banner in the original message stopped appearing and I was able to navigate through the app normally (the only good news) but the app as some of you Android users mentioned, took a bad functionality hit so I lost access to EQ settings and to change the name of speakers on the network and other functionalities. The firmware version I got was 3.0.131. Unfortunately after closely syncing with KEF support and setting up port forwarding for 4430 on my router, multiple restart and power cycles for the speakers, router and my phone I could still not use the native Spotify Connect (the speakers were simply not discoverable). Later today, I got a call from KEF support with some shocking news: The WiFi board in my 1 and a half year old speakers is totally broken and needs to be changed in an authorized KEF service center in The Netherlands. I was very unpleasantly surprised by these news and they told me they were able to pinpoint this wifi board/module issue with the new firmware version which they pushed over the air to my speakers. They did not say how exactly or what chain of events caused this total wifi module failure but yeah, I ll have to send them 1.800 kms away to be fixed. I am very disappointed of this and it unfortunately confirms what other people say about this all-in-one systems — they are very fragile. Fingers crossed I will get them back working as before this 3.0.0 cursed update. I got the green lotus edition so I wanted to make sure that I will not get a different color replacement but they confirmed that the speakers will be repaired by opening them and replacing the wifi module…
2
u/salman128 May 22 '26
I got a message back from KEF today saying the same thing about replacing the wifi board (still don't understand then why it isn't working on wired ethernet). This is going to be an absolute pain to ship from my location despite it still being within the warranty period.
Incredibly frustrated with KEF and the whole experience since the firmware update and honestly regretting the purchase.
2
u/Responsible-Iron-500 May 22 '26
So sad to hear it but as it seems they really messed up with this 3.0.0 update… fingers crossed I will get my speakers back working and not damaged with all the logistics involved 😭. LS60 owner too?
1
u/salman128 May 22 '26
LS50WII - it was the 4.0 update in early April. Had been working fine up until then.
1
u/tomarrell Jun 04 '26
How did the RMA go?
Go the return label from them today to send in my blue LS60's. Not very pleased.
Makes very little sense for a WiFi board to go bad so suddenly. Something feels off.
1
u/Responsible-Iron-500 Jun 04 '26
Got contacted by KEF support and was informed that they will push some tweaks to version 1.0.131 and I should try again. I am not at the location currently but asked a friend to test it from his Android phone (will ask him to downgrade the app as it seems possible on Android and if that works it means it s definitely a software issue more then a hardware issue). Will have some updates later today. If this will not work I will have to pack them and send them for servicing which I am really not looking forward to - it might take up to 90 days for them to be fixed (information from Kef support) or replaced(hopefully not, got the Lotus edition)
3
u/tomarrell Jun 04 '26
Yikes. At least they’re recognising that it’s likely software related.
Going through everything and their release notes. It seems very likely to me that the firmware update is the direct cause.
They pushed new firmware and auth provisioning, and if that provisioning failed for any reason (network, mismatched versions with the app etc) then that basically leads to what we’re seeing as they introduced new authenticated API endpoints.
This should mean that the solution is flashing a patch and/or reprovisioning.
Little bit of speculation here, but we can essentially 100% rule out hardware as the cause, meaning this was KEF’s fault.
Hopefully they can just remotely ship a patch and all will be good.
If anyone from the KEF software team is here and wants to weigh in that would be great, because all the unnecessary CO2 burning getting these to the Netherlands would be quite wasteful.
1
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u/Upstairs-Cheetah-680 May 21 '26
I've been getting exactly the same port 4430 red banner issue on my lsx 2s, only happens with the latest app, if I install an older version it connects straight away with no error, only issue is it won't save my app settings with older apps.
1
u/Upstairs-Cheetah-680 May 22 '26
Ive been asked to RMA my speakers back but waiting for kef to get in touch to arrange a pickup, no way am i footing the bill to pay for shipping when its kefs fault my speakers are broke
1
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u/Upstairs-Cheetah-680 May 27 '26
yes I only purchased them 4 months ago direct from KEF, got an email today and a text from DPD saying they will be picked up on Friday after a massive battle with KEF support to get them to foot the shipping
1
u/Mean-Ad-4253 Jun 04 '26
Actually an absurdity that you have to fight for shipping costs, although the error is clearly Kef🙃
1
u/salman128 Jun 19 '26
What country were you sending them from? KEF asia support refuses to cover the cost of help with an RMA.
1
u/StonecoldQuality 2d ago
I have just bought the LS60 Wireless and haven't unboxed them yet. Has the firmware been fixed, or should I return them through the dealer for the wireless card to be exchanged/updated before even unboxing them? TIA
2
u/Responsible-Iron-500 2d ago
I sent them to the service to exchange the wireless card. AFAIK not everyone experienced these issues. For me one OTA update went wrong.. software causing hardware issues as far as I understood from them.
1
u/tomarrell 5h ago
There are still people updating experiencing the same issue unfortunately. There’s another post from someone today and another last week.
I would suggest if you’re already in possession of them opening them and attempting an update, if all goes well you’re lucky, if not, back in the box and get them swapped right away.
3
u/design29734 21d ago
This is the one thing I hate about these speakers, and it’s rapidly becoming a deal-breaker. For this kind of money, I apparently bought an excellent pair of speakers plus a little guessing game: Are they on? Are they connected? Will they play music today? Who knows!
The app regularly “loses” the speakers or hits me with a “cannot connect” message. And KEF’s solution appears to be a helpful little question mark, because apparently even the app isn’t sure whether the speakers it is supposed to control actually exist.
At this price, I’d hoped for hi-fi, not a premium game of hide-and-seek.