BYD Dolphin OTA Updates: How They Work and What Changes
The BYD Dolphin receives over-the-air (OTA) updates that improve security, safety, and features without a dealer visit, and the owner's manual confirms these happen with your approval. When an update is offered, follow the on-screen prompts: park the car safely, keep it powered on and ideally plugged in, and do not drive or switch off until it finishes. Update settings live under System Settings on the touchscreen.
BYD Dolphin OTA Updates at a Glance
| Measurement | Detail |
|---|---|
| What they deliver | Security, safety, and feature improvements |
| Your approval | Updates proceed with owner approval |
| Where to manage | Vehicle Settings, then System Settings |
| During the update | Parked, powered on, ideally charging |
| Do not | Drive or power off mid-update |
| Definitive steps | The on-screen prompts for your car |
What Are OTA Updates?
Over-the-air updates let your Dolphin improve itself using its internet connection, much like a smartphone. New software downloads and installs without a trip to the dealer.
The owner's manual confirms the Dolphin supports OTA updates and upgrades as part of its remote services, delivered for security and safety purposes and subject to your approval. In other words, the car will not update behind your back, you decide when to proceed.
This keeps your car current over its life, adding refinements and fixes long after you drive it home.
What OTA Updates Can Change
Updates can touch many parts of the car, which is what makes them so valuable. While the exact contents vary with each release, they typically cover areas like these.
- Safety and driver assistance: Refinements to the ADAS systems and their behaviour
- Infotainment: Improvements to the touchscreen, apps, and interface
- Efficiency and performance: Tweaks to how the car manages energy
- Bug fixes: Corrections to glitches and small issues
- New features: Occasionally, entirely new functions
Each update usually arrives with release notes describing what has changed, so you know what to expect before installing.
How to Update Your Dolphin
The process is designed to be simple, and the car guides you through it. The exact steps appear on your screen, but they generally follow this pattern.
- Get the notification: The car alerts you when an update is available
- Review the details: Read the release notes to see what the update includes
- Approve it: Choose to proceed, since updates need your approval
- Prepare the car: Park safely, keep the car powered on, and ideally plug it in to charge
- Let it install: Leave the car undisturbed while the update completes, which can take some time
- Confirm completion: The car confirms when it has finished and is ready to use
You can find and manage update options under Vehicle Settings, then System Settings, on the infotainment touchscreen.
The Do and Do-Not List
Following a few sensible rules keeps an update smooth and avoids problems. These reflect standard practice for EV software updates.
Do:
- Park the car safely in a suitable spot before starting
- Keep the car powered on throughout the update
- Plug in to charge, or ensure a healthy battery level, so power is not a concern
- Read the release notes so you know what is changing
- Allow plenty of time, as some updates take a while
Do not:
- Drive the car while an update is installing
- Switch the car off or interrupt the power mid-update
- Start an update when you need to leave shortly
- Attempt an update on a very low battery
Updating While Charging
The ideal time to update is while the car is parked and plugged in, so there is no worry about battery level. The Dolphin's charging features make this easy to plan.
The manual documents reservation charging, which lets you schedule when the car charges. By default it charges immediately, but you can toggle reservation charging on, set a start time, and save it. Note that reservation charging cannot be used when the battery is too low, so keep a reasonable charge for both charging and updates.
What to Do If an Update Gets Stuck
Occasionally an update may appear to stall. Before worrying, a few calm steps usually resolve it.
- Give it time: Some updates simply take longer than expected, so wait before acting
- Check the connection: A weak internet signal can slow a download, so try somewhere with better coverage
- Keep it powered: Make sure the car has not powered down and has enough charge
- Do not force it off: Avoid interrupting the process, which can cause issues
- Contact BYD if needed: If it remains stuck, a BYD authorised dealer or service provider can help
OTA Updates Across the BYD Range
BYD delivers updates across its models in much the same way. If you drive more than one, these companion guides help.
- Our guide to OTA updates on the Atto 3 covers the SUV
- The Seal OTA updates guide details the sedan
Across all three, the same principles apply: approve the update, park and power the car, and let it finish undisturbed.
Common Mistakes
- Driving during an update: Always let it finish with the car parked
- Powering off mid-update: Interrupting the process can cause problems
- Starting on a low battery: Charge or plug in first for peace of mind
- Ignoring release notes: They tell you what is changing before you install
- Panicking at a slow update: Give it time and check your connection before acting
- Updating when you need to leave: Start only when you can spare the time