Nothing’s more annoying than an “EC software sync error updating EC” popping up when you reboot your Chromebook. I’ve been there myself – stuck staring at that message for way too long instead of getting stuff done. Not to mention the fear it might cause you that it may indicate a corrupted, missing or damaged ChromeOS installed on your device.
But don’t worry, we’ll walk through how to get your Chromebook back on track together!
Taking a Deeper Dive into What the “EC” Even Meant on ChromeOS
First things first – what does “EC” stand for? It’s short for Embedded Controller, which is a little chip inside all Chromebooks that controls hardware like the keyboard, trackpad, battery, etc.
The EC has its own firmware that needs regular updates from Google to keep things running smoothly. If this firmware doesn’t sync right during an update, you’ll be greeted by the “EC software sync error updating EC” at ChromeOS startup screen. Not the message you want to see!
Pinpointing When and Why This Error Likes to Rear Its Ugly Head
In my experience, the EC sync issue pops up most often when your Chromebook tries to install an automatic update.
Here’s usually how it goes down:
- Your Chromebook downloads the latest OS and EC firmware updates while you’re using it.
- You shut down normally so it can install the updates.
- On reboot, the EC firmware fails to sync and you get the dreaded error message.
This leaves your EC firmware outdated and incompatible with the shiny new Chrome OS version. No bueno.
There’s a few potential reasons the EC firmware may not be syncing, like:
- Corrupted update files – they get jumbled somewhere along the way
- Hardware issues – something physically wrong prevents the update
- Power failures – updates need uninterrupted power to finish
- Mods/extensions – sometimes these interfere with system updates
Figuring out what triggered the sync failure for you is key to picking the right fix.
Investigating the Evidence to Troubleshoot and Diagnose the Problem
Troubleshooting tip time! Here are a couple ways to dig into the specifics behind your EC sync error:
Check the Recovery Reason Code
If your Chromebook is stuck in recovery mode, check the reason code displayed for clues. Recovery codes starting with “0x26”, “0x27”, or “0x28” indicate an EC firmware problem.
Dig into the exact code to learn if it’s a general EC issue, a hash mismatch, corrupted files, etc. The details help identify solutions.
Update the Firmware Directly
Once you know the likely cause, try manually updating the EC firmware. This bypasses the standard update process.
In recovery mode, choose the “Update EC firmware” option. Follow the prompts to install firmware from a .bin file. A direct install like this can fix corrupted or outdated firmware.
If the EC firmware itself seems damaged, a full “Powerwash” recovery wipe may be needed. This totally resets the device so the EC firmware reinstalls fresh.
Tactics to Finally Resolve and Fix the EC Sync Error Updating on Chromebooks
Now for the good stuff – how to actually fix the Chrome OS issue with the EC updates! Let’s go through a few tactics:
Step #1 – Refresh the Update Cache
Delete any chromebook update files stored locally and re-download current versions. This grabs clean, non-corrupted firmware.
Step #2 – Toggle Hardware Settings
If you recently changed something like enabling developer mode, switch it back temporarily to allow proper updates.
Step #3 – Disable Extensions
Boot in Safe Mode without any extensions or mods enabled that could conflict with updates.
Step #4 – Contact Google Support
For tough cases, the Chrome pros can remotely access logs to diagnose and provide custom solutions.
With some combo of cache clearing, hardware resets, disabling potential conflicts, and getting Google eyes on it, we’ll get that firmware sync issue licked for good!
Hope this helps!
