(And How Not To Do It)
I spent more than six months thinking I had turned my Parkside Performance Circular Saw into an expensive green brick.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve done the same: you tried to update the firmware through Lidl’s smart-tool app, something went wrong, and now your tool either doesn’t respond, shows errors, or just sits there mocking you.
The good news? You might not have killed it.
The bad news? The process is fragile, and it’s very easy to make things worse.
This post is a mix of how NOT to do it, and the exact steps I followed to bring my saw back from the dead after the Lidl app “bricked” it.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
- This is not official advice from Lidl/Parkside.
- Firmware updates always carry a risk — especially if interrupted.
- Never bypass electronics, cut wires, or hack the battery connection. That’s dangerous and can void warranties, cause fires, injury, etc.
- Follow at your own risk, and always prioritize safety and the official manual.
The Problem: Smart Tools, Not-So-Smart App
My tool: Parkside Performance Circular Saw (PP Connect)
Original firmware: 1.0.0
Update offered: 1.0.13 (yes, 13… perfect number for bad luck, right?)
Lidl’s “smart” ecosystem is confusing because:
- There are two Lidl apps involved:
- Lidl Smart Home App
- Parkside App
- Some other apps see the same batteries/tools, like Hama or others that detect the “Ready to Connect” batteries.
- If the wrong app interferes or the connection is unstable, things can go very wrong during a firmware update.
My issue happened via the Lidl Smart Home App. After a failed update, the tool seemed dead, and I parked it as a “brick” for over six months.
Then I figured out what was actually going on.
How People Are Bricking Their PP Connect Tools (What Not To Do)
Before we get to the fix, let’s go over the horror stories and big mistakes you should avoid at all costs:
❌ 1. Cutting Wires / Bypassing the MCU
Some people, out of frustration, have:
- Cut internal wires
- Tried to bypass the MCU (the tool’s “brain”)
- Fed raw power directly from the battery to the motor
This is insanely dangerous.
It can:
- Destroy the tool permanently
- Void your warranty instantly
- Cause overheating, fire, or serious injury
Never do this. If you’re at that point, contact support instead.
❌ 2. Interrupting the Firmware Update
During the update, people often:
- Close the app
- Move away from the tool with the phone
- Answer calls or switch apps constantly
- Force-close the process when a warning or error pops up
Result: the tool ends up stuck mid-flash, and it appears dead.
❌ 3. Using the Wrong App / Too Many Apps
Because there are:
- Lidl Smart Home App
- Parkside App
- Other apps (like Hama) that “see” the batteries
…you can easily end up with:
- The wrong app trying to “talk” to the tool
- Multiple apps fighting over the connection in the background
That increases the chance of a failed firmware upgrade.
❌ 4. Updating With a Weak Battery
Doing a firmware update when the battery is nearly empty is like trying to install Windows on 2% battery.
If the power drops during the flash, you’re asking for trouble.
The Actual Solution: How I Unbricked My Circular Saw
Now for the good part: what actually worked.
My tool seemed dead for over 6 months. Then I tried this method and, when I heard that swirling sound again, it was beautiful.
Here’s what I did.
✅ Step 1: Prepare the Battery Properly
- Charge the battery well beforehand.
It doesn’t need to be 100%, but don’t risk it at 10–15%. - Let it charge for a long time, so you’re sure it’s stable.
✅ Step 2: Clean Up the App Situation
Before you start:
- Make sure you know which app you used to update:
- In my case, the issue came from the Lidl Smart Home App.
- Close any other apps that might see or control the battery/tool:
- Other smart home apps
- Hama or similar apps that detect the battery
- Even the Parkside App, if you’re not using it for this update
You want one app talking to the tool, not three.
✅ Step 3: Keep the Phone Close to the Tool
- Don’t worry too much about “keeping the line free” (you can still receive calls), but:
- Keep the phone in the same room.
- Keep it very close to the tool and battery.
- Avoid walking away, putting the phone in another room, or blocking the signal.
✅ Step 4: Start (or Retry) the Firmware Update
- Connect to the battery in the app.
- Make sure the tool is seen as attached.
- Start the firmware update process.
In my case:
- The tool was originally on firmware 1.0.0
- The update was to 1.0.13
✅ Step 5: Accept the Warning, Ignore the Error (for Now)
This part is crucial and where many people panic.
During the update:
- You’ll see a warning in the app.
- Then you might see an error message.
Your instinct will be to tap something, retry, close, or start again.
👉 Don’t. Touch. Anything.
Leave the app alone. Don’t back out, don’t kill it.
✅ Step 6: Watch the Tool, Not the App
While the app looks stuck or shows an error, look at the tool’s LEDs:
- The infinity symbol on the tool will be flickering during the update.
- This means it’s still doing something internally, even if the app looks unhappy.
Now wait for this sequence:
- Infinity symbol flickers
- Then it stops
- Then the lights behave like they do when the tool shuts down normally
Only when you see this “shutdown-like” behavior should you consider the process finished on the tool side.
This can take:
- 3 to 10 minutes
Yes, it feels long. Yes, it feels broken. Ignore that feeling.
✅ Step 7: Only Then Touch the App
After you’ve seen the LED sequence finish and the tool lights act like shutdown:
- Now you can touch the app again.
- Close and reopen if needed.
- Reconnect to the battery.
- Let the app detect the attached tool again.
✅ Step 8: Test the Tool
Now:
- Plug the battery into the tool
- Check that the app sees the tool
- Try turning it on
In my case, after more than six months thinking it was dead, the saw came back to life. The spinning sound was… honestly, sweet.
Should You Even Bother Updating?
My honest impression:
- I don’t think the tool gains a massive benefit from the firmware upgrade itself.
- However, if you still have warranty, it’s worth:
- Trying the update properly, or
- Contacting support if things go wrong
I’ve heard of people who:
- Bricked their tools via the update
- Contacted support under warranty
- And actually received an extra tool, without even being asked to return the original one
So on that side, it might not be a total loss.
As for me:
My circular saw is now on 1.0.13, and I’ve decided:
This one stays on 1.0.13. I’m not updating it further. 😄
For the next tool, I’ll record a proper tutorial from scratch.
Quick Summary: Do’s and Don’ts
✅ Do:
- Charge the battery well before updating
- Use one correct app (e.g. Lidl Smart Home or Parkside, depending on your tool)
- Keep the phone close to the tool
- Start the firmware update and then leave it alone
- Watch the tool’s LEDs: wait for infinity flicker → stop → shutdown pattern
- Only touch the app again after the tool finishes its LED sequence
- Test the tool afterwards and check firmware version
❌ Don’t:
- Cut wires or bypass the MCU
- Feed raw battery power directly to the motor
- Panic and kill the app at the first warning or error
- Move far away with your phone mid-update
- Run the update on a nearly empty battery
- Run several smart apps that might interfere at the same time
If this helped you revive your “bricked” Parkside Performance tool, share it around. The more people know not to butcher their tools or wiring, the better.
And if your tool just started spinning again after months of silence…
Enjoy that sound. 😉