It is not a bad idea to have the headphone charged before updating, but only if it is completely empty will there be any difference. To update via cable, a USB cable connection must be established between the headphone and the computer, and since the cable is also used for charging, there will be power to the headphone as long as it is connected to the computer. If the battery is depleted, it may be necessary to wait a little while, until a basic level of charging has been reached. Please note that the ELITE models with the most recent software permit wireless upgrade, directly from the control app on a smartphone. In this case, it is of course necessary to have power enough in the battery to sustain the whole upgrading process, since it takes place without cable.