VW ID. Software 3.9.1 improves winter charging for older models

Volkswagen has been distributing ID. Software 3.9.1 for older electric cars in the ID family since November 5, 2026. The most important new feature is manually activated preconditioning of the high-voltage battery, which is intended to enable shorter charging times at DC fast-charging stations, especially in low outside temperatures. The update is aimed at older ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID. Buzz vehicles from model years 2021 to 2023 that still run on software generation 3.x.

What update 3.9.1 changes

• If required, the battery can be brought to a more favorable temperature for fast charging via the charging menu.
• The automatic temperature control takes driving behavior more strongly into account and cools the battery more effectively after fast-charging sessions.
• During AC charging, automatic stabilization is intended to reduce rare unexpected drops in charging power.
• The vehicle monitors the high-voltage battery for increased self-discharge and, if abnormalities are detected, displays a warning advising an inspection at a Volkswagen partner.
• The welcome screen will in future disappear automatically five seconds after getting in; Volkswagen is also updating IT security.

The newly added preconditioning addresses a weakness of early ID models in winter: without targeted preparation, the battery sometimes took longer in cold conditions to reach high charging power during fast charging. Newer ID models with ID. Software 4 already have this function as standard. A full update of older vehicles to software generation 4 is not possible because the underlying hardware has changed, so Volkswagen is now adding the function within the 3.x platform. The revised temperature management is also intended to optimize energy consumption and range and counteract premature battery aging.

Availability and requirements

The update is being offered gradually via over-the-air distribution, provided that at least ID. Software 3.7 is already installed on the vehicle. Models with an older software version must first be updated at a Volkswagen partner. ID vehicles with software generation 4.x do not need version 3.9.1 for battery preconditioning, because it is already included there. Which version is installed and whether an update is available can be checked in the infotainment system under “Setup” and “System information.” The updated IT security is also a prerequisite for the affected vehicles to receive further over-the-air updates.