A firmware upgrade system searches for and upgrades to a new version of firmware without a user's attendance. The firmware upgrade system includes a user terminal to generate a search command signal while unattended by the user to initiate a search for a new version of electric appliance firmware, and a server to determine whether the new version of electric appliance firmware is present in response to the search command signal. The new version of electric appliance firmware, if present on the server, is transmitted to the user terminal and replaces the firmware in firmware storage if the new version of firmware is more recent than the firmware in firmware storage.