How to Update a Router’s Firmware and Software: Tips and Tricks

Methods to update the router firmware

A decade ago there was only one way to update the firmware of the router, and it could be somewhat complicated for users because it was done completely “manually”. Today we have automatic methods that will allow us to download and update the firmware, and in question In 3 minutes we will have the new update installed without complicating our lives. Currently this manual method is still valid, but we also have others that we are going to explain below.

No warnings, manual firmware download and web update

This method consists of entering the official website of our router periodically, going to the “Support” or “Help” section, and seeing which is the latest version of the firmware that has been published. On some occasions, we will have to enter the US website and not the Spanish one, since it is very possible that the website has not yet been updated with the latest firmware version, therefore, we should check the different websites of the same manufacturer to see in which we have the latest version. This process is manual since we will have to do it monthly, to check whether or not we have a new firmware update. Once we have found the new firmware, we download it to our PC for later update.

To update the firmware of a router, Wi-Fi repeater or PLC manually, we will have to enter the configuration menu via web of its firmware, go to the “Administration” section and we will have to see the “Update” option or similar. Here we will have to click on the “Examine” or “Load” button, select the firmware that we have previously downloaded and click on “Accept”. In these moments the firmware will be transferring to the router for subsequent update, this process usually lasts a maximum of 3 minutes, once the router has been updated, it will restart automatically and we will have Internet connectivity again and we will have the latest firmware version .

Notice of a new firmware version and manual update

This method consists in the fact that it is the router itself that will notify us that there is a new version of the firmware, since it continuously checks the manufacturer’s servers to detect a change in it. Once you have notified us of this, we can enter the manufacturer’s official website, go to the “Support” or “Help” section and download the latest version of the firmware. If it is not on the product’s Spanish website, we can try get through the US website, however, we will be sure that there is a new update since the router itself has warned us.

Notice of a new firmware version, automatic download and manual update

This method consists in that it is the router itself that will notify us that there is a new firmware version, it will be able to download it completely automatically, and then we will carry out the “manual” update by simply clicking on “accept”. This process is one of the best because we will only have to accept or deny the update of the new firmware, without having to search the official website, download it and later update it manually. This process is semi-automatic and is one of the most used today by manufacturers.

Automatic firmware update

This method consists in that it is the router itself that will connect to the manufacturer’s servers at a certain time (mainly at night), it will be able to download it completely automatically, and then it will perform the firmware update itself, without intervention of the user. This update method is ideal to always have the latest version available, and all this automatically, ideal for users who do not know how to update the firmware or who are not aware of the latest versions of their firmware.

So you can update the firmware of the router

Updating the router firmware can be a tedious process if it is old and only has the manual update option, or very easy to do if you have the latest update methods. However, it is very important to enter our router and see what type of firmware update we have available. Regardless of the firmware update method, the first thing we must do is enter the router configuration through the web.

In order to know the IP address of our router, you must follow the following steps:

1. Start menu.
2. CMD + Enter.
3. We put the command ipconfig / all .

So, it will show us these results:

Here we see that our gateway is 192.168.1.1. As an example we are going to use the AVM FRITZ! Box router that we are using. Then we open our internet browser, write 192.168.1.1 and press the Enter key.

Next, what we have to do is put the password of our router. In the case of Internet operators, it usually comes on a sticker that comes underneath. In this article we recommend changing it unless, because you have a TV service, do not let it do so.

Once the web access to the router is guaranteed using our password, we are in the router’s configuration menu. Now our objective will be to locate the section where the firmware is updated. In the case of FRITZ! Box routers, the section to update is in System .

There we see several sections, the one that matters to us in this case is the Update , which is the one we are going to press.

This is the screen where the firmware is updated and the first thing it does is show us information about the version we have installed.

In this case we find the group of routers that download the firmware by themselves. To do this, we simply have to click on Find a new FRITZ! OS and follow the instructions.

In the rest of routers, it is practically the same, we have to get to a similar screen. In it we will also see the firmware version and we will find a button that is usually called Update Firmware . We press it, select the path where the file that we have downloaded is located and wait for the operation to complete.

In the case of routers from the manufacturer ASUS, we have the following options, and that is that if we have an AiMesh network, we can also update the different nodes almost automatically. We can load the firmware manually, or download it automatically to always have the latest update easily and quickly.

The manufacturer D-Link has also done a great job in terms of the firmware update policy, now we have the possibility of fully automatic update available, as you can see here:

As you have seen, depending on the manufacturer and model of the router, we will have one update method or another, but we will always have the completely manual update method available in case some type of error occurs.

In recent months, the possibility of updating the router’s firmware directly from the official app for Android or iOS smartphones has become fashionable, this method is the same as the one you would perform via the web in the firmware, but directly from the application. This method is also very easy to do and highly recommended to do as the router will automatically download and install the latest firmware version.

Tips and tricks if you are going to update the firmware

If you are going to perform a firmware update, you must take into account some very important aspects:

1. If you are going to download the firmware from the manufacturer’s website, it has to be the firmware of the exact model. Normally if you put another firmware, the router will detect that it is not the correct firmware, and the update will fail, but the router will not be unusable.
2. If you are going to update the firmware, we recommend making a backup of the current configuration you have, especially the Static DHCP configuration and the open ports configured on the router.
3. It is recommended to update by cable, although if you do it via Wi-Fi it will also work without problems, since this process is done via the web (HTTP or HTTPS) and we use the TCP protocol which is reliable, therefore, the router will not receive a packet corrupt if there is interference.
4. You should not shut down or restart the router while it is updating. The firmware update process usually takes between two and 4 minutes. It is best to do nothing and wait for the router or repeater to reboot.
5. We must remember that a firmware update does not mean losing the current configuration of the router.

Finally, we recommend that you reset the router (restoration to factory settings) once every three new versions of the firmware, since, on many occasions, they have important changes and if we do a reset, the operation of our router will be optimal.