This article describes how you can update firmware for a device by using the NETGEAR Engage Controller or the audio video (AV) user interface (UI):
- Engage Controller: You can use the controller to update firmware on a NETGEAR fully managed switch, access point, or Pro Router that is managed by the Engage Controller. You can perform an online update of the firmware for a single device or for a group of devices of the same model.
If new firmware becomes available for a device, the controller displays the Update Available icon next to the firmware version for a device in the Managed Devices table.Note: Although you can also manually update the firmware for a managed device from a file that you downloaded and that is located on the same computer as the controller, we recommend that you let the controller locate firmware online for you. This minimizes the risk that you download and update to firmware that does not support the controller functions.
- AV UI: For a NETGEAR fully managed switch, you can use the AV UI to update firmware, regardless of whether the switch is managed through the controller. (You can access the AV UI as an independent interface.) You manually update the firmware for a switch from a file that you downloaded from the NETGEAR Download Center and that is located on the same computer as the AV UI.
Follow one of the following procedures, depending on what works best for your network setup.
After the controller onboards a device, you can use the controller to perform an online update of the firmware for a device. If new firmware becomes available for a device, the controller displays the Update Available icon next to the firmware version for a device in the Managed Devices table.
To perform an online firmware update for a single managed device using the controller:
- On your computer, in the folder in which you installed the controller application, double-click the Engage application icon, or double-click the Engage shortcut.
The controller application opens and displays a login page. - In the Login Name field, enter admin as the user name, in the Password field, enter the controller password that you set up the first time that you logged in, and click the Login button.
The Managed Devices page displays. - If you set up more than one site, from the Site menu, select the site.
The Edit Network Setup pop-up window displays. - Do one of the following:
- Make no changes to the network setup for the site: Click the Apply button.
- Change the network setup for the site: See the information in the "Edit the network setup of a site" section in the Engage Controller user manual. When you are done, click the Apply button.
- In the table, click the Update Available icon for a device.
The icon displays in the FW Version column, next to the current firmware version for the device.
The Update Firmware pop-up window displays - Select the Online radio button, which is selected by default.
The controller locates the latest firmware online. - Select the type of device reboot by selecting a radio button:
- Reboot Automatically: The device is automatically rebooted after the firmware update. You do not need to confirm the reboot of the device.
- Ask for permission before rebooting: After the firmware update, you must confirm the reboot of the device. Depending on the device and the situation, this option might be masked and not available.
- Click the Continue button.
The firmware update starts. During the update process, do not power down the device.
Note: If you are updating a Pro Router that is the main router for your network, you might need to restart the controller so that the firmware update shows as completed. - If you selected to be asked for permission before rebooting, the Firmware Update pop-up window displays after a few minutes, and you must click the Restart Now button.
The device is rebooted. During the restart process, do not power down the device. - To save the settings to the running configuration, at the top right of the page, click the Save button.
Perform an online update for a group of managed devices of the same model using the Engage Controller
You can manage group firmware updates, which are firmware updates that the controller applies to the following groups of devices:
- All models of one type of fully managed switch model, indicated as M4250L, M4250H, M4300, M4350, or M4500.
- All access points of one model.
A group update does not apply to a Pro Router because a site at a managed network usually includes a single Pro Router only.
To perform an online firmware update for a group of managed devices of the same model using the controller:
- On your computer, in the folder in which you installed the controller application, double-click the Engage application icon, or double-click the Engage shortcut.
The controller application opens and displays a login page. - In the Login Name field, enter admin as the user name, in the Password field, enter the controller password that you set up the first time that you logged in, and click the Login button.
The Managed Devices page displays. - If you set up more than one site, from the Site menu, select the site.
The Edit Network Setup pop-up window displays. - Do one of the following:
- Make no changes to the network setup for the site: Click the Apply button.
- Change the network setup for the site: See the information in the "Edit the network setup of a site" section in the Engage Controller user manual. When you are done, click the Apply button.
- Select Devices > Maintenance.
The Managed Devices Backup Configurations page displays. - From the menu in the left panel, select Group Firmware Update > Firmware.
The Firmware page displays. - For the type or model of device (in the Firmware Name column), click the 3 dots icon and select Update Now.
Note: For information about scheduling the update to be automatically performed at a date and time of your choice, see the "Schedule a firmware update for a group of devices" section in the Engage Controller use manual.
The Update Firmware pop-up window displays. - Select the Online radio button, which is selected by default.
The controller locates the latest firmware online. - Select the type of device reboot by selecting a radio button:
- Reboot Automatically: The device is automatically rebooted after the firmware update. You do not need to confirm the reboot of the device.
- Ask for permission before rebooting: After the firmware update, you must confirm the reboot of the device. Depending on the device and the situation, this option might be masked and not available.
- Click the Continue button.
The firmware update starts. During the update process, do not power down the device. - If you selected to be asked for permission before rebooting, the Firmware Update pop-up window displays after a few minutes, and you must click the Restart Now button.
The device is rebooted. During the restart process, do not power down the device. - To save the settings to the running configuration, at the top right of the page, click the Save button.
You can update the firmware through the AV UI. The following procedure describes the AV UI as an independent interface. However, if the switch is a managed device in the Engage Controller, you can access the AV UI from the controller.
To update the firmware by using the AV UI:
- Visit the NETGEAR Download Center and download the firmware file to the computer that you use to access the AV UI.
- Launch a web browser, and in the address field, enter the IP address of the switch.
For information about finding the IP address of your fully managed switch, see How do I find the IP address of my NETGEAR fully managed switch?.
The login page displays. - In the Login Name field, enter admin as the user name, in the Password field, enter your local device password, and click the AV UI Login button.
The first time that you log in, no password is required. However, you then must specify a local device password to use each subsequent time that you log in. The password must be 8 to 64 characters in length and must contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number. The following special characters are allowed: ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ).
To display the password, click the eye icon.
If, in addition to the AV UI, you are also managing the switch through the Insight Cloud Portal or Insight app, enter the Insight network password for the Insight network to which the switch is added.
The Overview page displays. - If you use a switch stack, from the Stack Unit menu at the top of the page, select the switch to configure.
- Select Configure > Maintenance.
The Maintenance page displays.
Note: The switch can hold two firmware versions. If it does, the page displays the active firmware version. The main UI and CLI let you manage firmware files, and change from one version to another. The AV UI lets you update the firmware but does not let you manage firmware versions. If you update firmware using the AV UI, the new firmware becomes the active firmware. - Click in the Browse Field field, navigate to the firmware file, and select it.
- Click the Upload button.
A pop-up window displays the progress of the firmware file upload. - After the upload completes, in the pop-up window, click the Reboot Now button.
The switch is rebooted. During the restart process, do not power down the switch.
After the restart process is completed, the switch is running the new firmware.
Last Updated:09/08/2025
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Article ID: 000068399