How do I update my Meshtastic firmware?

The Easy Way: Web Flasher

The Meshtastic web flasher at flasher.meshtastic.org handles everything automatically. It works in Chrome and Edge (Firefox does not support WebSerial).

1. Connect your device to your computer via USB
2. Open flasher.meshtastic.org in Chrome or Edge
3. Click "Connect" and select your device's serial port
4. The flasher auto-detects your board type and shows the latest stable release
5. Click "Flash" and wait 2-3 minutes for the process to complete
6. The device reboots automatically when done

Your configuration is preserved during a normal update. Settings stored in flash persist through firmware updates in most cases. However, major version upgrades (e.g., 2.2.x to 2.3.x) may reset some settings — always export your config before a major update.

Exporting Config Before Updating

meshtastic --export-config > my-node-config.json

This saves all your settings to a JSON file. If the update resets your config, restore with:

meshtastic --import-config my-node-config.json

Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates

Meshtastic supports OTA firmware updates via Bluetooth on ESP32 boards running firmware 2.1+. In the Android app: go to the connected device settings and look for "Firmware Update" if available. This is convenient for nodes that are accessible but not near a computer. OTA is not available on nRF52840 boards (T-Echo, RAK4631) — these require USB flashing.

How Often Should I Update?

For personal devices: update when you want new features or bug fixes. There's no urgency unless a security issue is announced. For community infrastructure nodes: test new firmware on a non-critical node first, then coordinate with the community before updating. Avoid updating repeaters mid-event or during high-use periods.

When NOT to Update

• During an active emergency operation — never update infrastructure during an event
• If your network is working well and other nodes are on older firmware — major version jumps can cause compatibility issues until all nodes update
• Right before a planned use — allow 24 hours to discover and fix any update-related issues