Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS and Firmware using Winbox

MikroTik RouterOS is in constant development and new features or bug fixes are frequently available, sometimes even monthly. So, it is always recommend upgrading your MikroTik RouterOS to a latest and stable version before beginning any configuration. Sometimes you may find that your production router is required to be upgraded to a new version based on some logical reasons such as:

• A new feature is available to a new update and you need to implement that new feature.
• New version has solved any security vulnerability that old version suffers.
• New version provides any bug fix that you need.

If don’t find these valid reasons, keep away from upgrading your MikroTik RouterOS. But if these are your valid reasons, upgrade your RouterOS as soon as possible without any hesitation. In this article I will show how to easily upgrade MikroTik RouterOS and RouterBOARD firmware using Winbox.

How to Upgrade MikroTik RouterOS using Winbox

Winbox provides an easy graphical way to upgrade MikroTik RouterOS. Using Winbox MikroTik RouterOS can be upgraded according to the following two demands.

• Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS to a specific version
• Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS to the latest version

Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS to a Specific Version

Sometimes you may find that a specific RouterOS version is more stable than the current or latest bug fixed version. In this case, you will prefer to upgrade your RouterOS to this specific version. The following steps will show how to upgrade your RouterOS to a specific version.

• Login Mikrotik Router with Winbox Software.
• From Winbox, go to System > Resources menu item and find Architecture Name from Resources window.
  

Now go to MikroTik download archive page [mikrotik.com/download/archive] and find your specific RouterOS version and then click on it. Now download (.npk) file [routeros-architecture_name-routeros_version.npk] from this RouterOS release list.

Inside Winbox, click on the Files button. File List window will appear now.

Upload your downloaded (.npk) file to this File List window by drag and drop.

Once the file has completely uploaded, issue a reboot command by clicking System and Reboot.

After a few minutes, your router will return to operation with the new version installed. You can confirm that your RouterOS has been updated to latest version visiting System and Packages and then checking Package version within Package List window.

Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS to Latest Version

If you wish to update your RouterOS to latest stable version, no need to follow the above manual option. MikroTik provides another easier and automatic method to update RouterOS to the latest version using Winbox. The follow steps will show how to update MikroTik RouterOS to the latest version automatically using Winbox.

• Inside Winbox, go to System > Packages menu item. Package List window will appear.
• Inside Package List window, you will find Check For Updates button. Click on it. Check For Updates window will appear.
• Inside Check For Update window, choose bugfix only from Channel dropdown menu. Now you will find your installed RouterOS version and the latest bugfix version in Installed Version and Latest Version input box respectively.

Now click on Download button. Within few minutes latest RouterOS version will be downloaded.

After completing download, issue a reboot command by clicking System and Reboot.

After a few minutes, your router will return to operation with the new version installed. You can confirm your update to latest version visiting System and Packages and then checking Package version within Package List window.

Upgrading MikroTik RouterBOARD Firmware

Once the MikroTik RouterOS has been upgraded, it is advisable to update the firmware (boot loader) if you use MikroTik RouterBOARD. The following steps will show how to update MikroTik RouterBOARD firmware using Winbox.

• Inside Winbox, go to System > Routerboard menu item. Routerboard popup window will appear.
• Inside this Routerboard popup window, you will find factory firmware, current firmware and upgrade firmware.
• Click on Upgrade button. RouterOS will now ask for upgrade confirmation, click on Yes button.
• Within a few seconds, upgraded firmware will be downloaded and RouterOS will ask to reboot to take upgrade effect.

Issue a reboot command by clicking System and Reboot.

After a few minutes, your router will return to operation with the new firmware installed. You can confirm firmware upgrade information visiting System and Routerboard menu.f

If you face any confusion to follow above steps properly, watch the below video about Upgrading MikroTik RouterOS and Firmware carefully. I hope it will reduce your any confusion.

How to upgrade MikroTik RouterOS and Firmware has been discussed in this article. I hope you will now be able to update your RouterOS and Firmware successfully following the above steps properly. However, if you face any confusion to upgrade your RouterOS and Firmware, feel free to discuss in comment or contact with me from Contact page. I will try my best to stay with you.