Ubiquiti's updates article names Update Manager in Site Manager, at unifi.ui.com or in the mobile app, as the hub to view and manage updates across deployments. To manage auto-updates and choose a release channel, Official or Early Access, connect to the site and go to Settings, Control Plane, Updates, then click the console or application; device updates live in the application's settings. A self-hosted Network Server older than version 8.6 must be updated manually.
The checks in more detail
If an update fails, Ubiquiti gives four checks: devices must be online, though offline updates are possible with the Update Cache method; verify DNS, using reliable servers such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8; confirm UDP ports 53 and 123 are not blocked by the gateway or provider; and contact the provider if they block required ports. The LED article says a device flashing white and blue quickly is being upgraded and must not be interrupted, and a UDM flashes only white during an upgrade.
Plan updates for a quiet time and use scheduled auto-updates if you prefer. Back up before a major update using UniFi OS backups. If a device stays in a bad state after an update, recovery mode and TFTP are documented, and a factory reset and re-adoption is the last resort. Read the release notes before you update a gateway, since they sometimes describe changes to firewall or routing behavior.
Update at a time when a short outage is acceptable, tell the household, and take a backup first. After the update, check the WAN address, a client's DNS, a port forward you rely on and the VPN, because those are the features most likely to be affected. If something behaves differently, note the version before and after. If you manage several sites, update the least critical one first and keep a note of how long the outage lasted, which helps you schedule the rest.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ubiquiti UniFi gateways firmware update will not install”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An offline device
What separates it The update will not start because the device is offline
How to confirm Bring the device online, or use Update Cache to install the update without the internet
- 2
Bad DNS
What separates it The update fails because the DNS servers in use cannot be reached
How to confirm Use reliable DNS servers such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, and try again
- 3
Blocked UDP 53 or 123
What separates it The update fails because UDP ports 53 and 123 are blocked
How to confirm Open UDP ports 53 and 123, since updates need name lookups and the correct time
- 4
An interrupted update
What separates it The device is stuck because an update was interrupted
How to confirm Use recovery mode to restore the device, and then run the update again
- 5
A self-hosted server before 8.6
What separates it There is no Update Manager because a self hosted server is older than version 8.6
How to confirm Update the device manually, or upgrade the server to a newer version
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The versions of the application and of the console
- The release channel that is selected, official or early access
- The exact error message shown for the update
- Whether DNS and the update ports are working
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen Update Manager
ReversibleOpen Update Manager at unifi.ui.com or in the mobile app, to see the updates that are waiting.
Or open Control Plane
ReversibleOr open the Control Plane, under Settings and then Updates, on the console itself, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Choose a channel
ReversibleChoose a channel, either Official for tested releases, or Early Access for new features, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check DNS and ports
ReversibleCheck DNS and the ports, using 1.1.1.1 and opening UDP 53 and 123 to the internet.
Back up
ReversibleBack up before major updates, so that you can restore your settings if anything goes wrong.
Update
ReversibleUpdate, and do not interrupt the process, since flashing white and blue means it is working.
Recover if stuck
ReversibleRecover if stuck, by using recovery mode, and then run the update again from the start.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Consoles
- UniFi OS consoles update the operating system and the Network application separately.
- Versions
- Menu paths differ between Network versions.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition, UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If updates fail with good DNS and open ports, contact Ubiquiti support
- !If a device is stuck, use recovery mode or an RMA
- !If the provider blocks the ports, ask the provider to open them for you
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Update Manager, auto-updates and update troubleshooting.
White, blue and port LEDs.
Recovery and TFTP.
Reset button and app reset.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where do I manage updates?+
Manage updates in Update Manager, which is in Site Manager at unifi.ui.com.
What are release channels?+
The release channels are Official and Early Access, and Official is the tested one.
Can I update offline?+
Yes, you can update offline, using Update Cache on a device that has the file.
Do I back up?+
Yes, back up before you update, so that you can restore your settings.
What is recovery mode?+
Recovery mode is a way to restore a device that is stuck after a failed update.
What is the last resort?+
The last resort is a factory reset, followed by adopting the device again.