Access point firmware updates come through the UniFi Network application. Ubiquiti's updates article says Update Manager in Site Manager (unifi.ui.com or the app) shows and manages updates, and device updates live within the application settings, under Settings, Control Plane, Updates, where you can choose the Official or Early Access channel and configure auto-updates. The AP must be online and adopted to update.
The checks in more detail
If an update fails, check the AP has internet, that DNS works with a reliable server such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, that UDP ports 53 and 123 are not blocked and that the provider is not blocking required ports. The LED article says an AP flashing white and blue quickly is upgrading and must not be interrupted. Firmware changes behavior: Ubiquiti's own community releases for the U7 models were followed by user reports of client issues on some versions, with some resolved by turning off Fast Roaming or moving to a later release,
so read release notes and stage updates across several APs rather than all at once. If an AP stays offline after an update, check PoE and cable, then use recovery mode or TFTP; a factory reset and re-adoption is the last resort. Back up the site first. Stage the update: apply it to one AP, watch clients for a day and then roll out to the rest.
Choose a quiet hour, since each AP restarts and its clients roam away. Note the firmware version before and after, and read the release notes for changes to roaming, DFS or WPA3 behavior, which are the settings that most often change how devices behave. If an update makes clients slower, record the version and the symptom, roll forward to the next release when it arrives and report the behavior, rather than repeatedly resetting the AP.
Differential
Likely causes of “Ubiquiti UniFi access points firmware update will not install”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An offline AP
What separates it The update will not start because the access point is offline
How to confirm Restore the uplink, so that the access point comes back online
- 2
Bad DNS or blocked ports
What separates it The update fails because the DNS is bad or the ports are blocked
How to confirm Use a good DNS server, and open UDP ports 53 and 123, then try again
- 3
A power interruption
What separates it The access point is stuck because power was interrupted during the update
How to confirm Use recovery mode to restore the access point, and then update it again
- 4
A problematic release
What separates it Clients have problems after the update because the new release has a fault
How to confirm Read the release notes, and roll back or update to a later release that fixes it
- 5
Auto-update at a bad time
What separates it There was a daytime outage because auto update ran at a bad time
How to confirm Schedule updates for a quiet time, so clients are not disturbed
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The AP model and firmware version
- The version of the Network application that you run
- The release channel that is selected
- How the access point and its clients behave after the update
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen Updates
ReversibleOpen Updates by going to Settings, then Control Plane, and then Updates in the application.
Choose a channel
ReversibleChoose a release channel, either Official for tested releases or Early Access for newer ones.
Check DNS and ports
ReversibleCheck DNS and the ports, since updates need name lookups and UDP ports 53 and 123.
Update one AP first
ReversibleUpdate one access point first, and stage the rest, so a bad release does not affect them all.
Wait
ReversibleWait for the update to finish, and do not interrupt it or unplug the access point.
Check clients
ReversibleCheck the clients after the update, to make sure that they still connect and roam well.
Recover if stuck
ReversibleRecover the access point if it is stuck, by using recovery mode, and then update again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- U7 family
- U7 releases are numbered separately from U6 releases.
- Adoption
- An AP must be adopted to update.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the UniFi U6 Pro access point.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If updates fail with good DNS and ports, contact Ubiquiti support
- !If an AP is stuck, use recovery mode or RMA
- !If a release breaks clients, report it and hold updates
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Update Manager, auto-updates and update troubleshooting.
White, blue and port LEDs.
Recovery.
Adopting devices.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where do I update APs?+
You update access points in the Network application, under Updates.
What does flashing white and blue mean?+
A light that flashes white and blue means that the firmware is being upgraded.
Which DNS for updates?+
Ubiquiti suggests 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, since they are reliable resolvers for updates.
Which ports?+
UDP ports 53 and 123 must be open, for name lookups and for the time.
Should I update all APs at once?+
No, stage it, by updating one access point first and then the others.
What channels exist?+
The channels are Official and Early Access, and Official is the tested one.
Can I schedule updates?+
Yes, you can schedule updates for a quiet time, so clients are not disturbed.
What if an AP is stuck?+
Use recovery mode if an access point is stuck, or send it for an RMA if that fails.
Should I read release notes?+
Yes, read the release notes, since they list the changes and any known issues.