UniFi - Updates

Automatic Updates

UniFi manages all updates automatically. You can configure the update schedule in the following locations:

• UniFi OS Version - UniFi OS Settings
• Application Version - UniFi OS Settings
• UniFi Network Device Firmware - UniFi Network System Settings
  
  Note: You don’t have to worry about device versioning for other UniFi applications because it is packaged with the application update.

Requirements

• Your UniFi OS Console or Network device has internet access.
• Your UniFi OS Console or Network device is able to establish a connection with our update servers.

Troubleshooting Update Failures

Although we recommend following the below steps to identify the root cause of your failed update, advanced users may also opt to manually update via SSH. Although this is not generally recommended, a successful update with this method will 100% verify that you are encountering one of the below issues, and your device is working as expected:

Your device’s management network does not have a valid DNS server capable of resolving our update servers.

A device’s management network can be configured in its Settings, which can be accessed by opening the device’s properties panel on the UniFi Devices page. Please verify that the network’s DNS server is correctly configured. This is configured directly in the properties panel if the IP Configuration is set to Static, or within the corresponding network’s settings if set to DHCP.

If you use a UniFi Gateway, we recommend Auto settings to designate the gateway’s IP as the DNS server. The gateway will use the server provided by your internet service provider. While this is often the most reliable option, we still recommend contacting them to verify if there are any issues.

If you use a third-party gateway, we recommend testing with a common public DNS server, such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8.

Your device’s management network does not have internet access.

UniFi devices require internet access to download updates. They access the internet via their management network. This is configured in the device’s Settings, which can be accessed by opening the device’s properties panel on the UniFi Devices page.

Management network connection issues are often caused by  incorrectly configured traffic or firewall rules or other external network factors (e.g., ISP modem issues, third party firewall usage, antivirus software, etc.). We recommend referring to the diagrams in Virtual Network Connectivity for more information.

There is an upstream device blocking traffic, or the sufficient ports have not been opened.

A device’s management network is configured in its Settings, which can be accessed by opening the device’s properties panel on the UniFi Devices page. This network must have access to DNS and NTP services. Please ensure the following ports are open:

• DNS (TCP & UDP Port 53) - UniFi devices use these ports to communicate with our update servers.
• NTP (UDP Port 123) - Ensures a device is configured with the correct date and time. This is required by the TLS security standard we use for encrypted communication with our servers. 

Additionally, verify that no UniFi Network firewall rules or upstream devices (e.g., gateways, third-party firewalls, ISP modems, etc.) will restrict or prevent access to these ports. Our Ports Reference will provide you a comprehensive list of requirements.

If you’re unsure which port(s) should be opened, we recommend contacting your internet service provider.