Firmware update

All Canon EOS cameras have firmware inside that controls how they operate and perform. A firmware update is created when there’s an improvement in functionality, or a correction of problematic behaviours and errors.

What is a firmware update?

A firmware update is a software program that is possible to install in to a camera. In most instances a firmware update is provided directly from the manufacturer of the camera. You may find some talented software engineers creating their own firmware to run in another manufacturers hardware, but you need to know that these unofficial updates might cause unexpected problems with your cameras.

Canon removed the updates from the old server for many older cameras, so I removed their links and just display the last known version available. You may have to contact your Canon service team if you need an update for these older cameras.

Several other items have firmware updates available including; EF / EF-S / EF-M / RF lenses, battery grips, Speedlites and Wi-Fi transmitters, and I have more information on those too.

For Canon EOS cameras the firmware update can do many things to change the functions and operation of a camera, it cannot add functions that require changes in the camera hardware. So unlike the April Fools story I wrote, it would not be possible to activate an increased resolution in a camera if the sensor (hardware) doesn’t support it.

Free to download firmware update for Canon EOS cameras

• Entry level DSLR
• Mid-range DSLR
• EOS-1D series
• EOS R series
• EOS M series

EOS ‘XXXX’ D cameras

• EOS 1000D / Rebel XS – 1.0.7
• EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 – 1.0.6
• EOS 1200D / Rebel T5 – 1.0.2
• EOS 1300D / Rebel T6 – 1.2.0
• EOS 2000D / Rebel T7 – 1.1.0
• EOS 4000D / Rebel T100 – 1.0.1

EOS 100D camera

• EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 – 1.0.1
• EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 – 1.1.0
• EOS 250D / 200D Mark II / Rebel SL3 – 1.0.3

EOS ‘XXX’ D camera

• EOS 300D / Rebel – 1.1.1
• EOS 350D / Rebel XT – 1.0.3
• EOS 400D / Rebel XTi – 1.1.1
• EOS 450D / Rebel XSi – 1.1.0
• EOS 500D / Rebel T1i – 1.1.2
• EOS 550D / Rebel T2i – 1.1.0
• EOS 600D / Rebel T3i – 1.0.3
• EOS 650D / Rebel T4i – 1.0.5
• EOS 700D / Rebel T5i – 1.1.5
• EOS 750D / Rebel T6i – 1.1.0
• EOS 760D / Rebel T6s – 1.0.1
• EOS 800D / Rebel T7i – 1.1.0
• EOS 77D – 1.1.0
• EOS 850D

EOS ‘XX’ D cameras

• EOS D30 – 1.0.3
• EOS D60 – 1.0.4
• EOS 10D – 2.0.1
• EOS 20D – 2.0.3
• EOS 30D – 1.0.6
• EOS 40D – 1.1.1
• EOS 50D – 1.0.8
• EOS 60D / 60Da – 1.1.2
• EOS 70D – 1.1.3
• EOS 80D – 1.0.3
• EOS 90D – 1.1.1

EOS ‘X’ D cameras

• EOS 6D – 1.1.9
• EOS 6D Mark II – 1.1.1
• EOS 7D – 2.0.6
• EOS 7D Mark II – 1.1.3
• EOS 5D – 1.1.1
• EOS 5D Mark II – 2.1.2
• EOS 5D Mark III – 1.3.6
• EOS 5D Mark IV – 1.3.3
• EOS 5DS – 1.1.4
• EOS 5DS R – 1.1.4

• EOS-1D – 1.4.0
• EOS-1Ds – 1.0.3
• EOS-1D Mark II – 1.2.6
• EOS-1Ds Mark II – 1.1.6
• EOS-1D Mark II N – 1.1.2
• EOS-1D Mark III – 1.3.2
• EOS-1Ds Mark III – 1.2.3
• EOS-1D Mark IV – 1.1.5
• EOS-1D X – 2.1.1
• EOS-1D C – 1.4.2 [Canon service does the firmware update]
• EOS-1D X Mark II – 1.1.8
• EOS-1D X Mark III – 1.6.2

EOS R system

• EOS R – 1.8.0
• EOS RP – 1.6.0
• EOS Ra – 1.8.0
• EOS R5 – 1.7.0
• EOS R6 – 1.7.0
• EOS R3 – 1.3.0
• EOS R7 – 1.2.0
• EOS R10 – 1.2.0
• EOS R6 Mark II

EOS ‘M’ system

• EOS M – 2.0.3
• EOS M2 – 1.0.3  [Japanese only]
• EOS M3 – 1.2.1
• EOS M10 – 1.1.1
• EOS M5 – 1.0.2
• EOS M6 – 1.0.1
• EOS M100 – 1.1.0
• EOS M50 – 1.1.0
• EOS M6 Mark II – 1.1.1
• EOS M200
• EOS M50 Mark II – 1.0.1

A firmware update in progress on an EOS DSLR camera

5-step guide to update your Canon EOS firmware

Canon firmware updates come in the form of a firmware image file with the extension .FIR. You can dowload a compressed file from Canon and expand it on your computer. Often there will be a PDF with specific instructions for your camera and firmware included in the compressed file along with the firmware.

1. Format a small-sized card in the camera
2. Remove any fitted lens or Speedlite from the camera, make sure the battery in the camera is fully charged
3. Put the firmware file you have downloaded and uncompressed on the camera’s memory card (use either a card reader or EOS Utility)
4. Switch on the camera and navigate to the Firmware menu item, and choose to update
5. Don’t press any buttons on the camera, or switch it off during the update – you can kill the camera

Since the firmware files are not huge in size, then a small card of 2GB or less is worth keeping just to use for firmware updates.

Find all the firmware updates for your EOS camera here –

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Firmware updates for other devices

Other firmware updates have been made available for GPS receivers, WiFi transmitters (WFT / Wireless File Transmitters) and also for certain lenses. For all of these items the firmware is installed with the accessory connected to a camera with the firmware update on a memory card.