This tutorial will help you find which firmware version is installed for the WiFi module available on some boards. It will also show you how to update to a new version of the firmware. We will cover two different modules – the WiFi Nina and the WiFi101.

The latest WiFi Nina firmware version may not be available in the stable IDE. To get the latest firmware, download the hourly build.

Boards with the WiFi Nina module:

• Arduino MKR WiFi 1010
• Arduino MKR Vidor 4000
• Arduino Nano 33 IoT
• Arduino Uno WiFi Rev2

Boards with the WiFi101 module:

• Arduino MKR1000

What you’ll need

• One of the boards listed above
• A computer with the Arduino IDE
• A data USB cable

How to check the firmware version

We can check the current firmware version by uploading a sketch to the board that will report the version via the serial monitor.

1. Connect the board to the laptop or PC and start the IDE.

2. You will need to install the library associated with your board's module. Open the library manager and install the relevant library – either WiFiNINA or WiFi101, depending on the module. For help with library installation, see this guide.

3. With the library installed, open the appropriate sketch.

   • WiFi Nina: Files > Example > WiFi Nina > Tools > Select ‘CheckFirmware Version’
   • WiFi101: Files > Example > WiFi101 > CheckWifi101FirmwareVersion

4. Choose the port with your board in Tools > Port > ...

5. Upload the sketch to the board.

6. Open the Serial Monitor (Tools > Serial Monitor) and observe the installed and latest available firmware version.

   

The Serial Monitor returning firmware version information.

If the installed version has a lower version number than the latest available, you can follow the instructions below to update it to the newest version.

How to update the firmware

Now, we'll see how the WiFi module firmware can be updated. This is done by uploading a firmware update sketch to the board, and then using the Firmware Updater tool.

1. Connect the board to the laptop or PC and start the IDE.

2. Next, we'll need to open a firmware update sketch.

   • File > Examples > WiFiNINA > Tools > FirmwareUpdater
   • File > Examples > WiFi101 > FirmwareUpdater

3. Choose the port with your board in Tools > Port > ...

4. Upload the code to your board by clicking the upload button.

5. Open the Firmware Updater (Tools > WiFi101 / WiFiNINA Firmware Updater). We'll now follow step (1) and (2) in the Firmware Updater window.

6. Select port of the WiFi module. Select your board in the list. If it is not listed, try clicking 'Refresh list'.

   

7. Update firmware. Choose a version in the dropdown. Typically, you will want the latest version (the one with the highest version number).

   

8. Lastly, click 'Update Firmware'. The update may take a minute to complete. A successful update will be confirmed by a pop-up.