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Firmware & qFlipper — Update Guide

Learning goal: by the end you will understand what "firmware" means on the Flipper Zero, know the three ways to update it, have updated it with qFlipper on your desktop, made a backup, and know how to recover from a bad flash.

Audience: beginners who own a Flipper Zero. A PC (Windows / macOS / Linux) is needed for the desktop method.

What is firmware, anyway?​

The Flipper Zero is a small computer: an STM32WB55 microcontroller with a 1 MB flash chip that stores the operating system and all built-in apps — the Sub-GHz reader, NFC, RFID, Infrared, Bad USB, and everything else you see in the main menu. That software is called firmware (officially FlipperOS).

Firmware updates are released regularly and bring:

  • New protocol support (new Sub-GHz and NFC card types)
  • Bug fixes and security patches
  • New built-in apps and features
  • A larger, community-maintained IR database

The two main firmware families:

FirmwareMaintainerNotes
Official FlipperOSFlipper DevicesRecommended default. Stable, includes all stock apps.
Custom firmware (Momentum)Community (Momentum team)Adds extra apps, better UI, extra features. Needs manual flashing via qFlipper.

Prerequisites​

  • Flipper Zero with at least 30% battery (or plugged into USB)
  • A USB-C cable that supports data (not charge-only)
  • qFlipper installed (download from the official downloads page)
  • If using custom firmware: a backup of your current firmware and data

Step 1: Install qFlipper​

qFlipper is the official desktop app by Flipper Devices. Download it from the official downloads page.

OSInstall
WindowsRun the .exe installer, follow the wizard
macOSOpen the .dmg, drag qFlipper to Applications
Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)Install the .deb with sudo apt install ./qFlipper-<version>.deb

On Ubuntu/Debian, after downloading the .deb:

sudo apt install ./qFlipper-1.3.1-x86_64.deb

Expected output (tail end):

Preparing to unpack ./qFlipper-1.3.1-x86_64.deb ...
Unpacking qflipper ...
Setting up qflipper (1.3.1) ...

Note: the exact filename and version in the download page will differ. Adjust the command to match the file you downloaded.

Step 2: Connect your Flipper Zero​

  1. Plug the USB-C cable into your Flipper Zero, then into your PC.
  2. On the Flipper Zero, confirm the USB prompt: select Connect (the default is to allow USB connection).
  3. Open qFlipper. The main screen should show the Flipper Zero and its current firmware version, e.g.:
Device: Flipper Zero
Firmware version: 1.0.4
Storage: 14.6 GB free

Verify on Linux — if qFlipper doesn't see the device, check that the OS recognizes it:

lsusb

Expected output (look for the Flipper Devices line):

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0483:5740 STMicroelectronics Flipper Zero

Step 3: Update​

  1. In qFlipper, click the Update button in the top bar (the Flipper icon with an up arrow).
  2. qFlipper checks the release channel and shows the newest version. Click Update Firmware.
  3. Wait. The Flipper Zero screen shows a progress bar; qFlipper shows a log like:
Downloading firmware ...
Flashing ...
  1. When the device reboots, qFlipper shows the new version. Done ✅

Step 4: Verify​

On the Flipper Zero itself: Main Menu → Settings → About. Check the version matches what qFlipper just flashed.

Method B: Update with the mobile app​

If you prefer your phone: install the Flipper Mobile App, pair over Bluetooth, then App → Firmware Update. The app downloads and flashes the new firmware over the air. See the Mobile App guide for full pairing steps.

Method C: Install custom firmware (Momentum) with qFlipper​

⚠️ Warning: custom firmware can break or be slower to update. Always back up first, and switch back to official firmware if you don't need the extras.

  1. Back up your data first (see the next section).
  2. Download the custom firmware .dfu file (e.g. from the Momentum releases page).
  3. In qFlipper: click the Flipper icon → Install from file → select the .dfu → Flash.

Expected output:

Selected file: momentum-<version>.dfu
Flashing ...
  1. The Flipper Zero reboots with the custom firmware. Verify in Settings → About — the version string now mentions the custom build.

To go back to official firmware, repeat with the official .dfu from the Flipper release page.

Backup & restore​

Your captured keys, IR codes, and settings live on the microSD card — so the simplest backup is copying the microSD contents to your PC. But qFlipper can also back up the internal memory (region, name, settings, Dolphin level).

Backup typeHow
Full backup (recommended)With Flipper connected, in qFlipper: Files tab → select all files → Copy to PC
Settings / internal dataFlipper icon → Backup → Save to file
RestoreFlipper icon → Restore → choose backup file

Recovery: your Flipper won't boot​

Don't panic — the Flipper Zero has a recovery path:

  1. Hold DOWN while powering on (LEFT + BACK) → the boot menu appears.
  2. Select Firmware update mode.
  3. Connect USB and flash official firmware with qFlipper (Method A above).

Common errors​

ErrorCauseFix
Device not found / No device detectedCharge-only cable, or USB prompt not confirmedUse a data cable; on Flipper confirm "Connect" prompt
qFlipper won't install on LinuxMissing dependenciessudo apt install ./qFlipper-<ver>.deb (installs deps); if that fails, use the AppImage instead
Update stops at 0%USB port issueTry another USB port / cable, reboot qFlipper
Update failed: insufficient storagemicroSD too fullFree space on the microSD, or use a larger card
Custom firmware update failsWrong .dfu fileDownload the correct file for your hardware; verify it's a .dfu, not a source zip