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How to Check Your MikroTik RouterOS Version and Update It Safely

Check the installed RouterOS version, review the channel and changelog, protect your configuration, and update with a planned reboot and post-update checks.
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To check the RouterOS version, run /system resource print or open System > Packages in WinBox or WebFig. To update, confirm the release channel and device compatibility, save a secure backup, then use Check For Updates and install in a maintenance window. The router reboots when you choose Download&Install.

Check the installed RouterOS version

Use the command line

In a RouterOS terminal, run:

/system resource print

Note the version, factory-software, architecture, and device information. The running version identifies the software currently installed; factory software can matter when assessing downgrade limits.

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Use WinBox or WebFig

Open System > Packages to see package and version information. You can also use QuickSet or System > Packages to reach the update check. The update screen reports the selected channel and installed and latest versions.

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Choose an update channel

The channel determines which versions the router offers. Choose based on how much change your network can tolerate, rather than assuming the newest offered build is right for every router.

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Channel descriptions and update behavior are in MikroTik’s upgrading and installation documentation. Channel availability and offered versions can change, so inspect what your router actually reports.

Prepare before installing

Save a backup and protect it

Create a binary configuration backup and store a copy somewhere other than the router. Treat the file as sensitive: it can contain secrets and MAC addresses, so keep it private and encrypted. MikroTik recommends restoring a binary backup on the same device and RouterOS version. The Dude and User Manager configuration may not be included; save those separately if you use them. A text export can help review configuration but is not a full replacement for the binary backup. See MikroTik’s backup documentation.

Check device and service implications

Confirm the model, architecture, memory, and installed extra packages before updating, especially if you plan to install packages manually. Consider whether the router provides routing or other services that cannot tolerate an interruption. Schedule a maintenance window and make sure you can regain access after the reboot.

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Check for and install an update

  1. Open the updater. In WinBox or WebFig, go to System > Packages, then choose Check For Updates. QuickSet may also expose the update check. From the terminal, inspect update details with /system package update check-for-updates.
  2. Review the result and changelog. Check the selected channel, installed version, offered version, and release notes. Version numbers are sequential, not decimal numbers: for example, v5.18 is newer than v5.2.
  3. Download and install at a suitable time. Choose Download&Install to download and install the update, followed by an automatic reboot after a successful download. Choosing Download only stages the package; you must reboot manually to complete installation.
  4. Wait for the router to return. The update is downloaded through the router, so it needs connectivity to MikroTik’s update servers. MikroTik’s package-upgrade feature uses HTTPS starting with RouterOS 7.23.

Some older installations cannot move directly to the newest major release. Install the intermediate version the updater offers, then check again. Do not assume a target version without checking the router’s channel and device circumstances. For manual installation, use packages for the correct architecture and include the extra packages already in use where appropriate; see MikroTik’s upgrade instructions.

Verify RouterOS and RouterBOOT after the reboot

Once the router is reachable again, run /system resource print or check System > Packages to confirm the running version. Review package state and logs for errors, and confirm that important network services are working.

RouterBOOT firmware is checked and upgraded separately from RouterOS. Run:

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/system/routerboard/print

If upgrade-firmware shows a version newer than the installed firmware, MikroTik recommends running /system routerboard upgrade and rebooting. Follow MikroTik’s RouterBOARD documentation for the firmware procedure.

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Special case: moving from RouterOS v6 to v7

Treat a v6-to-v7 update as a migration, not an ordinary maintenance update. MikroTik advises moving devices on v6 or older to a current v6 Stable or Long-term release first. Most configurations convert automatically, but some features require extra steps or redesign. Review the vendor’s feature-specific guidance, particularly if you use MPLS, BGP, OSPF, routing filters, PIM-SM, or User Manager. MikroTik does not recommend RouterOS v7 on hardware with less than 64 MB of RAM; that is the vendor’s recommendation, not a measured performance guarantee. Details are in MikroTik’s RouterOS v7 upgrade guide, updated February 25, 2026.

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If the router does not detect an update

First confirm the selected channel and try the update check again. If the router cannot resolve upgrade.mikrotik.com, investigate its DNS configuration and name resolution. MikroTik’s troubleshooting example uses /system package update check-for-updates to show the channel, installed version, latest version, and status; any example IP address in that guidance should be treated as dated troubleshooting information, not a permanent server address. See the upgrade documentation and MikroTik’s DNS documentation.

Why rollback is not a substitute for preparation

Downgrading is constrained by the device’s factory software version, and an older release may contain bugs or security issues. If you must downgrade, obtain packages that match the device architecture and follow MikroTik’s downgrade guidance. A backup is not a guarantee that every downgrade or device change can be reversed safely.

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