How to update Reolink NVR Firmware (PC App, Web UI & Direct)

The first step is to verify your NVR model number, hardware version and your current firmware. This is important because installing the wrong firmware on your system can damage it. Even if you think you know your model, do look it up.

• • To do this in the mobile app, open the app and click on the gear icon in the upper right. Then click on the NVR on top of the screen. Here we have Model RLN8-410-E. The Hardware version is H3MB16. And for current firmware I have 2.0.0.249_20011608101.
  • Using the computer client app, click the gear icon to open the settings. Navigate down to System -> NVR Info. The model number is here, the hardware number here and the firmware version is here.
  • Next, we log into the NVR’s web user interface with Chrome. I found the NVR’s IP address in the mobile app. Again, click the gear icon and go to System, then Information. Here is the Model, the hardware number here and lastly the firmware.
  • Lastly, if you log into the NVR directly, go to the main menu, click System, the System Information and all the current information will be displayed.

1. Now that we have the NVR’s model number and current firmware, let’s download the latest version. Yes, we need to download the firmware from Reolink and then upload it to the NVR. I wish there was a simple upgrade button that would find the latest version of the firmware and automatically download it and install it for me. For now, we have to figure that out ourselves.
   Here on the Reolink site, we can find the most common equipment firmware by going to Support -> Download Center. I’ll try to find my NVR under PoE IP Cameras & NVRs. When I scroll down to the RLN8-410, there is a firmware link. This is model RLN8-410 but mine has an E at the end. These 2 Hardware versions don’t match mine and my firmware cannot be found here. This is why we need to know the model and hardware numbers. To find additional NVR models, including mine, Reolink has those under Support -> Support Center. Click the Firmware and User Manual Download link. To see all the firmware updates, click on show more. The layout here is terrible and has no order or organization. The easiest way to find your hardware is by opening the find feature and pasting in your model number. I see 2 options; one from December 2020 and one from April 2020. The one I want obviously is the latest one but the hardware number on the end here doesn’t match mine. Not to worry, my hardware is located within this link.
   Perfect, I found my model number and my hardware version, so I guess this is the link. Well, once again, confusion, how do I know I need this upgrade? My current version is this. So, here’s how to figure it out. On my current firmware version, I have 20011608 and so on. This is not the same as my build number, but close. It actually looks like my build number is part of this number but it’s cut off and rounded up 6-0-8 to 6-1. Anyways, when I compare the current firmware number after the underscore, the version on the website is greater and therefore more recent. Yes, it’s more complicated than it needs to be. Let’s click the link to start the download.

With the file downloaded, I’ll go ahead and save it to a folder on my PC’s desktop. I’ll open the zip and copy the firmware PAK file. I’ll put a copy here, at the same level as the zip so I don’t have to dig for it later. I’ll also put a copy on a USB stick so I can drop it onto the NVR directly when demonstrating how to upgrade from the NVR itself.

To perform the upgrade using the Reolink computer app:

1. Open the app and click the gear icon to the right of your NVR’s name.
2. Go down to System -> Maintenance
3. Find the section for Firmware Upgrade and select the PAK file we just downloaded.
4. The check box for Update Config File, resets the NVR back to defaults. It’s not intuitive and don’t select this unless you want to lose all your settings and then possibly your mind since it probably took you a while to get everything setup to this point.
5. We’ll kick off the upgrade by clicking Upgrade. And I’ll fast forward. This process takes just over 2 minutes.
6. Ok, Let’s go back in and check to ensure the upgrade was successful. Perfect, it was successful.

Before we jump into the next example, I’ve downgraded the firmware to what it was before. So, yeah, the NVR allows you to upgrade or downgrade, as long as you have the PAK file.

Next, if you use your computer’s browser, like chrome, you can perform the NVR upgrade here:

1. Again, using the NVR’s IP address, log into the user interface.
2. Click the gear icon in the upper right.
3. Select System on the left-hand side.
4. Then Maintenance.
5. Click the text box to open the dialogue to select the PAK file.
6. Again, don’t select the options below unless you want to reset your NVR back to defaults.
7. Let’s carry on by clicking Upgrade and fast forward for 2 minutes.
8. Let’s go back and ensure the upgrade was successful. This upgrade removes the requirement for Flash to view the camera footage.
9. The Flash logo is still being displayed and when I click on the gear icon I get this message that the firmware is upgraded. What’s happening here, is Chrome has cached some of the web user interface and we need to reload the entire UI. To do this hit, Shift + F5. Now, I’ll log in again and the first camera’s live feed fill the screen without the use of Flash. Back to System – Information to verify and yes, everything is upgraded.

Again, with the firmware downgraded back to where it was before, let’s jump on the NVR directly.

1. I’ll drop by USB flash drive into the port of the front of the machine.
2. Go to the main menu – System – Maintenance
3. Click the button to upgrade the firmware from a USB drive.
4. There’s the firmware file.
5. Up above, deselect the option to reset the NVR back to factory defaults. This is selected by default and I will definitely be unselecting this.
6. Click upgrade.
7. Click ok on the warning message.
8. This time, the upgrade only took about 30 seconds. Much faster then compared to the other methods.
9. Let’s verify that the upgrade was successful. And, yes, the new version is here. Perfect.