Urgent update required for FRITZ!Box: There is a risk of an important function failing
Created: 03/14/2022Updated: 03/14/2022, 17:45
By: Jennifer Battaglia
If you have a FRITZ!Box, you should urgently update it: otherwise the router could no longer function properly after March 15.
(Iconic image) © Matthias Balk/dpa
Telekom announces that there will be an update in its network on March 15th.
Users must have updated their FRITZ!Box by then - otherwise it will only work to a limited extent.
Munich – As Telekom announces on its website, there will be a far-reaching update in its network on March 15th.
In order to be able to continue using their own FRITZ!Box without restrictions afterwards, users must check the firmware version of their router.
For many, an update is then necessary, otherwise there is a risk of an important function failing.
There used to be an “expiry date” for certain routers.
Router update: How to check the version number
You can find out which version number your own FRITZ!Box has via the user interface of the router.
According to Telekom, you will find there under “System”, the “Update” section and then the “FRITZ!OS file” tab.
It is important that you have activated the "extended view".
If the FRITZ!Box is now equipped with version 7.25, Telekom urgently recommends an update.
Otherwise you can no longer make calls with the router from March 15th.
However, this does not affect internet access.
Router update: how to install it?
And how do you get an update for the FRITZ!Box?
According to Telekom, there are two options for this: On the one hand, there is the option of installing updates automatically.
Anyone who has activated this function should already have received the latest version.
On the other hand, there is the alternative of performing a manual update or an online update.
You can read here how consumers can generally protect themselves against security gaps in WLAN routers.
According to
AVM
, a
manual update
works as follows:
1 Download FRITZ!OS file First download
the FRITZ!OS file.
If you cannot connect to the internet via your own FRITZ!Box, you can download the file from your neighbor or an internet cafe, for example:
1. Call up ftp.avm.de/fritzbox/ in the Internet browser.
2. Switch to the folder of your FRITZ!Box model, then to the subfolder "germany" or "other" and then to the folder "fritz.os".
Note: The full model name of your FRITZ!Box is in the user interface on the "Overview" page and on the bottom of the device.
3. Download the .image file to the computer.
2 Installing the latest FRITZ!OS
1. Click on “System” in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
2. On the System menu, click Update.
3. Click on the "FRITZ!OS file" tab.
4. Click on "Save settings" and also confirm the execution on the FRITZ!Box if you are prompted to do so.
Note: After the installation, save the settings of the FRITZ!Box again under "System > Backup".
Then you can restore a working configuration at any time.
5. Click on the "Browse..." or "Select file" button.
6. Select the FRITZ!OS file that you downloaded (image file).
7. Click the "Start update" button.
For an
online update
, on the other hand, according to
AVM
, you have to do the following:
If you activate the option “Inform about new FRITZ!OS versions and automatically install new versions” in the user interface under “System > Update > Auto-Update”, future updates will be installed automatically.
The automatic update will only be carried out some time after the update has been released and will be distributed in stages.
An online update is always possible immediately.
1. Click on "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
2. On the System menu, click Update.
Important:
If the "Update" menu is not available, the FRITZ!Box was made available by the Internet provider.
The provider automatically installs the new FRITZ!OS on these devices.
It is therefore not possible and not necessary to install an update via the FRITZ!Box user interface.
You can get information about the new FRITZ!OS version and possible dates from your provider.
3. Click the "Find new FRITZ!OS" button.
4. Click on the "Start update now" button.
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Version 7.29 is not affected by the update.
If your FRITZ!Box already has this version, you don't have to do anything else, you can still make relaxed calls after March 15th.
(jb)
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