topic Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded" in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

hahacky — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:11:27 GMT

I downloaded the new EOS utility and the 1.3 firmware. When I use Canon Conn etc on my Mac to connect via wi-fi, the connection seems solid. I get to browse for and select firmware 1.3 to install over 1.2 But every time I get the message that the firmware cannot be downgraded..... Please advise.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

shadowsports — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 23:52:51 GMT

While downgrading firmware is possible, Its not recommended. Best case it works, worst case, you brick your camera. What's wrong with v1.3.0?

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

hahacky — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:13:48 GMT

Right, but I’m not downgrading the firmware. I’m trying to install version 1.3. Version 1.2 is what is on the camera.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:39:45 GMT

I'm not sure what's up with Canon Connect and your WiFi try 🙂 I would put the FIR file on a card and do it in camera. If that fails, you may need to contact Canon Support.

Newton

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

shadowsports — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:54:06 GMT

Greetings,

Sorry, your threads title appeared to indicate you wanted to go backwards. Maybe you meant "downloaded" instead of "downgraded"?

Maybe this will help.

Start by downloading firmware v1.3.0 for MAC

Use a fully charged battery in the camera

Use a full size memory card, freshly formatted in the camera

Click on the firmware file it should mount on your desktop

If it doesn't, open Finder preferences and check the Hard Disks box

Try the file again, this time it should open and mount.

Open the folder, look for (file) EOSR7130.FIR

Copy that file to the root (top level folder) on the memory card

Now perform the firmware update using the camera's LCD and rear buttons to navigate.

Once the firmware update is started, do not press any buttons or touch the camera until its complete

Note: while you might be tempted to use the EOS Utility or Camera connect app to upgrade, the safest way to update firmware is directly from the camera's SD card. I'm just pointing this out, the choice is yours.

Instructions are also included with the download. If you have any question, just ask. Anyone here can help.

Let us know how it goes. 😀

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

gordon-wyeth — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:00:04 GMT

Hi hahacky

Did you get this sorted out? Having a very similar problem here trying to install 1.3 firmware to Canon R7 with 1.2 firmware.

I get the same error using Camera Connect on IOS and when using EOS Utility on Windows.

To those who replied earlier, we are not trying to downgrade the firmware ... the thread title "Firmware cannot be downgraded" is the error message we are getting, even though we are upgrading frimware.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

woffoja — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:11:23 GMT

I had the exact same issue with my R3. Thought it might've been something wrong with firmware update 1.3, so I've waited. And I still got the same error with the just released 1.4. Note: I had the same issue trying to update straight from the menu on the camera body.. I had tried with the older and even the latest EOS utlity apps with no luck. See screenshot for error.

I also tried to reinstall the current firmware - 1.2.2 and got the exact same error message "Firmware cannot be downgraded".

I figured out my own issue that may be relevant for the other posters here. I removed the CF Express card from the camera leaving the SDXC card in there (if your cam has two SD cards, remove one, make sure the other one is formatted). Firmware update runs from one single SD. I do not have a CF Express card reader, so I have no way to actually look at the files on the card, but suspect maybe an older firmware was copied to the card at some point via the update process on the EOS Utility? Perhaps this is why formatting the SD's and CF Express is reccomended. Best of luck!

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

gordon-wyeth — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 22:57:41 GMT

There might be something in the second card issue. I eventually got it work by removing both cards from my R7, manually copying the 1.3 FIR file to one card and also removing the old 1.2 FIR file from that card. I then upgraded from the R7’s menu with only the one card in the camera.

It would be nice if IOS Camera Connect and Windows EOS Utility just worked. Makes you wonder what is going on with Canon’s software group.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

shadowsports — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 03:58:49 GMT

Greetings,

There is. These errors were due to the presence of an older .FIR file. This is supported by the update completing successfully after removing the card with the older firmware version. The EOS Utility does work, It downloads a copy of the latest firmware. It will not however remove older firmware versions. This is why formatting a card first is recommended. It ensures a "blank slate" and a file / folder structure the camera expects.

I just upgraded from 1.0.2.1 > 1.0.3.1

I used my SDXC card. I copied the FW to it using a card reader. I did leave my CF Express B card in the camera. Upgrade ran without issues. I am certain the other card in my camera did not contain a .FIR file. If an earlier firmware version is present, the error will display.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

hahacky — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 18:56:07 GMT

Yes, agree. Not sure why people are telling me what I meant to say when I am using the exact wording from the error message I was getting. It has been a while and I should have kept notes, if I recall, I removed my 2 cards and placed a blank, newly formatted card in the R7 and then things went smoothly. Maybe older firmware already written to the card was confusing things. That I am not sure of, but I am sure of the wording from the error message I was getting.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

hahacky — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 18:57:39 GMT

Right, that is what I figured but you confirmed it, see my reply above.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

simon_chen — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 22:36:48 GMT

I encountered a similar problem with the R3 while upgrading from version 1.3.0 to 1.4.1. Initially, I discovered that I couldn't transfer files via Bluetooth + Wifi. However, when I shifted to using a direct USB-C connection, I came across the same error message as mentioned earlier.

In order to resolve this, I removed the SD card from the device, which seemed to rectify the situation. After doing this, I was able to use the Windows EOS Utility flawlessly without any error messages. I hope this solution proves useful for others who may be dealing with the same problem.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

joliveira29 — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:11:06 GMT

I have the same problem.

Even with the SD card, it freezes already after uploading, when it is necessary to click "Ok", to accept the update.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

joliveira29 — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:27:12 GMT

I also tried with just an SD card, freshly formatted in the Camera and it always locks in the same place.

Unfortunately I can't get the EOS Utility to work either. I can only connect on the iphone and it blocks in the same place, during the update.
In my case, the EOS Utility doesn't work at all, on my mac, even with Wifi and Bluetooth turned off, when connecting the USB I can't get the EOS recognized by the EOS Utility. Interestingly, Mac "Image Capture" identifies the EOS and allows access to the photos.

Unfortunately it seems that Canon's Software has been stuck in time, little or nothing has evolved in terms of ease of use and configuration!

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

Kettle2636 — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 13:40:43 GMT

Another solution is to initialize the card. Once it's been erased, the update works as expected.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

shadowsports — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:07:48 GMT

Greetings,

"Format" and "Initialize" are interchangeable in this case. Both accomplish the same thing, removing the older FW file from the card prior to performing an upgrade.

Re: EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

swood — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:47:22 GMT

I had the same problem with my R5 MKII. Firmware version 1.0.3 was on the camera, and I was trying to install version 1.1.1. Like the OP, I too was getting the same error message in the EOS Utility "Firmware Cannot Be Downgraded." As was the case with OP, the error message made no sense because I was trying to upgrade the firmware with a newer version.

With the help of suggestions in this thread, I removed both the SD and CF cards from the camera. I used my card reader to examine the SD card, and sure enough the older version of the firmware I was trying to update (1.0.3) was written to the SD card (by the camera, not by me). I deleted the old version of the firmware on the SD card. I then re-inserted the SD card (but not the CF card) into the camera, re-connected it to the EOS Utility and then the firmware update transfer process proceeded normally, via the EOS Utility and a USB connection.