EOS R7 "Firmware cannot be downgraded"

[hahacky]

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.

[hahacky]

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

[simon_chen · Accepted solution]

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.

[joliveira29]

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.

[joliveira29]

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!

[Kettle2636]

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

[shadowsports]

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.  

[swood]

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.