Updating my EOS R7 firmware - Windows compatibility question

[LoveWeims]

It has been a few months since I last updated my firmware, and of course, I don't recall how to do it but there is more to this issue than just that. 

Canon just send out EOS R7 Firmware Update, Version 1.6.0 [macOS].  My camera firmware loaded is Version 1.5.0.

Is this new update only applicable to folks who have MAC operating systems?  My primary PC is Windows 11.  I DO have an Apple iPad but I have not even thought to use it for updating firmware (not even sure I can).

So...is this firmware only to be loaded on MacOS?  And exactly where does one find the instructions for getting the firmware from the pc to the camera (wireless?)  

Sorry for elementary questions...

[Tronhard · Accepted solution]

Hi again!
The firmware is specific to the camera, not the computer from which you load it.  However there is a separate software for those computer types because they compress the firmware file differently.  So, if you choose either, depending on the computer you choose to use to do the update from, once done it makes no difference to the camera.

If you download the compressed file you will see a PDF with instructions.  That said, especially with Macs, wireless is fairly notorious for being unreliable.  If you have a USB card reader in either of your computers, do the following:
Open the link to download the compressed file to a folder on your computer hard disc
Expand it out (windows) and you will see a file with a .FIR extension. 
copy that file to the root directory of your SD card
Put the SD card into your R7, turn it on and go to the wrench menu, last page, there you will find the firmware option
Select that and the camera will read the card, looking for the FIR file.  When found it will ask you if you want to load it and you say yes.
NOTE: make sure the battery is fully charged and don't touch the camera until the update has been completed.

[Tronhard · Accepted solution]

Hi again!
The firmware is specific to the camera, not the computer from which you load it.  However there is a separate software for those computer types because they compress the firmware file differently.  So, if you choose either, depending on the computer you choose to use to do the update from, once done it makes no difference to the camera.

If you download the compressed file you will see a PDF with instructions.  That said, especially with Macs, wireless is fairly notorious for being unreliable.  If you have a USB card reader in either of your computers, do the following:
Open the link to download the compressed file to a folder on your computer hard disc
Expand it out (windows) and you will see a file with a .FIR extension. 
copy that file to the root directory of your SD card
Put the SD card into your R7, turn it on and go to the wrench menu, last page, there you will find the firmware option
Select that and the camera will read the card, looking for the FIR file.  When found it will ask you if you want to load it and you say yes.
NOTE: make sure the battery is fully charged and don't touch the camera until the update has been completed.

[LoveWeims]

Trevor

Thanks as always.  OK, while I was waiting for a response, I watched a YouTube on the HOW TO's and realized I probably just didn't SEE the windows version.  I spent (wasted) time looking in the User Manual for instructions on this and wonder why Canon doesn't include this info in that document. 

My battery is at 77 percent - not 100 percent.  Is 77 percent enough? 

I plan to use a spare card for the firmware update as I am not ready to reformat the one in my camera as yet...still looking at photos 

[LoveWeims]

I was successful in getting my firmware updated; however, I did not realize I had to unzip the file first and drag and drop the unzipped  file into the EOS folder on the SD card.  Using MOVE for the unzipped file on my PC did not work.  Extracting to the SD card directly did not work (but that may have been a function of trying to extract it to the DCIM or the MISC folders (don't do it).  So the devil is always in the details!

Also, once I saw the firmware was on the card and ready to be loaded, I was afraid to touch any key!  That was premature and I had to use the wheel to indicate that updating the firmware was "OK".  Once it started updating, I did get the "don't touch any button" message and I didn't.  More details.  

77 percent charge on the battery was fine.  So "fully charged" is not necessarily 100 percent (that is what FULLY means to me but...whatever).

Thanks for your help!  

[Tronhard]

Having a fully-charged battery is what Canon recommends and I would be unwise to contradict them when giving advice.  Now you have figured out how to do it, since it may be a while before you do again, it might be a good idea to either write a script for you to follow, or to save the PDF that comes with  the update with the procedure on it.

[LoveWeims]

Agree and have added a script and printed 

[ctitanic · Accepted solution]

As long as you can download the compressed file, unpacked and copy it to the root of the SD card that you will be using in the update process, it does not matter what version of the operating system will you be using. The only thing that matters is to download the Windows Version for Windows or the Mac Version for Mac, both are available for download. But reading the thread it seems that all this has been covered. 😄

[LoveWeims]

Thank you yes.  

[halocastle]

For future reference, one can also use the image.canon app on Android/Apple devices -- no computer or card swapping required!  The hard part is connecting the device to the camera -- not really for the tech savvy -- and everything is easy-peasy from there.  The camera downloads the update from the device, then you follow the prompts on the camera as usual.  The app even alerts you to firmware updates!  This is my exclusive firmware update workflow now.

[halocastle]

Make that Canon's Camera Connect, apologies!