Antminer FW Flasher finds miners automatically, verifies the firmware file, and flashes the selected devices simultaneously.
The application covers two scenarios:
Scenario | What's on the device now | How it's done |
First installation | Bitmain stock firmware | Only via FW Flasher. |
Update | EMCD firmware already installed | Via FW Flasher: many devices at once |
The application determines which scenario each device needs on its own, so you don't have to choose it manually.
What you'll need
A computer running Windows, Linux, or macOS, connected to the same local network as the miners. The devices must be directly reachable from it, without a VPN in between.
A firmware file with the .fwup extension, for your region, downloaded from EMCD.
An address list: the range where your miners are located (for example, from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.254).
Web interface username and password: only if you're updating devices that already have EMCD firmware installed. No password is needed for devices with stock software.
Before you begin: must read
❗️Warning
Do not disconnect power to the miners or unplug the network cable while the firmware is being written.
During installation, the device's memory is overwritten. If writing is interrupted, the device may fail to boot and won't appear on the network. This can't be fixed remotely: you'll have to write Bitmain's stock firmware to the device on site from an SD card (you'll find the guide at this link). Device settings may be lost in the process.
After recovery, EMCD firmware can be reinstalled via FW Flasher, the same way as on a device with stock firmware.
The most critical stages are F (writing firmware) and W (installing the update). You can see them in the "Progress" column (see section 8). A power interruption before or after these stages won't damage the firmware.
Before mass flashing:
Save the current device settings. Write down for each miner, or export from your monitoring system:
the IP address, and if it's set manually (static), the subnet mask, gateway, and DNS;
pool addresses, worker names, and their passwords;
the web interface username and password.
The application transfers these settings automatically (see the table below), but a saved list will help you quickly restore operation if something goes wrong.
Start with one or two devices. Make sure they're back online with the new version and connected to the pool, and only then flash the rest.
Don't start flashing during work on the power grid or farm network, or when the power supply is unstable.
What happens to your settings
Setting | First installation (from stock firmware) | EMCD firmware update |
Pools and workers | Your choice: transfer from stock firmware or switch to the EMCD pool (section 5) | Your choice: keep the current ones or switch to the EMCD pool (section 5) |
Network parameters (DHCP or static address, device name) | Preserved | Preserved |
Web interface username and password | Same as on the stock firmware | Preserved |
Tuned chip parameters | Tuned for the first time after installation | Preserved |
Settings can't be reset via FW Flasher: the application always preserves them. If you need a clean installation, update the device via the web interface with the "Keep settings" checkbox cleared, or reset the settings after the update (see the firmware description).
1. Installing the application
Download the installer for your operating system and run it.
The installer isn't digitally signed, so your system may warn you about an unknown publisher:
Windows: in the SmartScreen window, click "More info" → "Run anyway".
macOS: right-click the application → "Open", then confirm launch.
2. Main application window
After launch, a single window opens, divided into three parts: two settings cards at the top and a table of discovered devices at the bottom.
Figure 1. Main application window
No. | Element | Purpose |
1 | "Supported: …" line in the header | The model this version of the application works with. Devices of other models won't be flashed |
2 | Language selector (🌐) in the header | Interface language. Defaults to the system language |
3 | "Scan range" card (step 1) | Searching for miners on the network |
4 | Two address fields | Start and end addresses of the search range. Filled in automatically based on your computer's network; correct them manually if needed |
5 | "Scan" button | Starts the search. During the search, the button reads "Scanning…" |
6 | Line below the fields | A hint, and after the search, a summary: how many devices responded and how many of them are supported |
7 | "Firmware & Flash" card (step 2) | Selecting the firmware file and starting installation |
8 | "Choose .fwup…" button | Opens the firmware file selection dialog |
9 | "Pool configuration" block | What to write to the miner's settings after flashing |
10 | "Flash: N" button | Starts installation on the selected devices. The number shows how many devices are selected |
Before the first search, the device table at the bottom of the window is empty and shows the message "No devices yet — run a scan".
3. Searching for devices on the network
Check the addresses in the range fields and click "Scan".
The application polls the addresses one by one, and the table fills in as devices respond, so you don't need to wait for the entire search to finish. Only devices that responded are shown in the table.
Figure 2. Search results
No. | Column | What it shows |
1 | Header checkbox | Selects all devices available for flashing at once |
2 | IP | The device's network address |
3 | Model / Version | The miner model and the version of the firmware installed on it |
4 | Status | Whether the device can be flashed (see the table below) |
5 | Progress | During installation, the stages of work for this device |
Possible statuses:
Status | What it means |
supported | The device runs stock firmware and is compatible: EMCD firmware will be installed for the first time |
work on EMCD firmware | EMCD firmware is already installed: the version will be updated via the web interface |
not supported | A different miner model: the firmware isn't intended for it |
not available | The device isn't responding: check power, network, and address |
Check the boxes next to the devices you want to flash. The checkbox is only available for compatible devices.
4. Selecting the firmware file
Click "Choose .fwup…" and select the downloaded file.
The application verifies it immediately: model compatibility, integrity, and EMCD's digital signature. The result is shown next to the file name:
Mark | What it means |
✓ Verified, 🔒 signature valid | The file is fine and its version is shown: you can flash |
✗ Rejected: … | The file is corrupted, intended for a different model, or not signed by EMCD. This file can't be flashed: download the correct one |
Figure 3. Firmware file selected and verified
5. Pool configuration
In the "Pool configuration" block, choose what to write to the miner after flashing. This choice applies only to pools: the application always preserves network parameters and the web interface password.
Option | What will happen |
Use current pool settings | The pools currently set on the device remain in the new firmware. The miner will keep working on the same pool |
Switch to EMCD pool | All three pools will be filled with EMCD addresses. You need to select a Region and enter a Worker name in the format username.worker |
⚠️ Please note:
If no pool was set on a device with stock firmware, there's nothing to transfer: after installation the pools will be empty, and the miner won't start mining until you specify a pool in the web interface.
When updating EMCD firmware with "Switch to EMCD pool" selected, the pools are changed before the update is uploaded. If the update then fails to install, the device will keep running the old firmware version, but already on the EMCD pool. The application will show this in the device's row.
Figure 4. Pool configuration
6. Password for devices with EMCD firmware
If any of the selected devices already have EMCD firmware installed, a "Web interface access (EMCD firmware)" block with "Username" and "Password" fields will appear in the "Scan range" card. Enter the same credentials you use to log in to the miner's web interface (the default username is root).
This block isn't needed for devices with stock software and doesn't appear for them.
Figure 5. Web interface access
7. Starting installation
Before clicking the button, check that:
device settings are saved (see "Before you begin");
the farm's power and network are stable and no work is scheduled on them;
the miners must not be turned off, rebooted, or disconnected from the network until writing is complete: after an interrupted write, the device may need to be recovered on site from an SD card.
Click "Flash: N". Installation will start simultaneously on all selected devices.
If the "Flash" button is inactive, hover over it: a tooltip will name the reason. No devices are selected, no firmware file is chosen, no worker name is entered, or no web interface password is entered.
8. Progress
In the "Progress" column, stage marks appear for each device. The set of stages depends on what was on the device before flashing. Stages during which power must not be disconnected are marked with ⚠.
First installation (device with stock software):
Mark | Stage |
V | Device check |
U | Unlocking access |
S | Transferring the file to the device |
F | ⚠ Writing firmware |
C | Transferring pool settings |
Update (device with EMCD firmware):
Mark | Stage |
V | Device check |
A | Logging in to the web interface |
P | Transferring pool settings |
W | ⚠ Uploading and installing the update |
Figure 6. Installation progress
After writing, the device reboots, and "done · rebooting" appears in its row. This means the firmware has been fully written. For the next two minutes, the application automatically repeats the search every 10 seconds to show the miners that have come back online with the new firmware version. To stop the repeated search earlier, click "Scan".
A summary appears below the "Flash" button: how many devices were flashed successfully, how many failed, and how many were skipped.
After flashing: how long to wait and what to do
Normal boot. A device with the "done · rebooting" status usually appears on the network within 2–5 minutes. The automatic search runs only for the first two minutes: if a device isn't in the table yet, click "Scan" manually once a minute.
After the first installation, the firmware needs time to tune the chip parameters. While tuning is in progress, the hashrate may be below target. This is normal.
If the device isn't on the network after 10 minutes:
Check whether the address has changed. If the device gets its address automatically (DHCP), it may change after a reboot: widen the scan range or find the device in your router's client list.
If the device isn't at another address either, turn off its power, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This is safe: the firmware has already been fully written.
Wait another 10 minutes and repeat the search.
If the device still doesn't appear, contact EMCD support. Provide the device's IP address and what the "Progress" column showed. If the device doesn't boot, use the guide to restoring Bitmain stock firmware from an SD card. After that, EMCD firmware can be reinstalled.
An error occurred during operation
What to do depends on the stage at which the error occurred:
Stage with error | Device state | What to do |
V, U, S, A, P | No firmware was written to the device; it works as before | Power can be disconnected. Check the network, password, and power, then retry installation for this device |
C | Firmware is written, but pool settings weren't transferred | Wait for the device to come back online and specify the pools in the web interface |
⚠ F or W | Writing may not have finished. The device may still be running the old firmware until it reboots | Don't turn off or reboot the device. Retry installation for it right away. If the retry also fails, contact EMCD support and leave the device powered on |
The error won't affect other devices: the application handles each one independently.
9. Checking the result
Run the scan again and look at the "Model / Version" column: flashed devices should show the new version, and their status should be "work on EMCD firmware".
You can also check an individual device in a browser: open its address, log in, and go to the System section, where the firmware version is shown. Also make sure the miner has connected to the pool and the hashrate has started to grow.
Figure 7. Devices after the update
If something goes wrong
Situation | What to do |
Devices aren't detected | Check that the computer is on the same network as the miners and that the address range is correct. Make sure the devices respond in a browser |
"not supported" status | The miner model doesn't match the one shown in the application header. This device can't be flashed |
Firmware file rejected | Download the file again: it may have been corrupted during download. Make sure it's the file for your model and that it came from EMCD |
Error on an individual device | Other devices won't be affected: the application handles each one independently. Retry installation for this device after checking the network and power |
Device didn't come back online | Wait a few minutes: the first boot after flashing takes longer than usual. If it still hasn't come back, contact EMCD support without turning off the device's power |
Miner is back but not mining | Check the pools in the web interface: if no pools were set on the stock firmware, they'll be empty after installation |
If you have any questions about the firmware, update files, or recovery, contact EMCD Mining support:
via chat on the website https://emcd.io
in the EMCD Mining app (available on Google Play and the App Store)
by email at [email protected]