How to Update Power Station Firmware

Why a power station needs firmware updates

A portable power station is a battery with a control system around it. The display, the output ports, the charge controller, and the app you use to read the station all work through firmware: the program the maker installs and can update after you buy the unit. The listing for a station rarely says anything about firmware. The topic appears on the maker's support page and inside the maker's app.

The same app that shows charge status is where updates appear. EcoFlow, BLUETTI, Jackery, and Anker SOLIX each publish an app for their stations, and each maker describes how its update process works in its app and support pages. Read those pages before you update; they are the only source for what a specific version changes.

Where firmware updates appear

Updates appear in the maker's app, not on the station's screen. You connect the station to the app, usually over Wi-Fi or a direct phone connection, and the app compares the version on the station with the version the maker publishes. When a newer version exists, the app shows an update prompt. The name of the section varies by maker: some call it firmware, others call it software or device settings.

The app links to the maker's notes, which describe what the version changes. If the app does not show an update section, the maker's support page explains where updates appear for that model. A station with more app features may show more settings in the app, but the maker's page is the authority on where the update prompt is. On models that accept an expansion battery, the app may also show the firmware of that battery; the maker's page describes how to update both.

What to do before you update

Before starting, read the maker's instructions for that model. The instructions usually ask you to keep the station connected to power, keep the phone near the station, and avoid interrupting the update once it starts. The app shows a status line while the update runs. The maker's page explains what to do if the update stops, and that page, not this article, is the authority.

Plan to update at home or at a campsite with a wall outlet handy, rather than in the middle of a trip. The app indicates the time the update may take; the maker's page gives the exact details. When you first unbox a station, the manual usually points to the maker's app and support page.

• Before you update: read the maker's update notes for your model; keep the station connected to power; keep the phone near the station; keep the app open until the update completes.

How EcoFlow, BLUETTI, Jackery, and Anker SOLIX deliver updates

Each maker publishes an app for its stations. EcoFlow's app covers the RIVER, DELTA, and TRAIL lines; BLUETTI's covers the AC, Elite, and Apex lines; Jackery's covers the Explorer, HomePower, and Solar Generator lines; Anker SOLIX's covers the C, F, and S lines. The model names read differently, but the update path is the same idea: the maker's app shows the new firmware and walks through the steps.

The maker's page for your model lists the app and the support page. Some listings on this site carry the maker's name and model line; the maker's own page is the place to read the update instructions. This site compares listings on stated details, not on what an update might change. If you are comparing EcoFlow and BLUETTI models, the EcoFlow guide and the BLUETTI guide show how each maker's lines are organized.

What an update does and does not tell you

The maker's release notes describe what a firmware version changes. An update might adjust how the display shows data, how the app reports a figure, or how the station handles a setting the maker controls. The maker's notes, not this article, say what changed.

This site makes no claim that an update changes runtime, efficiency, lifespan, or any measured figure. Those figures come from the listing and the maker's page, and the guides here compare only the stated details on listings. Read the maker's notes if you want to know what a specific version does.

The idea of a firmware update is simple to describe: the maker replaces the program the station runs with a newer version. What the newer version does is a matter for the maker's notes. If a listing on this site prints "app support" or "Wi-Fi" or "Bluetooth," that usually means the station can connect to the app where updates appear. The listing itself does not describe the firmware.

When to update a station

The app prompts you when an update is available. Apply it when you have time and the station can stay connected, such as before a camping trip or before storm season at home. If the app asks you to plug the station into a wall charger during the update, follow that instruction; the maker's page says. If you keep the station between trips, the storage guidance for between-trip care applies after the update completes.

An update does not change the figures on a listing. The capacity, output, and chemistry figures are stated details; the maker's page describes the software separately. When you shop, the guides on this site compare stations on the stated details alone, and the main guide is the place to start. If you are preparing for storm season, the home backup guide compares stations on capacity, output, and battery type, not on firmware.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Do I need the maker's app to update the firmware?

Most makers deliver updates through their app. The app connects to the station, compares the installed version with the maker's current version, and shows the update when one is available. The maker's page for each model explains the path if the app does not show one.

How do I know when an update is available?

The app shows the current firmware version and prompts you when a newer one exists. Some makers also list the latest version on their support page. Read the maker's notes to see what the version changes.

Can I keep using the station while it updates?

Follow the maker's instructions. The instructions usually ask you to keep the station connected and keep the app open until the update completes. The maker's page is the authority for your model.

Does an update change the listed capacity or output?

No promise is made here. The maker's notes describe what a version changes. The capacity and output figures on a listing are stated details; the maker's page describes the software separately.

Where does the maker publish update instructions?

On the maker's support page and inside the app. If you keep the box and the manual, the manual often points to the support page. The warranty and support guide on this site explains how to reach the maker.

Is firmware the same thing as the app?

No. The app runs on your phone; firmware runs on the station. The app delivers the firmware to the station and shows the status. The maker's page describes both.