HT201577: AirPort Express frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Learn about AirPort Express frequently asked questions (FAQ)
freestyleadamski
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: How do I upgrade an airport express to 7.6.5 firmware?

I am setting up the wifi at my dad's house, as he had someone do it before and they did a right hash of it. They set-up two separate networks, with a separate phone line for broadband etc. etc.

 

I have a modem, connected to an airport extreme, and then two airport express to extend the network (he lives in an old house and it is quite spread out).

 

What seems strange is that the airport express firmware is different. One is 7.6.4 and one 7.6.5. How do I get them to upgrade so they are all the same?

 

I thought it would auto prompt to upgrade but this is not happening.

 

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Posted on Jun 18, 2015 2:47 AM

by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer
Bob Timmons Bob Timmons
Level 10 (104,879 points)
Wireless
A:

You cannot upgrade from 7.6.4 to 7.6.5.

 

Your AirPort Express must come with 7.6.5 from Apple, meaning you must buy a new model that has been manufactured in the last six months or so.

Posted on Jun 18, 2015 4:28 AM

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freestyleadamski

Q: How do I upgrade an airport express to 7.6.5 firmware?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Jun 18, 2015 2:51 AM in response to freestyleadamski
    Level 9 (52,270 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 18, 2015 2:51 AM in response to freestyleadamski

    Hold down the option key and click on version.. voila.. upgrade will show.

     

    firmwareupgradeau6.png

     

    I have my doubts about 7.6.5 but give it a go. you can use the same method to downgrade.

  • by freestyleadamski,

    freestyleadamski freestyleadamski Jun 18, 2015 4:02 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 18, 2015 4:02 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Thanks, I had tried this, but no 7.6.5 option appears for the airports on 7.6.4?

  • by Bob Timmons,Solvedanswer

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jun 18, 2015 4:28 AM in response to freestyleadamski
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 18, 2015 4:28 AM in response to freestyleadamski

    You cannot upgrade from 7.6.4 to 7.6.5.

     

    Your AirPort Express must come with 7.6.5 from Apple, meaning you must buy a new model that has been manufactured in the last six months or so.

  • by freestyleadamski,

    freestyleadamski freestyleadamski Jun 18, 2015 4:31 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 18, 2015 4:31 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Ok, that makes sense (sort of!).

     

    Are there any issues of airports with 7.6.4 working with ones on 7.6.5?

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jun 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to freestyleadamski
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Jun 18, 2015 4:38 AM in response to freestyleadamski

    None that I can find.

  • by wb4whd,

    wb4whd wb4whd Mar 24, 2016 9:26 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2016 9:26 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Not sure this is true as I have 3 brand new Apple Airport Express 2nd Gen and 1 has 7.6.5 and the other 2 have 7.6.4 and I bought all 3 of them in the last 2 months, One at BestBuy (7.6.5.) and two from Apple online store (7.6.4)

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 24, 2016 9:35 AM in response to wb4whd
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2016 9:35 AM in response to wb4whd

    And, what happens when you try to update the firmware on the 7.6.4 Express(es) to 7.6.5?

     

    The Express(es) that you bought using 7.6.4 firmware were manufactured up until about 18 months ago.   So they might be "new", but they have been sitting in a warehouse, or on the store shelf for over a year before you bought them.

     

    Or, maybe you bought "Refurbished" Expresses from Apple?  That would explain older firmware in a "new" product.

  • by n3rxs,

    n3rxs n3rxs Mar 24, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    The wierd thing is I cannot even get the Firmware to downgrade that one to 7.6.4. Apple's support site still says 7.6.4 is the newest. I am on with Apple Senior Support and they don't even have a 7.6.5 listed anywhere. I want to downgrade the one as I think it is causing my weird WiFi issues.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 24, 2016 10:19 AM in response to n3rxs
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2016 10:19 AM in response to n3rxs

    It is not possible to downgrade from 7.6.5. to 7.6.4.

     

    There is no difference between 7.6.5 and 7.6.4......except that Apple is using 7.6.5 as a "marker" to designate the age of a product.

     

    At some point in a few years, Apple will no longer officially support AirPorts using 7.6.4.......but they will continue to support AirPorts using 7.6.5.

     

    Apple does not mention 7.6.5 in their documentation because it is not possible to upgrade from 7.6.4 to 7.6.5.....and.....it is not possible to downgrade from 7.6.5 to 7.6.4.

     

    The bottom line......Apple is always doing something in the background, that they never bother to tell you about. It's the Apple way.

  • by wb4whd,

    wb4whd wb4whd Mar 24, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob, I've had some weird issues with my WiFi ever since I added the one with 7.6.5 so I wondered if it was causing the problem.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 24, 2016 10:24 AM in response to wb4whd
    Level 10 (104,879 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2016 10:24 AM in response to wb4whd

    Unfortunately, all that you can do is make believe that the one that you added was using 7.6.4......but you cannot change it.

  • by wb4whd,

    wb4whd wb4whd Mar 24, 2016 10:45 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2016 10:45 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks again Bob for your help!

  • by davidfromhochdorf,

    davidfromhochdorf davidfromhochdorf May 24, 2016 2:25 PM in response to wb4whd
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 24, 2016 2:25 PM in response to wb4whd

    Guys,

     

    you should try again right now since 7.6.7 is out on which i could update to on all my airport stations (including express and extreme) which where having different firmware levels (7.6.3 to 7.6.4)

     

    hope it works for you too.

     

    best regards,

    David