HT201519: Update the software on your AirPort base station

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dino204
Level 1 (4 points)
Apple TV

Q: How can I downgrade my TC firmware?

I'm having connectivity issues and I wanted to try to downgrade my TC firmware to match my Airport Express firmware.  I followed instruction on Apple Support, but I could not find the archive firmware in my Mac.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 20, 2015 8:36 AM

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dino204

Q: How can I downgrade my TC firmware?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 20, 2015 8:39 AM in response to dino204
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 20, 2015 8:39 AM in response to dino204

    Which model of the TC do you have?  If it is the "tower" shaped model.....and you have firmware 7.7.3 installed.....you cannot go back.

     

    If you have the flat or square version of the TC, you can only go back as far as the firmware that came with your TC.

  • by dino204,

    dino204 dino204 Dec 20, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Dec 20, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    I have the tower shaped model, bought is last year I think.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 20, 2015 9:09 AM in response to dino204
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 20, 2015 9:09 AM in response to dino204

    Then, it is likely running firmware 7.7.3.  That cannot be changed.

     

    Open AirPort Utility and click on the picture of the TC. Look for the Version in the smaller window to confirm.

  • by dino204,

    dino204 dino204 Dec 20, 2015 9:13 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Dec 20, 2015 9:13 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    It is 7.7.3.  I tried to downgrade following the instructions on Apple support, but the only other choice is "other" which opens Finder to look for archived firmware.  I tried searching but no luck.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 20, 2015 9:27 AM in response to dino204
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 20, 2015 9:27 AM in response to dino204

    I think we have said twice now that if you have 7.7.3, you cannot go back.  There are no workarounds to this. Apple's decision since 7.7.3 contained some important security updates.

     

    Even if you could go back.....(you can't).....it would only be to 7.7.2 or 7.7.1.

     

    Apple needs to update their support document to reflect these facts, if that is what you are going on.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Dec 20, 2015 11:23 AM in response to dino204
    Level 9 (52,335 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 20, 2015 11:23 AM in response to dino204

    Go back to your original problem.

     

    dino204 wrote:

     

    match my Airport Express firmware.

    What is the problem.. because the Express should work fine with the TC?

     

    What setup are you trying to do and how is it failing??

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Dec 20, 2015 12:50 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 10 (105,018 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 20, 2015 12:50 PM in response to LaPastenague

    A guess would be that the AirPort Express is working fine......using firmware 7.6.4 or 7.6.5.....and dino204 thought that by matching the firmware on the Time Capsule to the same version as the AirPort Express, that this would help whatever the current issue might be.

     

    Of course, Apple will not allow any AirPort that has firmware 7.7.3 installed to ever go back to a previous version.

     

    Hopefully, dino204 will provide a bit more information if he wants to continue with this.