How to Update Sony A7iii or A7riii System Firmware?

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You just bought a brand new a7iii or have one already. Chances are that you might need a firmware update to get the most out of your existing hardware.

So, how do you go about doing a firmware upgrade on the A7iii? Well, let’s find out.

Table of Contents

How to update Sony A7iii?

Let’s break the firmware upgrade process of Sony A7iii into a few simple steps:

Download the firmware:

I have shared the links that take you to the firmware update page make sure you download the correct one for the operating system that you’re using.

If you are willing to a firmware update to 2.0 there are a few problems with different operating systems so make sure you have access to different computers and different operating systems just in case.

However, with the latest firmware like the 3.0 or the 4.0 releases, no such issues have been recorded.

Windows Package

Mac Package

TIP: Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the firmware without creating an account.

Connect the Cable:

Connect the Sony A7 III Cable to Update it

Connect the camera to your multi-port cable or the USB cable that came with the camera.

Before connecting, make sure that the USB connection on your camera is set to Mass Storage.

As a NOTE, make sure that the battery is fully charged.

TIP: Remove the SD card if there’s one in your camera if you use third-party batteries. It is not too much of a problem with those, however, it just flashes up the warning when you put the battery in the camera and turn it on.

Locate the download and Install:

Find out where it’s gone and then double-click on the setup file. Double-click the Update_ILCE7M3V401.exe or the DMG (for Mac users) file that you downloaded.

Note: Do not connect the camera to the computer yet.

Once the setup is completed open the System Software Updater. Use the cable that came with a camera and plug it into your PC and click on OK.

Note: If your PC cannot find the device, the message “Could not find the camera for this update” is displayed on the computer screen.

If so, try these methods:

Disconnect the USB cable and connect it again.
If the computer has multiple USB terminals, try with the other terminals.

Next click on system software updater then click on Finish

Now Check the Version and Confirm:

Note: You don’t need to be on the previous latest version to upgrade to the latest firmware. Even if you are using an older firmware, the system updater will work out fine.

TIP: The process takes about 10 minutes. So, to avoid any harassment, make sure that the sleep mode is turned off on your computer.

IMPORTANT: Never turn off the camera or disconnect the USB cable while updating.

Let the Camera Reset:

The Camera will reset in the process. So, keep a settings backup written with you if you need it.

Let the System Updater Run:

You’ll see on your camera it says follow computer instructions then the screen will go blank. Running the update will take around 10 minutes.

So, all you need to do is wait until this process is done. It’s really important to leave everything alone at this point and always make sure my laptop is plugged in and that nothing can knock any of the cables out.

Once it’s completed it’ll restart the camera screen. When the LCD screen appears again, click Finish and disconnect the USB cable.

Note: After restarting, a data recovery warning can sometimes be displayed on your camera screen. This is normal. Please wait until the warning disappears.

That’s it.

Now how to confirm if the software update was successful or not?

Well, that’s pretty easy.

On the camera, select Menu → Setup → Version.

You will find the latest software version displayed on your camera screen.