Upgrade the FortiGate firewall firmware

Last update: February 05 2026

The settings in the instructions apply to FortiOS 6.x and 7.x versions. If you have a different version of FortiOS, you can find documentation for that version in the FortiGate control panel in the upper right corner or on the official FortiGate website.

1. Optional: create a backup copy.

2. If you only want to upgrade the build version for FortiOS 7, connect to the firewall and upgrade the build version to the current version in the System section.

3. If you want to upgrade your firmware to the new major version, create a ticket. In the ticket specify:

   • The current version of FortiOS. You can view the current version number in the firewall interface under System → Firmware → Current version field ;
   • The desired version of FortiOS. You can view the current version number on the FortiGate website.

4. We'll send in the ticket:

   • firmware files with the .out extension.
   • The sequence for downloading FortiOS versions to upgrade the operating system.

5. Download firmware files to the device through which you connect to the firewall.

6. Connect to the firewall.

7. Download the firmware files you downloaded in step 5 following the instructions for the current version of FortiOS:

   FortiOS 6.x

   7.1. Go to System → Firmware.

   7.2 In the Upload Firmware box, click Browse.

   7.3 Review the firmware upload sequence you received in the ticket in step 3 and upload the first file.

   7.4 Click Backup config and upgrade.

   7.5. Press Continue. The device will start rebooting.

   7.6 Wait for the updated system to start.

   7.7 Repeat steps 7.1-7.7 for each firmware file you downloaded. Follow the download sequence you received in the ticket in step 3.

   FortiOS 7.x

   7.1 Go to System → Firmware & Registration. 7.2. At the Choose Upgrade Type step, select - FortiGate only. 7.3. Click Next. 7.4. At the Select Firmware step, click File Upload7.5. Review the firmware upload sequence you received in the ticket in step 3 and upload the first file. 7.6. Click Next. 7.7 On the Choose Schedule step, select Immediate. 7.8. Click Next. 7.9. On the Review step, check the upgrade plan. 7.10. Click Confirm and Backup Config. 7.11. Click Yes to start the upgrade. 7.12. Read the information in the dialog box and click Close. The device will begin to reboot. 7.13. Wait for the updated system to start. 7.14. Repeat steps 7.1-7.13 for each firmware file you downloaded. Follow the sequence you received in the ticket in step 3.