I prefer to update manually, is there a way to turn that feature off?

That's great until you have clearly untested firware breaking devices all over creation. Since Netgear has chosen to force its updates and break the Internet for many, they're responsible for anything that happens while its down.

it still updates itself automatically ... this is ridiculous !!

I would like to know why Netgear specifically auto-updates the Orbis only. They do not do the other routers I own or have owned. In fact I still own an R8000 Nighthawk and I get an email notice and can udate it in a CONTROLLED manner. They act like the Orbi is just some sort of replacement for a Cable Modem wifi with 2 or 3 devices running on it. Why would we spend 600-800 dollars on a system for a few devices. I have Smart Home technology as well as a number of computers running on mine and do not appreciate Netgear Seagulls dropping on my system with their firmware updates without my ability to confirm them myself and ensure my network is not rendered totally disfunctional by their updates. Netgear has a worse record with their firmware updates than the Cleveland Browns. THey behave as if it is a $50 powerline adapter they are updating. Can someone from Netgear answer the question of why we do not have to OPT IN to get auot updates?

I have tried disable auto and downgrade to Firmware Version 1.12.0.18,many times and my orbi still auto uppdate to Firmware Version 2.0.1.4. tried many time its not working https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Firmware-V1-12-0-18-Discussion/td-p/1320421/page/5

Yes I saw many threads on this and never saw anyone that I coould conclude got it to work. Did you by chance also add this option found on page 7 of this thread as well - "orbi_auto_upg=0". Netgear seems to be determined to lose customers is all I can see, or they just do not care. They act liek these are just beta test systems and have no consideration for their customers. These are very expensive systems and they seem incapable of testing even basic functions. It is like they only test the new features they are deploying and break the stable part of the system. In any case, even thorough testing can't catch every problem on every configuration which is why they should allow the CUSTOMERS WHO OWN THE PRODUCT upgrade and the time of their choosing. If they have urgent security systems, they can be deployed seperately. That is what is done in the business world. I can assure you, our business does not allow vendors to just drop their software in at the time of their choosing. If people are novies and not sure allow them to auto update or allow us to NOT auto update. In any case, I am thinking of just selling mine off in piece parts and going back to my Apple router until I can find a another solution, possibly Linksys. It is a shame as this system works really well once you get it tweaked to your services you are running on it - at least until the next Netgear Seagull droppings come in.

How to disable auto-update | NETGEAR Communities

18 Replies

cyberprashant
Luminary
Aug 04, 2017
So far, the Only reliable way to block the upgrade is page 5 of this thread (telnet method) - see link below. IT seems a little overwhelming but its not bad. Takes all but a few minutes. Plus apply the same block to the extra parameter (orbi_auto_upg) - anything that looks like an upgrade parameter in the list. And you have to be fast in doing this or the router will still auto-upgrade (to prevent this I recommend downloading everything u need first and then disconnecting your cable or DSL line while doing this so it doesnt auto-upgrade in the process.

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Firmware-V1-12-0-18-Discussion/td-p/1320421/page/5
Vengeance
Tutor
Oct 08, 2017
it still updates itself automatically ... this is ridiculous !!
- aaz
  Virtuoso
  Oct 08, 2017
  Vengeance wrote:
  it still updates itself automatically ... this is ridiculous !!
  Not ridiculous at all for a modern IOT device. All cloud managed devices do this for obvious reasons. Being in the IT field myself I applaud this as It prevents people from doing stupid things like never updating their firmware which is guaranteed to have security holes thereby leaving them exposed to malicious actors on the internet.
  - JustMakeItWork
    Apprentice
    Oct 08, 2017
    That's great until you have clearly untested firware breaking devices all over creation. Since Netgear has chosen to force its updates and break the Internet for many, they're responsible for anything that happens while its down.

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How to disable auto-update