POS Firmware: When to Update and the Risks of an Outdated Version
POS firmware is software embedded directly into the fiscal registrar itself: it is responsible for the data formats the POS can generate and the storage devices it supports. Outdated firmware doesn't "just work the old way" — sooner or later it fails to comply with legal requirements, and the POS either loses some of its features or cannot continue operating at all without an update.
1. Why Update the Firmware and What Happens if You Don't#
Firmware is updated not out of a love for new versions, but to meet specific requirements that change on the part of the law and tax authorities:
- New FFD version — without support for the current format, the POS will not be able to work with marked goods and a number of other receipt attributes; a detailed breakdown of versions is in the article "FFD 1.05, 1.1 and 1.2".
- VAT rate changes — the firmware must support the current rate values, otherwise the receipt will be sent with an incorrect tag; the procedure for switching to 2026 rates and fixing errors are covered in the articles "FFD 1.05, 1.1 and 1.2" (§9) and "Correction Receipt for Incorrect VAT Rate".
- Permissive marking mode — online code validation prior to selling marked goods requires a specific version of the firmware and driver; without an update, the POS will fail the code validation, see also "Marking at the POS".
If you do not update the firmware on time, the POS will not "break" on its own — but it will stop correctly performing the exact operations for which the new version is required.
2. Updating for New VAT Rates/FFD — Paid or Free#
There is no single rule — it depends on the vendor and whether you have an active service contract:
| Situation | Typically |
|---|---|
| POS under warranty, active service contract with a service center | The update is often included in the subscription |
| POS out of warranty, one-time service | The update may be paid — service engineer work and/or a firmware license |
| Smart terminal with cloud updates | Basic firmware update is usually free, extra charge — for individual apps (section 7) |
| Classic fiscal registrar without a service contract | Check update costs with your service center — there is no unified market price list |
Vendors justify charges like this: a firmware update is a separate development and certification process, and installation on a classic fiscal registrar usually requires a service engineer's time, rather than just downloading a file. Check the exact cost with your service center or manufacturer — there are no standard market rates.
3. How to find out the current firmware version and the latest available one#
| Manufacturer | Current version on the POS | Where to find the latest version |
|---|---|---|
| ATOL | POS service menu or test report | Manufacturer's website, support/driver section, or via an authorized service center |
| Evotor | "About system" section / smart terminal settings | Notification in the Evotor personal account or app store — updates often arrive automatically |
| SHTRIH-M | Service utility or POS test report | Manufacturer's website, downloads section, or via an authorized service center |
General rule for all models: do not rely on a version estimated or suggested on the internet — verify directly with the personal account or website of your specific manufacturer.
4. Update Methods: Comparison#
| Method | How It Works | When Suitable | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Via Vendor Dashboard / Cloud | The update is downloaded and installed remotely, without physical access | Smart terminals, cloud-managed POS systems | Connection drop during the process — requires a retry, not always critical |
| Via PC Utility | Firmware file is downloaded from the manufacturer's website and flashed via USB/COM using a DTO utility | Classic fiscal registrars (ATOL, Shtrih-M) | Power or cable disconnection during flashing can brick the device |
| Via Authorized Service Center | An engineer performs the update on-site or at a service center | Complex cases, seal removal, opening the casing, lack of a native utility | More expensive and takes longer, but safer for non-standard cases |
Before using any method, close the shift and wait until the OFD unsubmitted document counter reaches zero — the same principle as when updating drivers or DTO (see "Common ATOL POS Errors", §7).
5. What to do if the POS does not print or detect the FN after an update#
- Check in the service menu if the fiscal storage device is detected at all — sometimes after an update, re-initialization of the connection with the FN is required, rather than replacement.
- Check the compatibility table for firmware and FN model (Section 6) — the installed firmware version must support your specific FN.
- If the firmware requires a different drive model (for example, the update was part of the transition to a new FFD version, which is mandatory with a specific FN-M) — this is not a bug, but an incompatibility covered in the article "FFD 1.05, 1.1 and 1.2" (§5).
- Rolling back to a previous firmware version is only possible if the manufacturer provides the previous version file and the storage device has not yet started operating in the new data format — as soon as the FN has switched to the new FFD version, rolling back the firmware without a formal procedure to change the FFD version back is generally impossible. If a rollback is unavailable, contact the service center with the FN number and an exact description of the moment when printing stopped: this will speed up diagnostics.
6. Where to Check Firmware, FFD, and FN Compatibility#
Compatibility is always a combination of three parameters: POS model + firmware version + FN model and version, and on top of that, the supported FFD version. Official dependency tables should be checked in the POS manufacturer's documentation (in the same place as the firmware download page), in the CRE register and FN register on the FNS website (where it is recorded which model is registered with which FN and FFD version), and with your service center (CTO) — the service center usually already knows the exact combinations for the models it services. Taking compatibility data "by analogy" from a similar model is risky: formally close models within the same product line often have different dependency tables.
7. Smart POS updated automatically and asks for an additional fee for an app — is it legal#
Yes, as a rule, this is legal, but it is important to distinguish between two levels. Basic fiscalization (receipt printing, FN memory recording, data transfer to OFD) is what you have already paid for when purchasing and registering the POS terminal; an automatic firmware update itself should not shift this function to a paid basis. Individual apps and features beyond basic fiscalization (EGAIS modules, advanced analytics, third-party add-ons) — the vendor has the right to develop them as paid subscriptions, and an automatic update may well "open" a payment screen specifically for such a module, rather than for the POS terminal as a whole; the structure of such subscriptions is analyzed in the article "Smart Terminals" (§1).
If basic fiscalization itself — for which you are already paying under an active plan — stopped working after an auto-update, this is a reason to contact vendor support, not a reason to simply agree to an extra fee.
8. Example#
A restaurant with a SHTRIH-M POS terminal continued operating on its previous firmware for several years without any issues — until labeled products were added to the product range. When attempting to sell an item, the POS terminal failed to request the marking code. The manager checked the firmware version via a service utility, cross-referenced the compatibility table on the manufacturer's website, closed the shift, waited for all documents to be sent to the OFD, and contacted an authorized service center (CTO) to update the firmware and verify compatibility with the installed fiscal drive (FN). After the update and a test sale of the labeled item, the POS terminal resumed normal operation.
9. How to do this in Cenaly#
- The cloud component of Cenaly — catalog, menu, order history — does not depend on the firmware version of the physical fiscal recorder: updating the fiscal recorder does not affect the operation of the POS as an application.
- The fiscal recorder itself connects via Cenaly Hardware Bridge; the Hardware section shows the connection status with the device — making it convenient to verify that the recorder is back online after a firmware update.
- The electronic journal POS → Receipts maintains its own sales history regardless of whether the receipt was printed by the physical fiscal recorder or temporarily buffered due to equipment maintenance.
- An electronic receipt can be sent to the guest in any case — this channel is not tied to the firmware version of a specific fiscal recorder.
10. Frequently Asked Questions#
Is it necessary to update the firmware if the cash register is working without issues anyway? Formally, it is not always mandatory right this second, but postponing the update for new requirements (VAT rates, FFD, item marking) until the last day is risky — it is better to update in advance rather than when the requirement has already come into effect.
Is it mandatory to perform the update through a service center (CTO)? No, some models and smart terminals support updating on your own via a utility or vendor cloud; a service center (CTO) is needed for complex cases, breaking seals, or if updating on your own is unavailable for your model.
The manufacturer no longer releases updates for my model — what should I do? Check with the manufacturer or service center (CTO) whether the model is officially supported; if support has been discontinued and new requirements are already coming into force, you will need to replace the cash register — see "How to choose a cash register".
Does a firmware update for a new FFD version require a new FN? Not always — if the installed FN supports the required version, you do not need to replace it; if it does not (for example, FN-M is specifically required for item marking) — updating the firmware without replacing the drive will not work, see "FFD 1.05, 1.1, and 1.2" (§5).
Related articles: FFD 1.05, 1.1, and 1.2 · frequently occurring errors on ATOL cash registers · frequently occurring errors on SHTRIH-M cash registers · smart terminals: subscriptions, apps, used devices, and reset · replacing the fiscal accumulator
This material is for informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a service center or cash register manufacturer. Primary sources: Federal Law No. 54-FZ "On the Use of Cash Registers", the registry of cash registers and registry of fiscal accumulators of the FTS (kkt-online.nalog.ru), technical documentation, and service terms of cash register manufacturers (ATOL, Evotor, SHTRIH-M).