Need help updating old Ledger Nano S firmware 1.2

[kriszz50983]

I just got my nano s wallet. I don't have any experience with setting up the wallet.  What precautions I need to take care?  I have seen some google videos for setting up wallet but don't know if I need to update it before start sending coins to this wallet?

[Lucius]

kriszz50983, you should just follow these instructions : Set up your Ledger Nano S. It is important to write down your 24 words seed, it is backup of your wallet, so check all words very careful. It is also important to write down you PIN, you will use it every time to unlock Nano S. If you have latest 1.5.5 firmware ( you can check it in Ledger Live), there is no need for any update.

Everything else is actually very simple, just take some time and go step by step

[kriszz50983]

kriszz50983, you should just follow these instructions : Set up your Ledger Nano S. It is important to write down your 24 words seed, it is backup of your wallet, so check all words very careful. It is also important to write down you PIN, you will use it every time to unlock Nano S. If you have latest 1.5.5 firmware ( you can check it in Ledger Live), there is no need for any update.

Everything else is actually very simple, just take some time and go step by step

Thanks for the information!  One thing,  where I can check if I have latest firmware?  Will it show once I plug in to system?

[kriszz50983]

Im curious but do you know how often they have these updates?  I had no idea the old update from 1.2 was that long ago.  So basically if someone doesn't touch their nano ledger s for a few months... its generally still safe right? 

If you're interested in history of Nano S firmware updates you should search for that info on internet, but since this is not something you like to do I find something which should satisfy your curiosity. By this article firmware 1.2 is released in October 2016, and after that we have only 4 updates (correct me if I'm wrong), so we can say we have an average of one firmware update per year.

You can keep Nano S in your drawer as much as you want, it is important that you have your seed. But since this is electronic device subject to failures, good practice would be to check it several times a year.



Ledger is working on new firmware for Nano S, and will be available this summer.

In addition, during the summer we will roll out a new firmware update to continue enhancing security along with new HSMs to improve application management performance. We are also working on adding ERC-20 tokens in Ledger Live.

Supporting and Improving the Ledger Nano S

Like you mentioned that this is electronic device and can fail any time.  What will happen to my tokens which i will be storing in this device and this device fails?

[Pmalek]

@kriszz50983
You can check which firmware version is installed by connecting your device, logging in to the Ledger Live app and clicking on the Account Manager tab. Allow the account manager access to your Ledger wallet by confirming it on your Ledger device (right-click button) and that it is.

If your device fails and is still under warranty all you need to do is contact Ledger Support and they will send you a replacement device. There was a situation a few months ago where a user of this forum received a new device even after his warranty expired.
Just make sure you have a backup off your seed, in case the device breaks all you need to do is enter this seed in a new Ledger wallet.

[Lucius]

Like you mentioned that this is electronic device and can fail any time.  What will happen to my tokens which i will be storing in this device and this device fails?

In addition to what Pmalek has already written, every electronic device is susceptible to malfunction, Ledger hardware wallets are no exception. This is why there is a backup (24 words - seed), with which you can at any time recover your wallets. It can be done on any supported hardware wallet or desktop / mobile wallet.

Your coins will be safe to the extent that you are paying attention to their safety. Actually you should know that hardware device is only store your private keys which allow you control over your coins. Coins are always stored on blockchain, so you need to keep safe private keys, in this case your 24 words seed.

[kriszz50983]

Like you mentioned that this is electronic device and can fail any time.  What will happen to my tokens which i will be storing in this device and this device fails?

In addition to what Pmalek has already written, every electronic device is susceptible to malfunction, Ledger hardware wallets are no exception. This is why there is a backup (24 words - seed), with which you can at any time recover your wallets. It can be done on any supported hardware wallet or desktop / mobile wallet.

Your coins will be safe to the extent that you are paying attention to their safety. Actually you should know that hardware device is only store your private keys which allow you control over your coins. Coins are always stored on blockchain, so you need to keep safe private keys, in this case your 24 words seed.

Thanks Lucius a lot for this valuable information!  For a moment I was scared.  I thought I will lose money if that hardware fails.

Thanks @pmalek as well.

[HCP]

bob, well i mean if you want to update the firmware on nano ledger, you still need it connected to a computer right?

Well obviously. How are you going to magically transfer a firmware to the device if it isn't connected to your computer?

Also i dont think i tried this but if you try pressing buttons on the nano ledger s without connecting it to anything, does something show up on the screen or not?

If it isn't connected to anything... then absolutely nothing will happen. The device needs external power... it doesn't have an internal battery. The only way to power it is via the USB cable. So, it needs to be connected (via USB cable) to an outlet providing the appropriate power. This doesn't necessarily need to be a PC... you can connect it to a phone/tablet using a USB-OTG cable... or you can even connect it to a phone charger and it will start up. I connected mine to a USB port on a Television once. Both the TV and the Ledger Nano S are still functioning

Obviously, connecting it to a phone charger will power the device and you'll be able to unlock it, wipe it, set it up etc... but you cannot transfer any data to or from the device.

bob and hcp, so everytime there is an update on ledger live... update it.  Then connect your ledger nano s to it and check manager to see if there is firmware update, then always update it.

No... you should never update anything... ever... /s

Of course you should update... I'm fairly sure I've told you this about 2347923179 times in various threads and PMs

[jerry0]

OP did you solve your issue?


Also what version of firmware is now at the moment with the ledger nano s?  I still am using the older version 1.4 as i haven't updated the last update. 


I did log into ledger live frequently and see there is an update.  What version of ledger live is it at the moment?  How do i check what version of ledger live im using?


In terms of updates, isn't updating the firmware of your nano ledger much more important than the ledger live?


So basically the best advice is to at least once every week or 2 weeks or 1 month, plug your ledger nano so to see if there is a firmware update needed and do the same with the ledger live right?  Minimum once every how long? 


If someone hasn't updated their ledger live and ledger nano firmware in few months, which one do you suggest updating first?  I assume just do the ledger live first install now and then do the firmware for the nano ledger s afterwards right?


You would also say its rare for a situation where you cannot update the firmware and have to get a replacement nano ledger s right like the OP right?  I assume unless you don't check the updates for at least 6 months, only then you might have a problem?  That to me is a concern because imagine someone has their nano ledger s and just store put it somewhere and never touch it for years.  Then they cannot update it due to old firmware.  That is not good to hear.


Also, since im using version 1.4 firmware on the nano ledger s, can someone tell me how many total firmware updates i have done total?  I got the nano ledger around early 2018 or so.  I remember doing 1 firmware update where the nano ledger s froze and it took a while to fix this issue but HCP helped me with that issue.  Im pretty sure i did either 1 update or 2 updates.  But i assume its 2 total updates?  I think last time i did a 2nd update and that was fine.


But does anyone here get nervous and anxious when they do a firmware update on their nano ledger s?  The first time i did it, i had issues where it froze etc. 

[Pmalek]

@jerry0
The newest firmware is 1.5.5. You should have this one already and it is advice-able to update your firmware to get the newest security and usability functions.

The newest Ledger Live version is 1.11.0. That is is the one that now supports Native SegWit.

To check which versions you are using you either need to connect your Ledger device, open the Ledger Live app and go to Account Manager or do this directly on your Nano device:
https://support.ledger.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002997193-Check-the-firmware-version

[Lucius]

~snip~

You should start read and not ask same questions again and again. It is explain to you how to check firmware and Ledger Live version more then once, all you need to do is connect Ledger Nano S and open Ledger Live. On Ledger site all is explained in step by step tutorial, even kids from elementary school would understand all the basics very quickly.

OP is have too old firmware version, it has nothing with your firmware - and you should update from 1.4.x to 1.5.5 long time ago, if you are not using Windows 7 update can be done in just few minutes. So be sure you have your seed, update Ledger Live and click on update firmware - it is simple procedure which does not require preparation that lasts for months.

Why should anyone be nervous because of Ledger firmware update? If you have your seed, coins will be safe even if something goes wrong.

[jerry0]

Hi there.  Well are you telling me most ppl update their firmware frequently then?  For example what about those that are strict holders and got a nano ledger s for that specifically and do not trade?  Are these people connecting their nano ledger s every month or so to make sure they have the correct firmware?  Obviously they can check ledger live pretty easily and see if their coins are there whereever they are at even if they dont have their ledger s with them.


Im using windows 10.



Well the thing is i do not have my seed at the moment with me.  So im always hesistant on doing a firmware update because the first time i did it a bit after i got the nano ledger s, it froze and had issues and took a bit to fix the issue.

[o_e_l_e_o]

How do i check what version of ledger live im using?

Open Ledger Live, click the settings icon in the top right, then click "About".

So basically the best advice is to at least once every week or 2 weeks or 1 month, plug your ledger nano so to see if there is a firmware update needed and do the same with the ledger live right?

Not necessarily. You can update Ledger Live without having your device connected. In terms of new firmware, you could just keep an eye on https://www.ledger.com/category/blog-posts/ or https://www.reddit.com/r/ledgerwallet/ for announcements.

Also, since im using version 1.4 firmware on the nano ledger s, can someone tell me how many total firmware updates i have done total?

No. Since you are skipping firmware versions, no one can tell you how many times you have updated.

[jerry0]

Hi there.  I updated the ledger live pretty simple but just pressing the install update.  I know the ledger live update is simple since you don't even need to connect your ledger to it.


But in terms of the firmware in the nano ledger s, that is much more important?  Or are both the same?  The other thing is this.  Say you are not in your apartment/home and leave your nano ledger there for many months.  There still should not be issue where you cannot update firmware anymore like the OP right? 


I mean to me... that doesn't sound good that someone could leave their nano ledger s untouched for years... then you can't update it anymore. 

[o_e_l_e_o]

But in terms of the firmware in the nano ledger s, that is much more important?

In terms of your own security, updating the firmware on the device is more important than updating Ledger Live, as firmware updates usually contain security fixes for new flaws or vulnerabilities which are being found. If you don't update and someone gains physical access to your device, it could be vulnerable to an attack of some description.

Say you are not in your apartment/home and leave your nano ledger there for many months.  There still should not be issue where you cannot update firmware anymore like the OP right?

There shouldn't be, but that doesn't mean there won't be. No developer is going to release a patch or an update which intentionally breaks the hardware/software/whatever, but I'm sure pretty much everyone has run in to problems updating something in the past. It just isn't possible to account for every scenario, and so some users inevitably run in to trouble. It is possible for an update to fail, or even to have to reset your device. Your 24 word seed phrase is your insurance against this. If you've lost it for any reason, set up a new wallet immediately and transfer all your coins there.

[Pmalek]

Hi there.  Well are you telling me most ppl update their firmware frequently then?  For example what about those that are strict holders and got a nano ledger s for that specifically and do not trade?  Are these people connecting their nano ledger s every month or so to make sure they have the correct firmware? 

Firmware updates are not as common as updates to the Ledger Live app. The latest 1.5.5. version of the firmware came out in January 2019.

More about that here: https://www.ledger.com/ledger-releases-a-new-nano-s-firmware-update/

It has been 7 months and we are still using the 1.5.5. version so you don't have to connect your device and check for new firmware updates every month. But it doesn't hurt to do it once every 2-3 months and it really doesn't take too much of your time. You can expect new firmware updates once, maybe twice a year.

[bob123]

[...]
Say you are not in your apartment/home and leave your nano ledger there for many months.  There still should not be issue where you cannot update firmware anymore like the OP right? 
I mean to me... that doesn't sound good that someone could leave their nano ledger s untouched for years... then you can't update it anymore. 

You keep asking the same questions over and over again..

1)

[...]I assume unless you don't check the updates for at least 6 months, only then you might have a problem?  That to me is a concern because imagine someone has their nano ledger s and just store put it somewhere and never touch it for years.  Then they cannot update it due to old firmware.  That is not good to hear.

2)

I mean if someone doesn't touch their ledger in a long time... i mean not being to access in their coins because of firmware... that is kind of ridiculous.  So basically unless its a paper wallet, this will always be an issue?

3)

So every month, you should connect it to the computer just to make sure the firmware is up to date? 

Your question has already been answered repeatedly:

[...] in the future this should NOT happen again, since ledger live is doing incremental upgrades if a full upgrade isn't possible.
This means, if you can't update directly to the newest version, it will first upgrade to the highest possible version and afterwards to the next highest possible version.. etc.. until you reached the latest available version etc..
[...]

[jerry0]

Hey all im updating now and have an issue.


Screen shows


finalize update


1.  disconnect usb cable from your device



2. Press the left button and hold it until you reconnect the usb cable until the bootloader screen appears



on my nano ledger s, it shows a arrow sign and update next to it

[jerry0]

So right now disconnect the usb from my nano ledger first? 


Then press and hold the left button of the nano ledger while reconnecting it to the usb cable until the bootloader screen appears?


Then what?


The 2 times i did a firmware update, i am 100 percent sure the update was not done like this.  Can someone please tell me if im what about to do is correct?


Freaking out right now because at the moment as i thought it would just update as it would and then i would unplug it.

[TryNinja]

That's exactly how you should do it. Disconnect and reconnect while holding the left button.

Here is a video showing all these steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5CymmI4BTQ