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Question :
How do I update the firmware of the cameras that have the backup function?

Answer:
You can update your digital cameras to the newest firmware using OM Workspace image editing software. Follow the steps below:

The OM Workspace software is available as a free download. If the software is not installed on the computer, download and install it referring to the following question:

How do I download the free OM Workspace software?

  * Olympus Workspace was renamed OM Workspace.

This page explains how to update the firmware of the OM-1, OM-1 Mark II, OM-5, E-M1X, E-M1 Mark III, E-M1 Mark II, E-M5 Mark II (firmware ver. 3.0 or later) and PEN-F (firmware ver. 2.0 or later) camera that have the backup function.

Click the following question to see instructions for updating the OM-1:
How do I update the firmware for OM-1?

Click the following question to see instructions for updating other cameras without backup function:
How do I update the firmware of the camera?

Refer to the following web page before updating the firmware of E-M1X and E-M1 Mark III on a Mac with Apple M1:
Notice for E-M1 Mark III and E-M1X users when connecting the camera to a Mac with Apple M1


Procedure for Updating the Firmware

- Saving the camera settings to the computer (Step 7)
- Updating the firmware of the camera (Step 7 to 8)
- Reloading the camera settings (Step 9)

Camera settings are reset depending on the camera model and current firmware version. When updating the firmware of the camera that have backup function using OM Workspace, the camera settings are saved to the computer before the updating starts and reloaded to the camera after the update.

Caution:

< 1 >  Update the firmware of the camera using the latest OM Workspace.
You can check if your OM Workspace is the latest version by clicking Help in the OM Workspace menu bar, then selecting Update Software.
  - If you see the message 'You are already using the latest version. There is no need to update.':
   Your OM Workspace is the latest version.
  - If you see the message 'A newer version of the software is available.':
   Follow the on-screen instructions to update OM Workspace to the latest version.
< 2 >  Remove the SD card from the camera.
< 3 >  Do not disconnect the USB cable from the camera during the update until the OK icon is displayed. The writing icon is displayed on the camera monitor during the update.
< 4 >   Log on to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
< 5 >  Connect the computer to the Internet. We recommend using a hard-wired connection, if available, to limit the risk of service interruption during the firmware update. A wireless connection may also be used.
< 6 >  Make sure the camera has sufficient power to complete the operation. Use freshly charged batteries or the optional AC adapter. (Adapter not available for all models.)
< 7 > A camera's firmware cannot be returned to an earlier version once it has been updated.
< 8 >  Date and language settings will be reset when the OM-1 MarkII firmware is updated to version 1.2. Set them up again after the update.
< 9 > Other cameras may also have their date and language settings reset depending on the firmware version. Set them up again if they are reset after the update.
Precautions when updating firmware in OM-1 Mark II and E-M1X
  • It takes time to complete the update depending on the internet speed due to the large file size for the firmware.
  • Do not disconnect the USB cable during the update until the OK icon is displayed. The writing icon is displayed on the monitor of the camera during the update. It takes about 5 minutes until the OK icon is displayed.
  • The USB cable included with OM-1 MarkII is CB-USB13. Both connector ends are Type-C. Use the CB-USB11 (sold separately) if the USB port on your computer is Type-A. The connector end of CB-USB11 is Type-C for the camera side and Type-A for the computer side. The cable is included with E-M1X, E-M1 Mark III and E-M1 Mark II.
To update the firmware of your camera, follow the instructions below:
The following procedure explains how to update the firmware for your camera using the latest OM Workspace, version 2.4 as of February 2025.

< step 1 >

Connect your digital camera to your computer using the bundled USB cable.
If the selection menu for USB connection mode is displayed on the camera monitor, select either MTP or Storage depending on your camera and its current firmware version, then press [OK]. (The selection menu for USB connection mode varies by camera.)



< 1-a >
OM-1 Mark II with firmware version 1.1 or later / OM-5 with firmware version 1.2 or later:
Select MTP and press the [OK] button.



< 1-b >
OM-1 Mark II with firmware version 1.0 / OM-5 with firmware version 1.1 or earlier / E-M1X / E-M1 Mark III / E-M1 Mark II / E-M5 Mark II / PEN-F：
Select Storage and press the [OK] button.




< step 2 >

Double-click the "OM Workspace" icon.




< step 3 >

In Camera, click Update.


* If the User Account Control window is displayed, click Yes to proceed the installation.

When prompted to install the camera driver in a macOS environment:

If you select Storage for the USB connection mode in step 1, you may be prompted to install our camera driver (extension) with the following message when you click Update in step 3. (This message may appear, for example, when performing a firmware update operation for the first time in your macOS environment.)



Install our driver and enable it in the macOS System Preferences, then try the firmware update again.

* If you are not prompted to install our driver even after selecting Storage for the USB connection mode in step 1, proceed to the next step (step 4) and continue the update.

< step 4 >

The update window starts.
The updater checks via Internet if newer firmware versions are available.
Click Next to proceed.



When prompted to change the USB connection mode:



When you are prompted to change the USB connection mode to MTP (or Storage), disconnect the USB cable from the camera and reconnect it, and then reselect MTP (or Storage) as the USB connection mode in step 1.

< step 5 >

If newer firmware versions are available, they will be displayed in a dialog box.
To see what will be changed by applying an update, select it from the list and click Details.
To apply a selected firmware update, click Update and then, on the next screen, Yes.
(If you click No, the update will be canceled.)



Note:

If the latest version is already applied, you will see the following message: "You are already using the latest firmware. There is no need to update."



< step 6 >

Carefully read the Software License Agreement. If you accept the terms, click Agree to proceed.




< step 7 >

The current settings of the camera will be saved to the computer, and then the new firmware will be transferred to your camera to start the update.

< 7-1 >
Click OK to start saving the camera settings to the computer.
Once the update starts, check the progress of the OM Workspace window (PC side) and the status of the camera monitor.

Caution: Display on the camera monitor during update

No information is displayed on the camera monitor while saving the camera settings and transferring the firmware. This is not a malfunction or freeze. Please wait for a while until the camera displays the updating screen (screen in step 7-5). Never turn off the camera or disconnect the USB cable.
Firmware update for OM-1 Mark II and E-M1X:

It takes time to complete the update for OM-1 Mark II and E-M1X.
Do not disconnect the USB cable during the update until the OK icon is displayed. It takes about 5 minutes until the OK icon is displayed on the camera monitor.

< 7-2 >
The current settings of the camera will be saved to the computer.
The OM Workspace window will automatically change to the next when the settings have been saved.



< 7-3 >
The new firmware is transferred to the camera.
Please wait without any operation. The display will automatically change to the next.



< 7-4 >
The new firmware is transferred to the camera.
Please wait without any operation. The display will automatically change to the next.



< 7-5 >
After the firmware is transferred to your camera, the update starts in your camera.
The display changes as in the following image.
Please wait without any operation until the digital camera's LCD displays "OK".


Caution:

Do not disconnect the camera from the computer until the LCD on the camera displays "OK". The firmware update is not complete until the camera displays "OK".
Disconnecting the camera before the firmware update completes may render the camera inoperable.

< 7-6 >
The firmware update is completed when the camera's LCD displays "OK".
Do not disconnect the USB cable and leave it connected to the camera and computer.
Although the OM Workspace still displays the following window, proceed to step 8 without any operation.




< step 8 >

Make sure that "OK" is displayed on the camera's monitor.
Leave the USB cable connected to the camera and computer, turn the camera Off using the power lever, and then turn it back On.



* If power ON/OFF is assigned to the Fn lever, you may have to turn the power Off and On using the Fn lever. If you cannot turn on/off the power using the power lever after firmware updating, try using the Fn lever.


< step 9 >

The camera settings, saved in step 7, are reloaded to the camera.
Select the check boxes in the OM Workspace window ("Confirmed that update is complete.", "Camera has been turned off and back on again."), and then click Next (*). The camera settings are reloaded from the computer to the camera.
* Next can be clicked after the two check boxes are selected.



< step 10 >

Firmware update is complete. Click Close



Note:

  • Date and language settings will be reset when the OM-1 Mark II firmware is updated to version 1.2. Set them up again after the update.
  • Other cameras may also have their date and language settings reset depending on the firmware version. Set them up again if they are reset after the update.


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