How to update the firmware of a WD My Cloud NAS step by step

 

If you have a Western Digital NAS and are wondering How to update the firmware of your WD My Cloud Without further ado, you're in the right place. These devices have gone through several generations of operating systems (OS 3, OS 5, and My Cloud Home), with different update methods and some other important changes that you should be aware of so you don't get left behind.

Throughout this guide you will see all ways to update the firmware This guide covers the different WD My Cloud models: from the essential manual upgrade from OS 3 to OS 5, through the automatic and manual OS 5 options, to the unique case of the My Cloud Home, whose firmware is only updated automatically via the internet. It also includes a real-world case study of recovering a "dead" first-generation My Cloud and its subsequent step-by-step firmware update.

Requirements and warnings before updating the firmware

Before touching anything, it's important to be aware of a few warnings, because a poorly executed firmware update can render your WD My Cloud unusable or, at best, cause service outages at a bad time.

To begin with, it is essential that Do not disconnect or turn off the NAS During a firmware update, interrupting the process can "break" the system and force you to unbrick the device or even render it unusable. Keep in mind that in many operations the device will automatically restart upon completion, so you'll find it inaccessible for a few minutes.

If your device is still using My Cloud OS 3 You should know that this system is no longer supported: the automatic update server is no longer working, and Western Digital recommends upgrading to OS 5. This means that, on these models, the path goes through download the firmware manually from the support website and upload it from the control panel.

Another important warning is that when you upgrade from OS 3 to OS 5, the system will ask you new passwords and initial setupYou'll need to enter your OS 3 key, accept the license agreement, create a password for the OS 5 administrator, choose your time zone, configure (or not) remote cloud access, and decide whether you want to send usage statistics to WD. All of this is part of the initial setup wizard. Boot of OS 5.

Additionally, keep in mind that two-step verification (2FA) may be required when you first set up a NAS with OS 5. If enabled, you will receive an email from noreply@accounts.westerndigital.com with the code you'll need to enter into your browser to continue. It's also a good idea to check the folders of Spam o Unwanted mail in case the message slips through there.

Manually upgrade from My Cloud OS 3 to My Cloud OS 5

For compatible models, upgrading from OS 3 to OS 5 requires a manual and sequential updateYou can't skip directly if the firmware is too outdated, as WD requires the device to be at least on version [version number missing]. 2.42.115 or higher before installing OS 5.

The first step is to download the correct firmware for your model from the Western Digital support siteThere you will need to select the specific My Cloud model, go to the section of downloads and locate version 2.42.115 (or higher) in the firmware section. Save the file to your PC's local disk or Mac, since you will then load it from the browser.

Once downloaded, access the My Cloud OS 3 control panel as the "admin" user. If you don't remember how to log in, WD offers a specific guide (Answer ID 27513) with the steps to access the panel, but basically it involves entering the NAS's IP address or network name into your browser and authenticating with the administrator user.

Once inside the panel, go to the tab Configuration and look for the section of Firmware or “Firmware Update”. There you will see the option to Manual update from file or “Update from file”. Click and a window will open to select the firmware file you previously downloaded to your computer.

Select the firmware image file that corresponds to your model, then tap on Open and later Install and restartAt that point, the update process will begin: the NAS will load the firmware, install it, and restart automatically. During this time, it is essential that Do not disconnect the power cable or the network cable to avoid problems.

Once the device boots with the transitional version (2.42.115 or higher) of OS 3, the next step is to download the latest OS 5 firmware For your model, go to the WD support page. Save the firmware file to your computer again and repeat the process: log in to the My Cloud panel as admin, go to Settings → Firmware Update → Update from File, select the new file, and confirm with Install and Restart.

When the OS 5 installation is complete, the NAS boots up with the new system and launches an initial setup wizard. The first thing it will ask you to do is enter the Current OS 3 password to validate the migration. After that, you will have to accept the End User License Agreement before continuing.

The assistant will also ask you to create a New password for the My Cloud OS 5 administratorThis will be the key you use from then on to manage the device. Afterward, you'll have the option to define a new password for each local NAS user; if you don't want to do this at the moment, you can choose "Skip this user" and configure it later.

The next step in the wizard is to select the time zone so that records and scheduled tasks are properly dated. Next, it will ask if you want to configure the remote access to the cloud Using your Western Digital Cloud account: you can click Continue to activate it or “Skip cloud access” if you only want to use the NAS on your local network.

If you choose to enable remote access, you'll need to enter an email address and password to create a new Western Digital Cloud account, or, if you already have one from another device (for example, another My Cloud OS 5 or a My Cloud Home), use the option to Log In with that existing account.

This is where the Two-factor authentication (2FA)When the system deems it necessary, it will send a verification code to the email address provided. You must locate this message (checking your spam folder if needed) and copy the code to paste it into the browser window where "Verify your identity" is displayed. After entering the code in the "Enter code" box and clicking Continue, the wizard will proceed.

You will also be asked to enter a Name and surname for the MyCloud.com account associated with your device. Then it's time to choose which Shared folders will have remote access From the apps mobile devices and the web. By selecting these folders, the system initiates the process of content indexingThis is essential for accessing and searching files from the cloud. WD even has a specific FAQ (ID 31933) about this indexing and remote access in OS 5.

Within the wizard, there is a section to decide if you want optimize video playbackIf you choose "Yes", the NAS will adjust the multimedia content for optimal playback. mobile devices and web, but keep in mind that this feature is only compatible with the My Cloud PR2100 and PR4100 models. If you have a different device, you can safely select the "do not optimize" option.

Finally, the system asks you if you want share usage analysis with WDYou can easily accept or decline sending statistics, and when the wizard finishes, there will be an option to go directly to the applications section. From there, if you're coming from OS 3, you can use the option Reinstall to recover the apps you previously had installed on the NAS.

Keep in mind that the Content indexing restarts Once remote access to the cloud is created or reactivated, it can consume NAS resources for a few hours, depending on the volume of files you have stored.

Automatic and manual firmware update in My Cloud OS 5

Once your NAS is running My Cloud OS 5, you have two main mechanisms to keep the firmware up to date: automatic update and manual update via file downloaded from the WD website.

The most convenient option is the automatic updateTo activate it, go to the OS 5 control panel, access the settings section (WD offers a guide with answer ID 29939 if you need to review how to access it), and look for the "Update" section. From there, you can see if a new version is available and simply click on it. Install and restartThe NAS will automatically download the firmware, install it, and restart when finished.

In addition to this on-demand update, OS 5 allows you to configure a automatic update programTo do this, go to Settings, then to "Firmware Update," and locate the "Automatic Update" section. By enabling it, you can choose the specific day of the week and time when the device will check for new versions and install the firmware if there is anything new.

In the field of programming You have several drop-down lists to select from. day, time and time slot (am or pm)The idea is to schedule it for a time when almost no one is using the NAS, because every time an automatic update is applied, the device will restart and there will be no access to the cloud for a few minutes.

If you prefer to have everything under control and review each version before installing it, you can opt for the manual update in OS 5The process is very similar to that of OS 3 but with a revamped panel: first go to the WD support website, choose your My Cloud model, scroll down the page until you find the "Current Firmware" section and click on it. DOWNLOAD to save the file to your computer.

Once you have the file, check that do not have size 0If the file size is 0 bytes, it means something went wrong with the download and you'll have to repeat it. It's also a good idea to check that the file name corresponds to your specific NAS model to avoid installing the wrong firmware, which could cause problems.

Then enter the My Cloud OS 5 panel, return to the tab Configuration and select “Firmware update”. There you will find the option to Update from fileThis will open a file selection dialog box. Navigate to where you saved the firmware image, select it, and confirm.

Clicking Install and restartThe NAS will then begin the update. As in the other cases, You must not turn off or unplug the device The process will continue. The device will restart, and when it becomes accessible again, it will be running with the new firmware.

The OS 5 interface itself also includes an option for the device Check for yourself if any updates are available. Without downloading anything from a file yet. In “Update firmware”, under “Available updates → New firmware”, you can click on “Check for updates”. If the system returns “No new updates”, you don't need to do anything else. If, however, it detects a new version, you can review the release notes (These will open in a new browser window.) Once you're satisfied with the contents, click "Install update." The system will ask for confirmation to restart the NAS and warn that cloud service will be interrupted for connected users.

Firmware update on My Cloud Home: all automatic

The case of My Cloud Home is quite unique because its The firmware cannot be downloaded or updated manually.Unlike classic My Cloud devices with OS 3 or OS 5, there is no option to upload a firmware file from the panel, nor to disable automatic updates.

Updates arrive at My Cloud Home over the air (OTA)That is, via the internet directly from Western Digital's servers, and the device itself handles applying them. For this to work, you need to make sure the NAS is connected to a router with internet accessIf you do not have an internet connection, you will not be able to download the new firmware.

According to WD, a newly configured My Cloud Home will be updated to the latest firmware version available Shortly after completing the setup process, the device will be ready for use when the front LED displays a solid white light; until then, it is normal for it to blink while it finishes downloading and applying updates.

If you suspect your My Cloud Home hasn't updated correctly, or is still stuck on an older firmware, you can try reboot the deviceAfter a restart, the system attempts to connect to the servers again and apply any pending updates, usually within the next 24 hours.

When the firmware update is complete, WD sends notifications via both email and the mobile app associated with My Cloud Home. If nothing has been updated after that time, a helpful recommendation from WD is to connect the device to another different network (for example, another router or a connection from another house) in case the current network is blocking the necessary traffic.

This closed way of managing firmware also affects the ecosystem of applications that run on My Cloud Home, such as Plex Media ServerMany users complain that the base firmware and the integrated Plex version are stuck on 2020 builds, with no possibility for users to upgrade to newer versions. Although Plex and WD have indicated in the past that they were working together to update it, the truth is that, as of today, There is no option to manually update Plex on My Cloud HomeThis results in the loss of recent features of the media server.

Manual firmware update on My Cloud OS 3 without an automatic server

For those who still have a NAS with My Cloud OS 3 And since they haven't made the jump to OS 5, the situation is somewhat delicate because the WD's automatic update server is no longer workingThis means that the automatic "Check for updates" paths in OS 3 will no longer return new firmware, and you will have to resort to a manual download.

In these models, the procedure consists of going to the WD support websiteChoose the corresponding My Cloud model and locate the OS 3 firmware downloads section. From there, you will download the latest firmware version available for OS 3 to your PC, in an image format compatible with your NAS.

With the file now on your computer, you will need to access the My Cloud OS 3 control panel and go back to Settings → Firmware Update. The option will appear in that section. Update from fileClicking this will open a window allowing you to search your disk for the downloaded file.

Select the appropriate firmware image file and confirm with Install and restartThe device will load the firmware, apply it, and perform a full reboot. During this time, as always, avoid unplugging or turning off the device, as this could corrupt the system.

In these older NAS systems, it's also important to remember that OS 3 is out of lifecycleTherefore, Western Digital itself strongly recommends migrating to OS 5 if the hardware The system allows it. Security patches and feature updates are no longer released for OS 3, and keeping it in production with remote access enabled poses a risk.

Known issues after updating: Time Machine and old backups

Not all firmware updates are transparent. One documented case is that of those who, after updating a WD My Cloud to the firmware version 03.01.01-116They find that Time Machine on macOS stops seeing the previous backup and the process stops without making further backups.

This problem arises because, when applying that firmware, the system Move the Time Machine "sparsebundle" files from its original location in the default “TimeMachine” folder to the root of the shared resource TimeMachineBackupWhen you move those files, Time Machine no longer recognizes where the previous copies were and behaves as if they no longer exist. backup.

To get Time Machine to detect the backup again, the recommended procedure on macOS involves going into the Time Machine preferences On your Mac, click "Select Backup Disk" and again choose the WD My Cloud share as the backup destination. This will allow Time Machine to reconnect the existing backup to the new location specified by the firmware.

Recovering and updating a 1st generation WD My Cloud after a failure

There are more extreme scenarios where the NAS becomes practically unresponsive, or you've lost the data on the disk and need to recover the system from scratch. A very illustrative example is that of a first generation WD My Cloud (the one with the more rounded front) which, after a sudden shutdown, is left without data and without the original WD software that turns the drive into a NAS.

In a real case, the user decided to reuse the disk as a secondary network backup, but having formatted it, he had lost all the data. Western Digital system imageThe solution involved locating a system image online (in this case, a compressed file like mycloud3T.7z designed for a 3 TB drive) and manually burning it to the hard drive using a Linux distribution booted from a USB created, for example, with Ventoy.

The procedure began by opening a terminal on Linux with administrator privileges (sudo su) and using the command lsblk To correctly identify which disk was the My Cloud (by capacity; in the example, it appeared as a 3,6 TB disk in /dev/sdc). Once identified, the user used the command dd to save the image: dd if=mycloud.img of=/dev/sdc1 bs=256M status=progress.

In that command, the parameter if indicates the input file (the system image you want to burn), while of marks the output device (in the example, the first partition of the sdc disk). The parameter bs = 256M Adjust the block size to 256 MB to speed up the process, and status=progress It displays on screen how much has been copied at any given time, which is quite useful for monitoring progress.

Once the image writing process is complete, the disk reverts to a structure similar to that of an original 3 TB My Cloud, even though in this specific example the physical disk was 4 TB. This implies that, initially, not all the space is being used Available. To resolve this issue, the user started the graphical partitioning tool. gparted with administrator privileges (sudo gparted) and selected the correct disk (in the menu at the top right, /dev/sdc of 3,64 TiB).

Within gparted you can see all the partitions created by the image, but the one that is of interest for expanding capacity is usually the / Dev / sdc4This is the partition that contains the data. Since it doesn't reach the end of the disk, there's unallocated space on the right. To fill the entire disk, simply right-click on sdc4 and select the resize option, dragging the arrow on the far right to the end of the free space and applying the changes.

You can also work with console tools, such as launching a e2fsck on /dev/sdc4 to force a file system check before resizing. After expanding the partition, the user chose to forma tear sdc4 to ext4 from Linux to leave it clean and with full capacity.

With the disc now prepared, it is reassembled in the original NAS controller board The WD My Cloud then starts up. When the front blue LED stays on, the device is ready. Accessing the management page via the IP address assigned by the router, the system may display an error or not yet recognize the expanded storage capacity. In that case, the solution was to go to Settings → Utilities → Restore factory settings and launch a quick restore (a full restore can take many hours), which causes the system itself to rebuild the data volume with the new capacity.

After this operation, the NAS was working with the firmware v03.03.01-156It was quite old. To update, the first attempt via the internet failed, so the user manually downloaded a newer firmware, in this case the sq-040500-342-20190805.deb file from WD's servers, and used the option to update from file in the control panel to apply that version.

That image led the system to version v04.05.00From there, it became possible to use normal updates again by connecting to WD's servers (at least while they remain active). In this way, a My Cloud that seemed completely dead was not only resurrected, but also had expanded disk capacity and significantly more up-to-date firmware.

Beyond the fine details of commands and utilities, this type of process demonstrates that, with some patience and careIt is possible to recover and update a veteran WD My Cloud, making the most of its hardware, as long as you are clear about which system image you are burning and which model you have in hand.

All these options—from manual migration from OS 3 to OS 5, through automatic and scheduled OS 5 updates, the closed My Cloud Home model with mandatory OTA firmware, to extreme cases of recovery with Linux—give you a full range of Strategies for keeping your WD My Cloud NAS firmware up to dateThe key is to never interrupt the process, always download the correct file for your model, take advantage of scheduling options to avoid disturbing users, and, when dealing with older or unsupported equipment, be very clear about each step before executing it.