How to Update your Nikon D500 Firmware

How to update your Nikon D500 Firmware to the latest version. In this case, C 1.30. This is on a MacBook Pro on the macOS and it is similar on a Windows machine. In this video tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to update your Nikon D500’s software on the camera, which they call the firmware. It is easy:

Step 1: Insert the same SD card you use in your camera, on the computer where you will download the Firmware
Step 2: Download the Firmware from Nikon’s site, open the DMG as instructed
Step 3: Copy the “.bin” file onto the SD Card
Step 4: Eject the SD card from your computer
Step 5: Insert SD card back into the Nikon D500
Step 6: Go to Menu - Wrench Icon (Set-Up Menu) - Update Firmware
Step 7: Update the firmware as prompted
Step 8: Re-format SD card, deleting the “.bin” firmware file

You can get the latest Firmware from Nikon’s site for the D500 DLSR camera here:

Here are the contents of the video how to:
0:00 - Turn on Nikon D500 and go into Menu
0:29 - Go to Wrench icon or Preferences for your camera
0:35 - Choose “Firmware Version”
0:39 - See “C” version of firmware, v1.20 and compare to Nikon's site
0:58 - Updating from 1.20 to 1.30 Nikon website instructions
1:27 - SD Card from D500 is now inserted in macOS computer
1:38 - Download DMG of Firmware
1:51 - Double-click the download DMG to get to contents
2:15 - Eject SD Card from Mac
2:25 - Insert SD Card in Nikon D500
2:36 - Turn on D500 and go back to “Firmware Version”
2:44 - Now you see prompt, “Update” click that and wait!
3:23 - Update of Firmware done, turn OFF your camera
3:31 - I remove and delete .bin file on computer and re-insert into D500
3:50 - Turn Nikon D500 on again, check Firmware and it is now 1.30!

So, a lot of little steps, but it is easy and recommended by Nikon to update the firmware. It helps with connectivity issues, in this case with WiFi and in this firmware update fixed some flash issues. v1.30 only fixed a few things,
• Added supported for CFexpress cards (Type B). For more information, see the Nikon support website for your country or region.
• Fixed an issue that caused both the Entire frame and Background only options for Custom Setting e3 Exposure comp. for flash in the CUSTOM SETTING MENU to produce the same results as Entire frame during flash photography.

But v1.20 fixed a lot more...

Note that this “wrench” icon under the Menu button is called, “The Setup menu” as a tip. You can download the full Nikon D500 manual as a PDF here:

#nikon #firmware #D500

How to Update your Nikon D500 Firmware

[kwanza]

Thank you!!! I was struggling with OK button, I didn't know that I suppose to click on a real OK button on camera, your video helped me a lot! Thank you very much!!!

[mabiteamwebin]

This video really saved me some money. Not knowing the difference of a XQD card and a CFexpress card, I by mistake ordered 3 expensive 128GB CFexpress cards instead of XQD for my D500 with original Firmware C 1.02. With the help of this video I first in my life tried an update. It worked ! Now I have C 1.31 firmware update installed. But it did not save so fast as in the video and I had to do it twice ... may be because of the very old firmware C 1.02 installed on my camera. At least the Cfexpress cards work now on my D500. Thank you very much.

[MRMTerk]

You really helped me, because I was affraid I couldn't do it properly!!

[csurdykowski]

Very helpful. Concise and accurate. Thank you!

[nicolathornhill]

Thankyou! Very helpful and much appreciated! 🙂

[jamesw]

Thank you for the video. I was puzzled why it won't allow me to press the 'OK' button to proceed. Turns out I pressed the wrong button. Now I can use CF cards on both Z6ii and D500.

[fawadism]

Thank you, I was wondering how to update my D500 firmware, this video really helped. Thanks again..

[karendorephotography]

Perfect instructions, thank you so much.

[Jordiephotography]

Thx . goed en helder uitgelegd..toppie

[stevejarvis]

I`m a little confused, because the instructions from Nikon, say that on this update, you have to run the update process twice for this update to complete, and the first time you run it it may say `update failed`, well I ran it on my D500 and it seemed to have updated OK to 1.30, but I ran the update a 2nd time just to do what Nikon said and after that it still said that it had updated to version 1.30, so I have no idea what Nikon were talking about on this particular update! Anyway thanks for the video.

[arnoldvanharmelen]

Dankjewel, net even een update voor mijn D500 gedaan!

[mailtoswarup]

Thanks for the video. Can i update from 1.12 to 1.3 directly? Or i have to do in steps, like 1.12 to 1.2 and so on

[trantom]

Dear Sir! I have a cf express type B 2TB. My question is this after updating the firmware on my Nikon D500, will this camera will work with my 2TB cf express type B or not? Thank you sir.

[hotflashfoto]

I have four (4) D500 bodies. 2 of them are already at 1.30 and 1.31 and the CF type B cards work flawlessly. The other 2 bodies have C1.00 and C1.10 firmware. I cannot get either of those 2 to show "Update" using the SD card, no matter what I do.

I even tried a full reset. Nope...

I've set the Primary slot as SD, formatted the SD card in the camera, copied the .bin file to the root on the card, inserted it, and "Update" just will not show up. I've updated my old D7000 and my D90 before without issue, but these 2 bodies just refuse. Any suggestions?

[StevenSanchez-iewd]

Hi I was wondering if you can help me out with my D500
So I’m at 1.13 the new software is 1.31 and seen on Nikons website
it said in red that I need to update 1.00 through 1.12 to 1.20 but not sure do I really need to or can I just jump from 1.13 to 1.31
And if now how ? It doesn’t give me the option to download the old software

[raymondbierle]

You didn’t show how to do the delete on the card before you re-inserted back in the camera after down load.

[RedDevilsGaming]

I was told that sd cards are not good for when you do continuous burst I don't know which to get XQD or CF Express type A, B

[ajfernandez]

My D500 doesn't seem to like any firmware update after. 1.11. Can't find any information on how to upgrade it. NIKON sucks!!!!

[s.schwabe]

Thank you!!! I was struggling with OK button, I didn't know that I suppose to click on a real OK button on camera, your video helped me a lot! Thank you very much!