.FW File Extension

Firmware Update

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What is an FW file?

An FW file contains information used to update a device's firmware. Many types of devices, including digital cameras and portable media players, use updates saved as FW files. Typically, users install an FW file on a device by transferring the file to the device's memory card or connecting the device to their PC via a USB port.

More Information

Firmware controls how a hardware device communicates with other hardware devices. Periodically, hardware manufacturers may release firmware updates, which fix firmware bugs or allow a device to communicate with additional (often newer) types of devices.

Sometimes, manufacturers provide firmware updates to users in the form of FW files. After receiving an FW file, users are meant to install it on an appropriate device.

How to open an FW file

Most FW files are not meant to be manually opened. To install an FW file on a device, refer to that device's user manual or the instructions included with the file.

If you are an advanced user who wants to analyze the data an FW file contains, you can do so using Binwalk (multiplatform).

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Programs that open or reference FW files

All Platforms
Used by various hardware devices
Windows
Linux

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Firmware Update file format and Mac, Windows, and Linux apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

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