How do I tell if my Godox trigger or flash needs a firmware update?

I'm having an issue with my Godox gear, and I often see people referring to updating the Godox firmware. But I'm not sure how to tell if my Godox gear needs to be updated to fix my issue. How do I find out?

Answer

There are three steps to determine this.

1. 
   

   Find out what firmware version you're currently using. This procedure typically involves either holding down a button while turning on the unit, or going to a custom function menu and seeing what's displayed there for each device:

   
   
   
   
   
   • A1: Hold down the SET button while turning on the trigger.
   
   
   • AD200: Hold down the MODE button while turning on the strobe.
   
   
   • AD360II: hold the Zm/C.Fn button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   • AD600 / AD600M / AD600 Pro: press the MENU button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   • TT350 / V350: Hold down the MODE button while turning on the flash.
   
   
   • TT685 / V860II: hold the Zm/C.Fn button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   • V1: hold the MENU button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   • X1T transmitter: hold down the MODE button while turning on the trigger.
   
   
   • X1R receiver: hold down the GR button while turning on the unit.
   
   
   • X2T transmitter: press the MENU button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   
   • Xpro transmitter: press the MENU button to enter the custom function menu.
   
   
   
   


2. 
   

   Find out what the latest version of the firmware for your device is and what it does, by going to the Godox downloads webpage.

   
   

   The Godox page lists the current version of each firmware image, its release date, and what it does (kinda) in the table that has the download links. If you're interested in what earlier versions do, you must download the .rar archive of the firmware download, and extract the PDF file inside, which has the entire version history in both Chinese and English.

   
   


3. 
   

   Decide for yourself if you need the update or not. This may hinge on how you interpret the sometimes cryptic (translated) descriptions of the functionality that was fixed or added in the Godox documentation. So, doing a bit of research on messageboards for reports of whether the firmware update does what you think it does may also be in order.