Restore and Updating SMHUB OS - Update & Restore Methods Your SMHUB can be updated or restored in  three different ways : OTA (recommended) – simple updates directly from the Web Interface Type-C Cable – full recovery if the device doesn’t boot via computer SD-Card – full recovery if the device doesn’t boot without copmuter (more reliable) Below is a quick overview to help you choose the right method 👇 🟢 1. Regular Update — OTA (Over-the-Air) The easiest and safest method for normal updates. How: Web Interface → Settings → Updates & Restore → Check for Updates What happens: SMHUB downloads and installs the newest version automatically. ✅ Simple — no cables, no drivers ✅ Keeps your data and settings ⚠️ Works only if your system boots normally ⚡ 2. Restore via Type-C Cable Good when OTA fails or you need a clean reinstall. How: Connect SMHUB to your PC → Download firmware → run flashing script ( flash.bat )   https://smlight.tech/support/manuals/books/smhub/page/updaterestore-using-type-c   ✅ Shows progress on screen ✅ Quick and easy if drivers/cable are OK ⚠️ May fail if USB drivers aren’t installed or cable is poor 💡 If this fails -  use SD-Card method below IMPORTANT: If the flashing process does not start, please disconnect POE and other Add-ons (4G/Z-Wave) 💽 3. Restore via SD-Card (Full Recovery Method) Use this if your SMHUB is “bricked” or not responding at all. How: Copy 3 files ( emmc.img , fip.bin , partition_gpt.xml ) to a FAT32 SD card → insert into SMHUB → power on → wait ~5 min → power off → remove card → power on again https://smlight.tech/support/manuals/books/smhub/page/updaterestore-using-sd-card   ✅ Works even if device doesn’t boot ✅ No drivers, no software, no cables ✅ Visible progress - just wait patiently ⚠️ Remove SD before next boot (otherwise it will flash again) IMPORTANT: If the flashing process does not start, please disconnect POE and other Add-ons (4G/Z-Wave) 🧭 Which method should I use? Situation Best Option Regular update OTA OTA failed or system unstable Type-C Cable Device won’t start / “bricked” SD-Card In short: 🔹 Use OTA for normal updates. 🔹 Use Type-C if you need to reinstall. 🔹 Use SD-Card to fully recover a non-booting device. Update/Restore using Type-C Flashing over Type-C 🎥 Video Walkthrough Introduction Before you begin, we highly recommend watching the  video walkthrough — it shows the entire flashing process from start to finish in real time. In the video, you’ll see exactly what happens on screen and on the SMHUB device (The link below opens the official SMLIGHT demonstration video.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcEmG1pJnw   ⚙️ What You’ll Do Download the ZIP file with firmware Unzip it Install the driver Open CMD as Administrator Go to the folder with flash.bat Run flash.bat Only then connect SMHUB to the PC Wait for flashing to finish Wait for first boot (LED cues) 🚫 Before You Start You’ll need: Windows 10 or 11 PC with administrator access (we did tests on Win11) USB-C data cable (not just charging) The firmware ZIP file (from the link below) Do NOT: Connect the SMHUB before starting flash.bat Skip the driver installation Run CMD without Administrator rights 🔴 Common user errors: Connecting SMHUB before flash.bat starts Not installing the driver Not running CMD as Administrator 1) Download the factory firmware file Click the firmware link latest prod : os_v0.9.9 , dev : os_v1.0.0.dev3  (previous:  os_v0.3.11 | os_v0.3.10 |  os_v0.3.7 ) and save the ZIP file to your computer (e.g., Downloads ). PLEASE NOTE: Sometimes version 0.3.0 (or older versions) cannot be flashed on certain devices (the pattern is not yet identified). However, users can recover by following this process: first flash  v0.1.2 , and then update to v0.3.x  on top of it. 0.1.2 is located here: https://updates.smlight.tech/firmware/smhub/os/smhub_os_v0.1.2.zip 2) Unzip the archive ight-click the ZIP file →  Extract All… → choose a simple path (e.g., C:\SMHUB\firmware\ ) (Avoid paths with non-Latin characters or very long names.) You should now see these files/folders inside the extracted directory: driver\smhub-driver.exe rom\emmc.img rom\fip.bin rom\partition_gpt.xml usb_dl.exe flash.bat cv_dl_magic.bin 3) Install the driver Open the driver folder. Double-click smhub-driver.exe . Complete the installation wizard. Allow the installer in Windows security prompts if shown. When it says Finished , close the installer. If Windows asks for permission to install device software, click Install . 4) Open Command Prompt as Administrator Press Win key, type cmd . Right-click Command Prompt → Run as administrator . The title bar must say Administrator: Command Prompt . You’ll know it’s correct if the window title says Administrator: Command Prompt . 5) Go to the extracted folder In the admin CMD, change directory to the folder with flash.bat . For this purposes, type cd C:\SMHUB\firmware   and press Enter. Hint: if your path is long for typing, copy it, and in CMD enter cd + do right click. This will insert Clipboard content into CMD window. 6) Start the flashing script Important: Do not connect the SMHUB yet. The script need to be run first. Run:  flash.bat By typing this command flash.bat  and pressing Enter button. 7) Now connect the SMHUB When flash.bat is running, connect SMHUB to the PC via USB-C (Type-C port on the back of SMHUB, near Ethernet port) The script will detect the device and begin flashing automatically. You’ll see progress output in the CMD window. If nothing happens for ~a while, try another USB port or USB-C cable, but keep the script running while you reconnect the cable. 8) Wait for “Flashing completed” (script finishes) When the script completes, it will show a success message and return to the prompt or close. You can now safely disconnect the SMHUB from the PC and power it normally (via its regular power supply), or leave USB-C connected if it provides power. 8-b) IF THE FLASHING PROCESS DOES NOT START In some cases, removing the PoE add-on may help to start the flashing process successfully. If your device does not start flashing using either the Type-C or SD-Card method, please follow the steps below: Open the enclosure (no screwdrivers are required, as the enclosure is screwless). Physically disconnect the PoE add-on. To be even more secure, please remove 4G and Z-Wave addons if you have them installed. Start the flashing process again. Try to boot without the add-on first. Once the device flashes and boots successfully, you can reinstall the add-on. 9) First boot and LED cues (what “ready” looks like) First start takes longer than subsequent boots. This is normal. When the SMHUB starts up after flashing, the LEDs show you exactly what’s happening. Here’s what to watch step by step: Power ON indicator: As soon as you plug in the SMHUB, the small green LED near the buttons (not the Ambilight LEDs) turns ON . → This simply means the device is receiving power. If you can't power your device - check this bug. Blue chase effect (Ambilight): Right after powering on, you’ll see a moving blue light (chase effect) running around the Ambilight LEDs. → This means the system is booting — please wait. Blue effect stops: When the blue chase effect stops , it means the core system has finished booting and SSH access is available . → From this point, advanced users can connect via SSH if needed. Green Ambilight turns on: After the delay (1-2 min), all  green Ambilight LEDs will light up at once. → This means that Web UI and all apps are fully loaded and ready to use. The green lights will stay on for about 1 minute , then turn off automatically. 💡 In simple words: Blue moving lights = starting up Blue stops = system ready for SSH Green lights = Web interface ready to use 10) (Optional) Quick post-flash checks Web UI: Open a browser and go to: http://smhub.local/ (or your device’s IP).   SSH (from Windows using built-in OpenSSH or PuTTY): Hostname: smhub.local (or your device’s IP) Username: smlight Password: smlight Troubleshooting A) The script doesn’t detect my device Most likely cause: Device connected before flash.bat . Fix: Close the script, unplug SMHUB, re-run steps 4–7 exactly: admin CMD → flash.bat → then connect SMHUB. Try a different USB port or another data-capable USB-C cable. B) Driver didn’t install or Windows blocked it Re-run driver\smhub-driver.exe as admin. Approve any Windows prompts. Reboot Windows if the installer requests it, then try again. C) “Access denied” or “cannot open port” You’re likely not in an Administrator CMD. Close CMD, re-open as Administrator , repeat from step 5. D) Flashing stops or errors out mid-way Leave the CMD window open; wait a bit to ensure it’s not still working. If it clearly failed, unplug SMHUB, close the CMD, reopen admin CMD, start flash.bat again, and only then plug SMHUB back in. E) SSH/Web UI doesn’t come up after flashing Give the device more time on the first boot. Watch the LEDs: Blue ambilight LED stopped running → SSH should be ready. All ambilight greens lit → Web UI should be ready. If still nothing, power-cycle the SMHUB and check your network/DHCP (try accessing by IP, not by hostname). Update/Restore using SD-Card 👉  Download the firmware ZIP from your usual link (latest): SD-CARD RESTORE FIRMWARE: prod :  os_v0.9.9 , dev : os_v1.0.0.dev3  (previous:  os_v0.3.11 | os_v0.3.10 |  os_v0.3.7 ) and save the ZIP file to your computer (e.g., Downloads ). You’ll need: A microSD card (8–64 GB is ideal) + microSD–to–SD adapter if your PC needs it A Windows PC A way to read/write the microSD card (built-in reader or USB adapter) ⚙️ What You’ll Do Download the ZIP file with the firmware Format microSD to FAT32 Copy three files from the archive folder ROM onto the  root of the card Insert the card into the SMHUB ( click fully) Power on → wait ~4 minutes (silent) Power off → remove the card Power on → watch LED cues → open smhub.loca 1) Get the firmware and unzip it Click the firmware link above and download the ZIP to your computer (e.g., Downloads). [screenshot: browser download] Right-click the ZIP → Extract All… → choose a simple folder (e.g., C:\SMHUB\firmware\ ). Inside the unzipped folder, you’ll see these three files in the rom folder. You’ll copy them to the SD card: emmc.img fip.bin partition_gpt.xml 2) Format the microSD card to FAT32 This erases the card completely. Back up anything important first. Insert the microSD (or SD adapter with the microSD inside) into your PC. Open This PC (Windows Explorer). Right-click the SD card drive (e.g., “SDHC (E:)”). Click Format… . In the Format window: File system: choose FAT32 Allocation unit size: leave Default or 16kb Volume label: optional (e.g., SMHUB ) Quick Format: checked (recommended) Click Start , then OK/Yes to confirm. Wait for the Format Complete message → click OK and Close . Tip: If your SD card is larger than 32 GB and FAT32 isn’t shown, try another (smaller) card. (Advanced users: a third-party FAT32 formatter also works.). Check the lock switch: If you’re using a full-size SD adapter, make sure the tiny switch on its side is not set to “LOCK.” If locked, Windows won’t let you copy files. 3) Copy the three files to the root of the SD card Open the folder you unzipped earlier. Select these three files: emmc.img , fip.bin , partition_gpt.xml Copy them (Ctrl+C). Open your SD card drive in This PC and Paste (Ctrl+V). The files must be in the root of the SD card (not inside any folder). When copying finishes, right-click the SD card drive → Eject → remove the card. 4) Insert the microSD card into the SMHUB With the SMHUB powered OFF , insert the microSD into the slot. Push until you feel a “click.” It must be fully seated. 5) Power ON and wait ~4 minutes until completion Connect power to the SMHUB. The device will automatically and silently flash itself from the SD card. The blue LED (located near the IR transmitter) will begin blinking slowly (approximately once every 2 seconds), indicating that the flashing process has started. Please note that LED indications during SD-card flashing are available only starting from firmware  0.3.1-dev2 (24 Oct 2025) . Once the process is complete, the same blue LED will start blinking faster (about 3 times per second). This means the flashing was successful. You can now disconnect the device from power (fully disconnect it — do not simply reboot). There is no need to power it on again with the SD card inserted, as the flashing process would otherwise start again. 5-b) IF THE FLASHING PROCESS DOES NOT START In some cases, removing the PoE add-on may help to start the flashing process successfully. If your device does not start flashing using either the Type-C or SD-Card method, please follow the steps below: Open the enclosure (no screwdrivers are required, as the enclosure is screwless). Physically disconnect the PoE add-on. To be even more secure, please remove 4G and Z-Wave addons if you have them installed. Start the flashing process again. Try to boot without the add-on first. Once the device flashes and boots successfully, you can reinstall the add-on. 6) Power OFF and  remove the SD card After ~5 minutes, power OFF the SMHUB. Remove the microSD card. ⚠️ Important: If you leave the SD card in and power on, the SMHUB will start flashing again . Always remove the card before the next boot. 7) Power ON again and watch the LEDs (readiness) Boot the SMHUB without the SD card: First start takes longer than subsequent boots.  This is normal. When the SMHUB starts up after flashing, the LEDs show you exactly what’s happening. Here’s what to watch step by step: Power ON indicator: As soon as you plug in the SMHUB, the  small green LED near the buttons  (not the Ambilight LEDs) turns  ON . → This simply means the device is receiving power. If you can't power your device - check  this  bug. Blue chase effect (Ambilight): Right after powering on, you’ll see a  moving blue light  (chase effect) running around the Ambilight LEDs. → This means the system is booting — please wait. Blue effect stops: When the  blue chase effect stops , it means the  core system has finished booting  and  SSH access is available . → From this point, advanced users can connect via SSH if needed. Green Ambilight turns on: After a short delay, all  green Ambilight LEDs will light up at once. → This means that  Web UI and all apps are fully loaded  and ready to use. The green lights will stay on for about  1 minute , then turn off automatically. 💡  In simple words: Blue moving lights = starting up Blue stops = system ready for SSH Green lights = Web interface ready to use 8) (Optional) Quick post-flash checks Web UI: Open a browser and go to:  http://smhub.local/  (or your device’s IP).   SSH (from Windows using built-in OpenSSH or PuTTY): Hostname:  smhub.local  (or your device’s IP) Username:  smlight Password:  smlight Troubleshooting (quick) Nothing happens after power on? Ensure the three files are on the root of the SD card, card is FAT32 , and the card was fully clicked in . Flashing loops every time I power on? You forgot to remove the SD card . Power off, remove card , then power on. Web UI not loading yet? Wait for the green Ambilight LEDs . Blue stopped = SSH ready; Green on = Web UI ready. Card won’t format / no FAT32 option? Try a smaller card (8–32 GB is easiest) or a different PC card reader.