RVAltCtrl keeps itself up to date over the same Wi-Fi network it already uses, with an update process designed not to leave your RVAltCtrl device in a broken state partway through. Manage everything from Settings → Firmware Update.
Automatic Updates (recommended)
Whenever a new firmware version is available, a banner appears at the top of RVAltCtrl in your browser letting you know, with an Update Now link that takes you straight to the Firmware Update page. Not ready? Tap the small X to dismiss it for a day; it comes back after 24 hours, or sooner if a still newer version shows up.
Turn on Automatically download and install updates when available on the Firmware Update page and RVAltCtrl handles the rest for you: downloading and installing new firmware on its own, without any further action from you.
Even with automatic install turned on, you'll still see a banner with a countdown once installation is imminent, so a reboot never catches you off guard in the middle of something important. Say you're deep into editing your Routines or Triggers, or you simply don't want the device to reboot right this moment. Tap Postpone right from that banner, or from the Firmware Update page, and RVAltCtrl pushes the install back so you can finish first. Keep in mind a postponed schedule restarts from the top if the device happens to reboot before the update actually installs.
Once an update actually starts, whether automatic or manual, the banner switches to a live status, showing which step is running (downloading, verifying, installing) and a progress percentage while downloading. The whole process only takes a couple of minutes. You don't have to stay on the Firmware Update page to see this, the banner shows it from anywhere in the app. You can also go to the Firmware Update page itself any time to check current status in more detail, whether an update is running right now, scheduled for later, or your device is simply up to date.
Manual Update
Most people never need this. Automatic Updates above is the recommended path for almost every situation, RVAltCtrl handles checking, downloading, and installing entirely on its own. Manual Update exists for the exceptions: your device can't reach the update server because its Wi-Fi network has no Internet access, or you've been given a specific firmware package to install, by support, for example.
To do it manually, download an encrypted firmware package for your specific device from the
my.rvaltctrl.com portal. The Firmware Update page shows your device's
Device ID, which identifies exactly which package is yours; the package is encrypted specifically
for that device and won't install on any other. Then, from the Manual Update section of the
Firmware Update page, browse for the downloaded .enc file and tap Install Firmware.
You can also check Verify only first, which decrypts and checks the package's integrity without writing it to flash or rebooting, a safe way to confirm a package is valid before committing to it. Manual Update requires a local connection to the device's own Wi-Fi network; it can't be done over a remote session, since the whole file has to pass through your connection to the device.
About the update process
RVAltCtrl installs new firmware to a separate area of storage from what's currently running, so the version you're on keeps working right up until the new one has been fully written and verified. That protects against an interrupted update leaving the device in a broken, half-updated state. Even so, it's best to avoid intentionally cutting power while an update is actually in progress. The whole process, downloading, verifying, installing, and rebooting, only takes a few minutes.
If automatic updates are enabled and you have the RVAltCtrl interface open, you'll be notified before an update begins and given a chance to postpone it, as described above. If automatic updates are disabled, RVAltCtrl simply lets you know a new version is available and leaves the choice of when to install entirely up to you.