The device was saved from obscurity by the community at the EEVblog Forum.
A user named "feaser" (and later contributors like "painless" and others) reverse-engineered the hardware. They discovered that while the hardware was decent, the firmware was poorly optimized.
FNIRSI did something rare: they listened. The 1014D’s firmware updates didn’t just patch holes; they rebuilt the user experience. Yes, the update process is archaic. Yes, there are still weird UI quirks. But for $180, a scope that gets better over time via free updates is a miracle.
Just don’t sneeze while that white progress bar is moving.
Rating after firmware update: 4.2/5
Rating before firmware update: 2.8/5
Pro tip: After updating, do a “Factory Reset” from the menu. Trust me. It clears out corrupted old configs that cause the new firmware to glitch.
Leo sat in his cluttered workshop, the smell of solder and ozone thick in the air. On his bench lay his trusty FNIRSI-1014D, a budget-friendly powerhouse that had seen him through dozens of projects. Lately, though, it had been acting up—a bit of lag here, a flickering waveform there. He knew it was time for a firmware update, but the prospect always made him a little nervous.
He pulled up the FNIRSI support page on his laptop. Navigating the site, he found the latest update file: FSI-1014.bin. With a click, the small file began to download.
Leo reached for a USB cable—the unusual "A" to "A" type required for this specific device. He clicked the oscilloscope's power button and navigated through the digital menu: MENU > USB export.
"Alright, let's see," Leo muttered. A new drive appeared on his computer screen. He followed the community advice he’d read: he carefully deleted all the old files from the oscilloscope’s internal storage to make room for the new.
He dragged the FSI-1014.bin file onto the now-empty drive. It was a tiny file, and the transfer bar finished in a blink. He safely ejected the drive—a crucial step he never skipped—and unplugged the USB cable.
Now for the moment of truth. Leo toggled the power switch: Off, then On.
The screen flickered. The FNIRSI logo appeared once, then twice. Suddenly, a horizontal progress bar stretched across the 7-inch display. Leo held his breath. For twenty long seconds, the bar crawled toward the finish line.
The device rebooted itself. The screen glowed a crisp, steady blue. Leo hooked up a probe to the built-in signal generator and watched a perfect, sharp square wave bloom on the display. No lag, no flicker.
"Good as new," he smiled, already reaching for his next project. 🛠️ Quick Summary of the Process
If you're looking to update your own FNIRSI-1014D, here is the standard workflow:
Download: Get the latest FSI-1014.bin from the official FNIRSI website.
Connect: Use a USB-A to USB-A cable and set the scope to USB Export mode in the menu.
Clean: Delete existing files on the oscilloscope's internal drive before copying the new one.
Transfer: Copy the .bin file to the device and eject safely.
Install: Unplug the USB, power the unit off, and then back on. The update will run automatically.
⚠️ Warning: Ensure your power source is stable. A power loss during the 20-second update bar can brick the device. If your screen appears shifted or distorted after the update, you may have used the wrong firmware version for your specific screen hardware.
Are you currently experiencing an error (like a shifted screen or "SD error")?
To update the firmware of your FNIRSI-1014D Go to product viewer dialog for this item. fnirsi-1014d firmware update
, you generally need to place a specifically named file on the device's internal storage and restart it. While official support can sometimes be inconsistent, community members and technical forums like EEVblog have documented the process extensively. Latest Known Version
As of April 2026, the most recent stable official firmware version for the remains v3.0 (often dated around October 2021). Firmware Update Procedure
Obtain the Firmware: Download the latest firmware file, typically named FSI-1014.bin, from the FNIRSI Software Download page or community-verified links. Connect to PC : Connect your FNIRSI-1014D to your computer using a USB "A" to "A" cable.
Enable USB Export: On the oscilloscope, go to MENU → USB export. The device should appear on your computer as an approximately 8GB external drive.
Transfer the File: Copy the FSI-1014.bin file directly to the root directory of this drive.
Safety First: Eject or unmount the drive properly from your PC to ensure the file is fully written.
Initiate Update: Disconnect the USB cable, turn the oscilloscope off, and then back on. The device will detect the update file at startup, display a progress bar for about 20 seconds, and then reboot automatically. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Screen Shift/Offset: There are two different screen hardware versions for the
. If your screen appears shifted or distorted after an update, you likely need the "other" version of the v3.0 firmware provided by FNIRSI to match your specific display.
Black Screen/Non-Booting: If the device fails to boot after a bad update, some users recommend opening the device to manually format the internal SD card or using a firmware loader tool to restore the original data.
Alternative Firmware: For advanced users, open-source reverse-engineered firmware exists on GitHub, which sometimes offers improved features like custom boot loaders.
The FNIRSI-1014D Go to product viewer dialog for this item. provides a robust firmware update system that allows you to easily refresh the internal software via a simple USB drag-and-drop process. Core Update Features
Dual Screen Compatibility: Official updates typically include two .bin files to support the different LCD screens used in production. If your screen appears shifted after an update, you simply load the other version to fix it.
Safety Net: Loading the "wrong" official version will not brick your device; it only causes a display offset that is reversible by reflashing.
Automatic Installation: Once the FSI-1014.bin file is copied to the internal storage and the device is power-cycled, it automatically detects and installs the update. Latest Version & Source
Current Stable: The most recent official version is V3.0 (dated Oct 6, 2021).
Official Downloads: Files are available on the FNIRSI Software Download Page.
Community Enhancements: If you are looking for advanced features, the pecostm32 GitHub repository offers open-source alternative firmware that includes a bootloader for switching between multiple firmware versions. Update Steps
Connect the oscilloscope to your PC via a USB "A to A" cable.
In the device menu, select MENU > USB export to make it appear as a drive. Copy the FSI-1014.bin file to the drive root.
Eject the drive, disconnect, and power cycle the device to begin the 20-second installation.
Example SD card root:
E:\1014D_MCU_V1.0.4.bin
E:\1014D_FPGA_V1.0.4.bin
If your update is a single
.zip: extract first. Do NOT copy the.zip. The device was saved from obscurity by the
| Step | Action |
|------|--------|
| ☐ | Backup current firmware version (photo of system info) |
| ☐ | Format SD card FAT32 / 4096 bytes |
| ☐ | Copy .bin files to root (no folders) |
| ☐ | Power scope OFF |
| ☐ | Insert SD card |
| ☐ | Hold correct button (Menu = MCU / Run/Stop = FPGA) |
| ☐ | Power ON while holding |
| ☐ | Wait for completion (do NOT touch) |
| ☐ | Remove SD card after reboot |
| ☐ | Verify version numbers |
The latest official firmware for the FNIRSI-1014D is version 3.0, which is designed to fix various bugs and display issues .
⚠️ Critical Warning: There are two different hardware versions of the 1014D due to different LCD manufacturers . If you install the wrong firmware version, your screen may shift to the left or right . If this happens, you must re-flash using the alternative version of the firmware file . 🛠️ Update Procedure
Download: Get the firmware files from the FNIRSI Official Download Page .
Connect: Plug the oscilloscope into your PC via a USB cable.
Export USB: On the device menu, select the USB Export option .
Prepare Drive: A new drive will appear on your PC. Delete all existing files on this drive first .
Copy File: Paste the new firmware file (e.g., FSI-1014.bin) onto the cleaned drive .
Restart: Disconnect the USB cable, power the device off, and then power it back on .
Auto-Update: The update routine will run automatically and typically finishes in under 2 minutes . 📂 Alternative & Recovery Options FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial
To update the firmware on your FNIRSI-1014D digital oscilloscope, follow these steps to ensure a safe and successful installation. Note that using the wrong firmware file can cause display issues like a shifted screen. Preparation Download the Firmware : Visit the FNIRSI Software Downloads page or the Manuals & Firmwares section to find the latest official Verify File Name : The firmware file must be named FSI-1014.bin for the device to recognize it during startup. Hardware Connection
: Use a high-quality Micro USB data cable to connect the oscilloscope to your PC. Update Procedure Enter USB Export Mode Turn on the oscilloscope. Navigate to the menu and select the USB Export USB Connection Access the Drive
Your computer will recognize the device as a removable USB flash drive. Open the drive and delete all existing files to ensure a clean install. Transfer the Firmware FSI-1014.bin file onto the oscilloscope's drive. Finalize the Update Safely eject the USB drive and unplug the cable. the oscilloscope. the device again. The system will automatically detect the
file, verify its integrity, and write the new firmware to the internal FLASH memory. This usually takes less than one minute. Alternative: Open-Source Firmware For advanced users looking for extra features, there is an open-source project GitHub (pecostm32)
that offers alternative firmware and a bootloader. This allows for a startup menu to choose between different firmware versions. FNIRSI-1014D FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial 3 Jun 2021 —
The FNIRSI-1014D firmware update process involves manually transferring a FSI-1014.bin file from a PC to the oscilloscope while it is in a specific USB export mode. Users should be cautious, as installing the wrong version of the V3.0 firmware can cause the screen to shift or display parameters to become obscured due to different hardware screen versions used in manufacturing. Essential Update Steps
Obtain Firmware: Download the latest file from the FNIRSI Support Page. If the link is broken, some users have successfully edited the URL or contacted FNIRSI support directly for the file.
Connect to PC: Use a USB data cable to connect the oscilloscope to your computer.
Enter USB Export Mode: In the oscilloscope's menu, select the USB export option. The device will appear as a new drive on your PC.
Prepare the Drive: Delete all existing files from the oscilloscope's drive before copying the new FSI-1014.bin file into it.
Initiate Update: Safely disconnect the USB cable and power the device off. Turn it back on to trigger the automated installation. Troubleshooting & Known Risks
Screen Shift Issues: If your display shifts to the left or right after updating, you likely installed the version intended for a different screen hardware. Re-running the update with the "other" version of the firmware typically fixes this.
Hardware Variants: Early units often had bugs like inverted channel coupling indicators or incorrect measurement values, which newer firmware seeks to correct. Example SD card root: E:\1014D_MCU_V1
Alternative Solutions: For advanced users, there are community efforts on GitHub dedicated to reverse-engineering the firmware to fix deep-seated bugs.
Power Stability: Avoid updating if your power source is unstable. Some users reported "crazy" voltage readings that were actually caused by ground loops from shared USB power supplies rather than firmware errors. FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial
The FNIRSI-1014D firmware update process is generally straightforward but requires specific file handling to avoid common display issues. This guide summarizes the official procedure and provides solutions for the frequent "shifted screen" problem encountered by many users. Quick Update Guide
The official method involves transferring a binary file to the device's internal storage: Acquire Firmware : Visit the official FNIRSI support section
or contact their support directly to obtain the latest firmware file, typically named FSI-1014.bin Connect to PC
: Power on the oscilloscope and connect it to your computer via USB. Select the USB export option from the device's menu to mount it as a drive. Prepare Storage Access the newly appeared drive on your PC. Crucial Step
: Back up any existing files, then delete everything from the drive to ensure a clean installation. Transfer File : Copy your FSI-1014.bin file into the root directory of the device drive. Unplug the USB cable safely. Power the device
The system automatically detects the file at startup and begins the update, which usually takes less than a minute. Troubleshooting: The "Shifted Screen" Issue
A common problem after updating is the screen content shifting to the left or right, leaving part of the interface cut off.
: FNIRSI used two different screen hardware versions for the 1014D. Each version requires a specific variation of the firmware.
: If your screen is shifted, you have installed the version meant for the other hardware. You must find the alternative V3.0 firmware file and repeat the update process. Advanced Alternatives
For experienced users, there are community-driven projects focused on the 1014D: Custom Firmware : There is ongoing reverse engineering on EEVblog to develop more reliable, feature-rich firmware. Hardware Recovery
: If your device is bricked, some users suggest using a Linux-based environment to write to sector 16 of the internal SD card directly via a card reader. finding the specific links
to the alternative screen-version firmware files or the latest EEVblog community builds FNIRSI 1014D - How to do a Firmaware Upgrade Tutorial
The FNIRSI-1014D is a popular, budget-friendly, dual-channel handheld oscilloscope. Its firmware story is a classic example of the open-source hardware community clashing with the realities of budget Chinese manufacturing.
Here is the full story of the FNIRSI-1014D firmware situation, broken down into the key phases: the "Paperweight" era, the Community Resurrection, and the official update wars.
Absolutely yes—if you are on version 1.0.2 or earlier.
The jump from 1.0.2 to 1.0.5 transforms the 1014D from a “glorified toy” into a “serious hobbyist tool.” The cursor lag fix is non-negotiable.
But hold off if you are on 1.0.4. The only major change in 1.0.5 is a “bug fix for waveform saving” and the slower button repeat. You aren’t missing much.
There is a cult following for the FNIRSI-1014D that has produced custom firmware. Notably, the envox and open-dso projects offer enhanced features like higher FFT bins, network streaming, and bug fixes that FNIRSI has ignored.
Warning: Flashing third-party firmware voids your warranty and carries a bricking risk. However, if you are adventurous, these projects often provide superior performance. Always read the project's hardware compatibility matrix.
The FNIRSI-1014D has taken the DIY electronics and professional repair world by storm. It is a budget-friendly, dual-channel tablet oscilloscope that packs a punch, offering a 100MHz bandwidth, a 1GS/s sampling rate, and a large 7-inch TFT LCD screen. However, like any sophisticated piece of digital measurement equipment, its performance is dictated not just by the hardware, but by the software running inside it—the firmware.
If you own a 1014D and have ever experienced a bug, a laggy interface, or wished for a new feature, you have likely stumbled upon the need for a FNIRSI-1014D firmware update. This process, while slightly different from updating a smartphone, is crucial for unlocking your oscilloscope's full potential.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know: why you should update, how to identify your hardware revision, the step-by-step flashing process, common pitfalls, and where to find reliable firmware files.
FNIRSI silently changed the internal components of the 1014D during production runs.