A command-line system daemon to allow session software to update certain devices' firmwares.
Publisher’s description
What is fwupd?
fwupd by The fwupd team is open-source Windows software in the drivers & hardware category. It is written in C. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 64-bit Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.1.1, released on March 12, 2026. The version history goes back to February 26, 2026: 2 releases, all linked to the official files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (fwupd/fwupd) has 4,204 stars. Similar programs include Dell Command | Update, Barrier and Dokan Library.
Project description on GitHub: “A system daemon to allow session software to update firmware”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Also runs on Linux
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: fwupd is an open-source drivers & hardware tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is fwupd safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
5A95AA55289AED2CA75C6F59AF133D19267337F7BBAF02341C0904FC64877FEC· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the fwupd/fwupd repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 23, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- Dependency update tool10
- Security policy10
- No binaries in the repository10
- No known vulnerabilities10
- Fuzzing10
- Published packages10
- Licence declared10
- Static code analysis10
- Tests in CI10
- Contributors from several organisations10
- Signed releases8
- Branch protection8
- Pinned dependencies7
- Code review6
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge5
- No dangerous workflows0
- Restricted token permissions0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 2 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1.1Latest | March 12, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
| 2.0.20 | February 26, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id fwupd.fwupd -emsiexec /i fwupd-2.1.1-setup-x86_64.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {76493109-E6AB-5C48-940D-49544A688596} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install fwupdflatpak install flathub org.freedesktop.fwupdInformation
- Publisher
- The fwupd team
- Category
- Drivers & hardware
- Licence
- LGPL-2.1
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/fwupd/fwupd
- Written in
- C
- Content rating
- 13+
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 2.1.1
- Released
- March 12, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 2, 2026
- Versions listed
- 2
- GitHub stars
- 4,204
- GitHub forks
- 647
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- fwupd.fwupd
- MSI product code
- {76493109-E6AB-5C48-940D-49544A688596}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to fwupd
See all ›-
Dell Command | Update5.7.0Dell Command Update is a stand-alone application for systems that provides updates for system software that is released by Dell. This application simplifies the BIOS, firmware, driver, and application update experience for Dell client hardware.Proprietary33.9M ↓ -
Open source55.9K ↓ -
Open source42.1K ↓ -
Display Driver Uninstaller18.1.5.3Display Driver Uninstaller is a driver removal utility that can help you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL graphics card drivers and packages from your system, trying to remove all leftovers (including registry keys, folders and files, driver store).Open source120K ↓ -
Open source10.2K ↓ -
Driver Store Explorer1.0.36Makes it easier to deal with Windows' driver store. Supported operations include to list/add/install/delete third-party driver packages.Open source20K ↓ -
Open source82.1K ↓ -
Open source46K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is fwupd free?
Yes. fwupd is open-source software under the LGPL-2.1 licence.
Is fwupd safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install fwupd with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can fwupd be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does fwupd run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of fwupd?
The versions page lists all 2 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 26, 2026.
What are alternatives to fwupd?
Dell Command | Update, Barrier, Dokan Library, Display Driver Uninstaller and g-helper. The alternatives page compares them.
