How-To Monday: Update Your Xiegu G90 to the Newest Firmware (V1.81)

⚠️ Before you start: Make sure your radio is a Xiegu G90 and check which firmware it has now (Step 0 below). Updating firmware is done at your own risk. I am not responsible for any damage or problems with your equipment. This guide is current as of November 9, 2026. Always check Radioddity’s download page for the newest version before you begin.

G90 week starts today, and the first thing I do with any radio is make sure it’s running the newest firmware. For the Xiegu G90, that’s V1.81, released August 25, 2025. It’s the newest version on Radioddity’s Xiegu download page as of this week. If your G90 is on anything older, this guide walks you through it one step at a time.

Level: Beginner to Intermediate | Time: About 30 minutes | Note: Most guides online, including Radioddity’s own, were written for older firmware. The steps are the same; just load the V1.81 files.

Watch it step by step (3 minutes)

What’s New in V1.81

Fixes no receive audio in NFM.
Fixes the antenna tuner getting stuck.
Fixes a small screen glitch on the TX ERROR message.
New ALC meter (0 to 100) that shows your mic or line-in level. For FT8 and other digital modes, keep it at or below 50.

If you skipped V1.80, you get its fixes too: better digital-mode support, a fix for the waterfall freezing, and improved receive audio.

Step 0: Check Your Version First

Press and hold FUNC, then go to menu item 10. You’ll see the version for the main unit and the display head. If both say 1.81, you’re done. Enjoy your coffee.

What You’ll Need

Your Xiegu G90
The G90’s USB firmware cable (FTDI chip). It plugs into the COMM jacks on the radio.
A Windows computer. On a Mac or Linux, see the tip at the bottom.
A steady 13.8-volt power supply, 6 amps or more. Don’t do this on a low battery.
The V1.81 firmware and the cable driver: both are free on Radioddity’s Xiegu Download page. Scroll to the G90 section and download Xiegu G90 Firmware V1.81 (BASE+APP). If your computer doesn’t see the cable, grab the USB Cable Driver (FTDI) from the same list.
Tera Term: the free program that sends the firmware to the radio. Download it from the official Tera Term home page. Pick the Windows installer (the .exe file) and install it like any other program.

Step 1: Download and Unzip V1.81

Download Xiegu G90 FW V1.81 and unzip it to a folder you can find, like your Desktop. Inside are two firmware files: one for the main unit (the radio body) and one for the display head. You’ll load both.

Step 2: Find Your COM Port

Plug the cable into your computer. Open Device Manager and look under Ports (COM & LPT). Write down the COM number, like COM6. If nothing shows up, install the cable driver from the Radioddity page and try again.

Step 3: Set Up Tera Term

Open Tera Term and pick Serial with your COM port.
Go to Setup > Serial port and set the speed to 115200. Click OK.

Step 4: Update the Main Unit

With the radio off, plug the cable into the COMM jack on the back of the main unit.
Click in the Tera Term window. Hold the space bar on your computer and turn the radio on. A menu appears in Tera Term.
Press 1 for Update FW. Wait for Wait FW File. The main unit menu has a short countdown, so be ready.
Go to File > Transfer > XMODEM > Send. Check the 1K box, pick the main unit file and click Open.
When the transfer finishes, turn the radio off, unplug the power, count to five, and plug it back in.

Step 5: Update the Display Head

Move the cable to the lower jack on the left side of the display head. Do the same steps again, but pick the display file this time. The display waits for you, so there’s no countdown. If your display’s serial number starts with V, hold the volume knob in while you turn the radio on instead of using the space bar.

Step 6: Check It Worked

Power the radio off and on again, hold FUNC, and go to menu 10. Both lines should now show 1.81. Tune around a band and make sure everything sounds right.

Gotchas

Forgot the 1K box. This is the big one. Without it, the update fails or the screen goes blank. Don’t panic. Start over from the menu with 1K checked and it will load.
“LOST COMM” on the radio. That’s normal during the update. Ignore it and let the transfer finish.
Files disappeared. Some antivirus programs remove the firmware or Tera Term files. Download them again from Radioddity’s page.
Write down your settings. Jot down your favorite frequencies and settings before you start, just in case anything resets.
Mac or Linux? Tera Term is Windows only. A free tool called g90updatefw does the same job on Mac, Linux and Raspberry Pi.

Your Turn

What firmware was your G90 on before you updated? Tell me in the comments, and ask any G90 question there too. Tomorrow we’ll put that freshly updated radio to work with the built-in antenna tuner. Shopping for a G90? Use code KN4YZY at Radioddity to save $15. Every guide is on the Weekly How-To page.

Disclaimer: This guide is for information only and is shared as-is. Before you update, confirm your radio model and check which firmware it has now. Firmware updates are done at your own risk, and I am not responsible for any damage, data loss or problems with your equipment. The information here is current as of the date this post was published (November 9, 2026). Xiegu and Radioddity may release newer firmware or change their steps, so always follow the instructions that come with the firmware you download.

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