How to Update Your
Bambu Lab P1S Firmware
Four reliable ways to flash the latest firmware, what to do the moment it finishes, and how to rescue an update that stalls out. No fluff, just the workflow we use in the shop every week.
The P1S is a workhorse, and Bambu Lab keeps it sharp with regular firmware drops. Updates aren't just bug fixes either: recent P1 series releases have added external-spool multi-color printing, automatic filament-drying presets, chamber-light memory after power-off, and a string of security patches. Skip them long enough and you'll eventually hit "incompatible firmware" walls when slicing in Bambu Studio.
The catch with the P1S is that it has no touchscreen like its X1C sibling. You drive everything through the small screen and the physical dial, which trips up a lot of first-timers. Below are all four official update paths, ranked from easiest to most manual. Pick the one that fits your setup.
Before You Start
Two minutes of prep prevents the headaches that fill the support forums:
- Don't update mid-print. Finish or cancel any job first. The printer must be idle.
- Get on solid Wi-Fi. Most failed flashes are network drops. Weak signal at the printer is the #1 cause.
- Update your apps too. New firmware features only fully work when Bambu Studio and Bambu Handy are also current.
- Never cut power once the update begins. An interrupted flash can leave the printer non-functional.
- Block out ~15 minutes. The update itself runs 5–15 minutes depending on network speed.
Over-the-Air via the Printer Screen
The simplest path, and the one Bambu intends for most users. When your P1S is connected to Wi-Fi and signed into your Bambu account, it checks for firmware automatically.
- When an update is available, a prompt appears on the P1S screen automatically.
- Use the physical dial to highlight OK, then press in to confirm the install.
- Leave the printer alone while it downloads and flashes (5–15 minutes).
- Wait for the on-screen confirmation message, then press OK to finish.
No prompt showing up? You can force a check from the printer's Settings menu, or simply use the Bambu Handy method below to push it manually.
Bambu Handy App
The most convenient option when you're not standing at the machine. Handy talks to the printer over the cloud, so you can flash it from the couch.
- Open Bambu Handy and select your P1S from the device list.
- Go into the device settings / firmware section. A red dot or "New" tag flags an available update.
- Tap to install and keep the app open while it runs.
- If you ever need to roll back, Handy is also the only tool that can downgrade to an earlier Bambu-approved version.
Tip: if a download keeps failing, tether your phone to a mobile hotspot near the printer. The stronger, closer signal clears most stalls.
Bambu Studio (Desktop)
Already slicing at your computer? You can flash from there without touching your phone.
- Open Bambu Studio and click the Device tab to connect to your P1S.
- Open the firmware panel. Studio reports the installed version and any update available.
- Click update and let it complete; don't close Studio or sleep the computer mid-flash.
- Check the AMS firmware line here too if you run an AMS, and update it to match.
Make sure Studio itself is on a current build first. An outdated slicer sometimes won't even recognize a P1S with the enclosure upgrade flag set.
Offline microSD Update (LAN-Only / No Cloud)
Running your printer fully offline or in LAN-only mode? Bambu offers an offline package you load from the microSD card. It's the most manual route but the only one that works with zero cloud access.
- Your P1S must already be on firmware 01.07.00.00 or newer for offline updates to work. If it's older, update online once first.
- Download the official offline package from the Bambu Lab firmware page to your computer.
- Safely eject the microSD from the printer's menu first, then remove it. The P1 series card is not hot-swappable and corrupts if pulled while running.
- Copy the package onto the card, reinsert it, and follow the on-screen update prompt. Budget about 20 minutes.
Always eject the card through the menu before pulling it. Yanking a microSD mid-operation is one of the most common ways P1 owners corrupt a card, and a flaky card causes both failed updates and prints that randomly stop. If a card has been abused, just replace it; they're a couple of dollars.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Best For | Needs Internet? | Can Downgrade? |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-screen OTA | Most users, set-and-forget | Yes | No |
| Bambu Handy | Remote / phone updates | Yes (cloud) | Yes |
| Bambu Studio | People already slicing on desktop | Yes | No |
| microSD offline | LAN-only / no-cloud setups | No (offline pkg) | No |
After the Update: Power-Cycle & Calibrate
This is the step people skip and then wonder why first layers went sideways. Bambu explicitly recommends it, and so do we.
- Turn the printer off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on.
- Run a full calibration from the printer's menu or through Bambu Studio.
- This re-runs vibration compensation, flow, and bed leveling so any firmware changes take effect cleanly.
If your prints behaved differently right after a firmware update, nine times out of ten it's a skipped recalibration, not a broken update.
Don't Forget the AMS
If you run an AMS, its firmware updates alongside the printer when it's connected. After flashing, double-check the AMS firmware line in Bambu Studio or Handy to confirm it matches. A mismatched AMS is a frequent cause of filament-loading quirks that look like hardware faults but are really just a version gap.
P1S Acting Up After a Flash?
Bricked update, AMS that won't load, first layers gone wrong, or a printer that won't boot? We repair Bambu Lab printers in San Diego, including mobile on-site service. Skip the forum rabbit hole.
Request a Repair Call 858-342-6984Fixing a Failed Update
Stuck or failing before 50%
Almost always a network problem. Move the printer closer to the router, restart the router, or tether to a phone hotspot for the strongest signal. If you're using Handy, force-close and reopen the app.
Download never starts
Occasionally it's a Bambu server-side hiccup. Wait an hour and try again, or switch to the microSD offline package.
Update installed but printer won't behave / won't boot
If the flash was interrupted by a power cut, the printer can land in a non-functional state. Try a downgrade through Bambu Handy and re-update cleanly. If it won't connect at all, that's the point to stop guessing and get it looked at.
Never pull power during an update. Everything else on this list is recoverable; a hard power cut mid-flash is the failure mode that actually bricks printers.
P1S Firmware FAQ
Look in the printer's Settings menu on the screen, or connect in Bambu Studio under the Device tab. Studio shows both the printer and AMS firmware versions and flags any updates available.
No. Unlike the X1C, the P1S uses a small screen with a physical dial. You navigate firmware prompts by turning and pressing the dial, or skip the screen entirely and update from Bambu Handy or Studio.
The online update typically runs 5–15 minutes depending on your network speed. The offline microSD method takes about 20 minutes. Don't interrupt it either way.
Yes, but only through the Bambu Handy app, and only to versions Bambu Lab still allows. The on-screen and Bambu Studio methods don't offer downgrades.
Not necessarily. OTA, Handy, and Studio all need a connection, but the offline microSD package lets LAN-only and fully offline users update without cloud access, as long as the printer is already on firmware 01.07.00.00 or newer.
Usually no. Failed downloads are almost always network issues you can retry. The real risk is cutting power mid-flash. If your P1S won't boot or connect after an interrupted update, contact us at 858-342-6984 or submit a repair request at dreaming3d.net/pages/repair-request.
Bambu Service in San Diego
Dreaming3D handles Bambu Lab, Elegoo, and Creality repairs, custom prints, and printer tutoring right here in San Diego. Whether you bought your P1S from us or somewhere else, we'll keep it running.
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