A Zigbee mesh network relies heavily on the efficiency of its coordinator. Unlike the newer Thread protocol, where communication is more distributed, all Zigbee devices in your network communicate through a central coordinator. This makes the choice of coordinator crucial. The older Texas Instruments CC2531 model, once widely used, is no longer recommended. Instead, Zigbee coordinators based on Texas Instruments' CC2652 or CC1352 microcontrollers are now considered the gold standard. Like other smart home devices, your Zigbee coordinator's firmware can be updated to fix bugs and enhance performance. Regular updates are essential to keep your network running smoothly, especially as your network grows.
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Benefits of the New Firmware Update
Recently, Koenkk, the developer behind the popular Zigbee2MQTT bridge, released a firmware update for coordinators based on the aforementioned CC2652 and CC1352 chips. This update promises to improve performance for large Zigbee networks with over 100 devices by increasing request retry attempts and expanding routing table sizes.
Step-by-Step Guide to Updating the Firmware on Your CC2652/CC1352 Zigbee Adapter
Updating your Zigbee coordinator's firmware might sound intimidating, but it's a straightforward process with the right tools. This guide will walk you through each step to ensure your update goes smoothly.
1. Identify Your Zigbee Adapter Model
Before starting the firmware update, it's essential to verify the model of your Zigbee adapter. Using the incorrect firmware can damage your device, rendering it unusable. If you're unsure about your adapter's model, you can typically find the information in the port it uses within your Zigbee interface. To check this:
- Open the Zigbee2MQTT frontend.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select the Serial tab.
For example, if you're using the CC2652RB stick by slaesh, you'll need the CC2652RB firmware. Koenkk maintains a list of all tested adapters and their corresponding firmware on GitHub. Download the appropriate firmware file in a .zip
format and extract it to a folder on your computer.

2. Prepare for the Firmware Update
Before updating, it's important to shut down Zigbee2MQTT to avoid any potential errors during the process. Here’s how to prepare your Zigbee adapter:
- Unplug the Zigbee adapter from its current host (such as your smart home hub) and connect it to your PC.
- If your adapter is enclosed in a case, remove it to access the buttons.
- Press and hold the boot button on the adapter while plugging it into your PC’s USB port.
3. Update the Firmware Using ZigStar GW Multi Tool
Now that your adapter is connected to your PC in boot mode, you're ready to proceed with the firmware update:
- Launch the ZigStar GW Multi Tool.
- Click the Refresh button to detect the connected Zigbee adapter. If multiple devices appear, use the device manager to identify the correct one.
- Select the
.hex
file you extracted earlier. - Enable the Erase, Write, and Verify options. Don’t worry—erasing the firmware won’t affect your paired devices.
- Click Start to begin the update and monitor the progress bar.

4. Verify the New Firmware Installation
After the flashing process is complete, you can disconnect the adapter from your PC and reconnect it to your smart home hub. To confirm the update was successful:
- Re-launch Zigbee2MQTT.
- Open the Settings menu and navigate to the About tab.
- Check the Coordinator Revision field to confirm that the firmware version matches the one you installed.
This confirmation step ensures that the update was applied correctly and your Zigbee network is now running on the latest firmware.

Conclusion
Keeping your Zigbee coordinator firmware up to date is crucial for maintaining a robust and efficient smart home network, especially as your setup expands. With the new Z-Stack firmware from Koenkk, users with large Zigbee networks can expect improved reliability and performance. Following the steps outlined in this guide will help you smoothly update your coordinator's firmware, ensuring your Zigbee network remains responsive and stable.