Downgrading RouterOS

You can downgrade RouterOS, but only until the factory-installed version, which you can check with the following command:

/system/resource/print

          uptime: 1w1d11h11m1s
         version: 7.23.1 (stable)
      build-time: Jan/01/2026 11:11:11
factory-software: 7.20.8

warning

The factory-software version is the absolute oldest release supported by your hardware's bootloader. Attempting to install a version older than this can cause severe system instability or brick the device.

Pre-Downgrade Checklist

• Back up everything. Configuration syntax changes between major versions. A direct downgrade can corrupt settings. Always generate a binary backup (.backup) and an export file (.rsc) before proceeding.
• Security and stability. Keep in mind that reverting to legacy versions exposes your router to older software bugs and patched security vulnerabilities.

Step-by-Step Downgrade Procedure

1. Verify architecture. Check your device's architecture type via /system/resource/print (look for the architecture field, e.g., arm64, mipsbe, mmips).

2. Download packages. Download the "Extra packages" or main bundle zip corresponding to that exact architecture and your targeted older version from the MikroTik download page.

3. Upload files. Connect to your router via WinBox, WebFig, or an FTP client, open the Files menu, and upload all the required .npk files.

4. Execute downgrade. Run the downgrade sequence from the terminal:

   /system/package/downgrade

5. Reboot. Confirm the action when prompted. Issue /system/reboot to restart the router — it will unpack the older version and come back online with the downgrade complete.

After the reboot, verify the new version by running /system/resource/print and confirming that the version field reflects the expected downgrade target.