How to Update Your Brother Embroidery Machine

On this page (10 sections)

1. Which Brother embroidery machines can update without a computer?
2. How do you find the right update for your model?
3. How do you update a Brother embroidery machine over wireless LAN?
4. How do you update with a USB drive instead?
5. What should you do before starting the update?
6. Which machines make updating easiest?
7. How do you confirm the update worked?
8. What goes wrong most often?
9. How often should you update your Brother embroidery machine?
10. Quick recap for your next update

How to update my Brother embroidery machine comes down to one path: get the update file for your exact model, move it to the machine over wireless LAN or USB, and let the machine install it. The machine itself doesn't fetch updates on its own.

Start by confirming your model number, then find its support page. The steps below cover the wireless route most current Brother embroidery machines use, plus the USB fallback for models without a network connection.

Which Brother embroidery machines can update without a computer?

Wireless LAN models can receive update files without a cable. The Brother SE700, PE545 and PE900 all connect to a wireless network, and Brother's Design Database Transfer software sends files from a PC to the machine over that connection.

That same wireless link is how these machines receive firmware updates when Brother releases them. You still need a computer or phone to download the file first; the machine only handles the transfer and install.

Older or entry-level Brother embroidery machines often lack wireless and rely on a USB port instead. Check your manual's connectivity section before you plan the update, because the route changes the steps.

The SE700 adds sewing to embroidery in one unit, while the PE545 and PE900 are embroidery-only. That difference matters for firmware: a combo machine's update can touch sewing stitches and embroidery together, so read the notes on the update page.

How do you find the right update for your model?

Search Brother's support site by your exact model number, not by series name. Brother lists firmware and software updates per model, and a file for the PE900 won't load on a PE545.

Look for a downloads or support section, then enter the model. The page shows the current firmware version and any update file with release notes.

Compare the version on the page with the version shown on your machine's screen. Many Brother machines display firmware under a settings or machine-info menu; your manual names the exact menu path.

If the versions match, you're already current and there's nothing to install. If the page shows a newer version, download the file and read the install instructions before touching the machine.

Write down your current version first. That number is how you confirm the update worked, and it's what support will ask for if something goes wrong.

How do you update a Brother embroidery machine over wireless LAN?

Connect the machine to your wireless network, download the update on your computer, and send it across. Brother's update instructions for wireless models walk through each screen in order.

1. Turn the machine on and join it to your Wi-Fi network from the settings menu. Enter the password with the touchscreen.
2. On your computer, download the update file from Brother's support page for your model.
3. Use Design Database Transfer or the update tool Brother names on that page to send the file to the machine.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to start the install and keep the machine idle.
5. Wait for the confirmation screen, then check the version number again.

Keep the machine plugged into a wall outlet for the whole process. A battery backup or surge strip that can cut out mid-write is worse than no protection at all.

The SE700's wireless setup also feeds the Artspira app and Design Database Transfer, so if you already send designs that way, the network side is done. The same is true on the PE545 and PE900.

How do you update with a USB drive instead?

Copy the update file to a USB drive, plug it into the machine's USB port, and start the update from the screen. This is the fallback for models without wireless, and it works on wireless models too when the network is unreliable.

Format the drive the way Brother's instructions specify. Put the update file at the top level of the drive, not inside a folder, unless the instructions say otherwise.

Plug the drive into the port with the machine on and idle. The screen should offer the update or show the file; select it and follow the prompts.

Don't remove the drive while the update runs. The machine reads from it during the install, and pulling it early can stop the process partway.

When the screen confirms completion, unplug the drive and restart the machine if it asks. Then check the firmware version to be sure the new one took.

What should you do before starting the update?

Back up your designs and note your settings first. An update changes firmware, and a clean backup means you can restore anything the process resets.

Move designs you want to keep onto a USB drive or into Design Database Transfer on your computer. Save any custom stitch settings you rely on.

Clear the needle plate and bobbin area, and remove the hoop. The machine should sit idle with no design loaded and no stitching in progress.

Leave the machine connected to power and don't touch the screen once the install starts. Brother's steps are strict about not interrupting the process for good reason.

If the machine has been sitting unused for months, run it briefly first so you know it powers on and responds normally before you change its firmware.

Which machines make updating easiest?

The PE900 is the simplest to keep current among the three, because its wireless LAN and 3.7-inch touchscreen make both the network setup and the version check straightforward. The 3.7-inch touchscreen shows the prompts clearly and confirms the version when the install ends.

The SE700 is the pick if you want one machine for sewing and embroidery, and its wireless LAN means updates travel the same way as designs. It has a 4 x 4 inch embroidery field and 135 built-in designs.

The PE545 is the budget-minded embroidery-only option, and its wireless LAN and USB port give you two ways to update. It also carries 135 built-in designs and a 4 x 4 inch field.

Our Brother Skitch embroidery machine review covers how the app-first Skitch handles design transfer differently from these three. If you're still deciding between brands, Janome vs Brother embroidery machines compares how each brand handles software and updates.

How do you confirm the update worked?

Check the firmware version on the machine's screen and compare it with the version Brother lists. A matching number means the install finished.

Run a small test design or a few stitches to confirm the machine behaves normally. If the screen still shows the old version, repeat the steps and confirm you used the file for your exact model.

Keep the update file on your computer or drive for a while. If you need to reinstall or roll back, having the file ready saves a second download.

Note the date and version in your machine's manual or a note on your phone. That record tells you when the next update is worth checking for.

If the screen freezes or shows an error, stop and contact Brother support with your model number and the version you were installing. Don't keep retrying the same file without checking it downloaded completely.

What goes wrong most often?

The two most common snags are the wrong file and an interrupted install. Both are avoidable with a little care before you start.

The wrong file happens when someone grabs an update for a similar model. Always match the model number exactly, including any suffix.

An interrupted install usually means the power dropped or the machine was switched off. Keep the cord secure and don't use the machine during the update.

A failed wireless transfer is the third snag. If the file won't send over Wi-Fi, try the USB route, or move the machine closer to the router before trying again.

Finally, a partial download can look complete but fail to install. Delete the file and download it again if the machine rejects it.

How often should you update your Brother embroidery machine?

Check for updates when you set the machine up and again a few times a year. Brother releases firmware when it fixes bugs or adds features, and there's no fixed schedule.

A good habit is to check before a big project rather than mid-way through one. Updates rarely arrive at a convenient moment, so a quick version check is easier than discovering a bug during a long stitch-out.

Wireless models make the check easy because the network setup is already in place. If you keep the machine connected, sending an update file takes minutes.

Don't update in the middle of a deadline project unless the release notes mention a fix you need. A stable machine that stitches well is better than a fresh firmware you haven't tried.

When you do update, follow the steps above, confirm the version, and run a test design before starting the real work.

Quick recap for your next update

For anyone searching how to update my Brother embroidery machine, the model's support page is the starting point, and wireless LAN or USB is how the file gets there. Match the file to your exact model, back up designs, keep the power on, and confirm the version afterward.

If you're shopping for a machine that makes updates easy, the wireless SE700, PE545 and PE900 all connect without a cable. Our guide to the best Brother embroidery machines compares them for beginners.

A sturdy embroidery machine table also helps once the update is done and you're ready to stitch.

Frequently asked questions

How do I update my Brother embroidery machine?

Download the update file for your exact model from Brother's support page, put it on a USB drive or send it over wireless LAN as the instructions say, then run the update on the machine. Leave it plugged in and don't switch it off until the screen confirms the new version.

How long does a Brother embroidery machine update take?

Plan for several minutes, and longer if the file is large. Brother's update steps tell you not to interrupt the process, so set aside time when you won't need the machine.

The screen shows progress and confirms when the update finishes.

What happens if I turn the machine off during an update?

Switching off mid-update can leave the firmware incomplete and the machine unusable until it's recovered. Keep the power cord connected, avoid the power switch, and wait for the confirmation screen.

If the update stalls, contact Brother support rather than pulling the plug.

Does updating erase my saved embroidery designs?

Brother's update instructions describe firmware changes, and saved designs and settings sit in the machine's memory. Follow the steps exactly, and note any custom settings before you start so you can restore them afterward if the update resets them.