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How to update Concept2 PM5 firmware

By the Streaks Strokes team · 6 November 2026

The easiest way to update a Concept2 PM5 is wirelessly, with Concept2's free ErgData app on your phone. It takes about 15 minutes. If your monitor's firmware is too old for that, use the free Concept2 Utility on a Mac or PC instead, with a USB cable or a USB flash drive.

As of November 2026, the latest PM5 firmware is the May 2026 release. Its version ends in .067, for example 459.067 on the newest RowErg monitors.

Why update your PM5?

Concept2 releases new PM5 firmware a few times a year, with bug fixes and new features. The PM5 firmware timeline lists every release and what changed.

A new rower isn't necessarily up to date. A monitor gets its firmware when it's made, and rowers can sit in a warehouse or a shop for a while before they're sold. So a brand-new PM5 can be running firmware that's months old. It's worth checking even if you've only just unpacked it.

Some fixes matter mid-row. The May 2026 release "Resolved issues with PM5 freeze up during transmission of force curve data", in Concept2's words. On older firmware, a rowing app that asks the monitor for its force curve over Bluetooth can make it freeze in the middle of a piece.

Check which firmware you have

1. Press any button to turn on the PM5.
2. Choose More Options → Utilities → More Utilities → Product ID. On older firmware, Product ID may be straight under Utilities instead.
3. The firmware version is the top line, labelled PM Firmware Version, for example 459.067.

The number before the dot depends on the monitor's hardware, so two up-to-date PM5s can show different versions, such as 262.067 and 459.067. The number after the dot goes up with each release. Compare yours with the latest for its range:

From Concept2's timeline as of 6 November 2026. The oldest monitors (0 to 39) weren't part of the May 2026 release. SkiErg and BikeErg monitors have their own ranges, listed on the timeline.

Before you start

• Save your workouts. If you have workouts stored on the monitor, Concept2 recommends sending them to your Online Logbook before you update.
• Leave time for it. The update takes several minutes. Keep the monitor on and leave it alone until it's back at the Main Menu.

Option 1: Update wirelessly with ErgData (easiest)

Concept2 explains this in their post on wireless updates. In short:

1. Get the latest ErgData. It's free for iPhone and Android. If you already have it, update it first.
2. Close any other rowing app. A PM5 connects to one app at a time, so ErgData needs to be the only one. If you use Streaks Strokes, swipe it away (left in the background, it lets go of the PM5 after two minutes).
3. Connect to your PM5 in ErgData. If an update is available, ErgData tells you.
4. Tap the PM5 ID, then More Info, and tap Update.
5. Wait. It takes about 15 minutes, possibly a little longer the first time. ErgData shows the time remaining.
6. Tap OK when it's done.

If your firmware is too old to update wirelessly, ErgData tells you to use the Concept2 Utility instead (option 2 or 3).

Option 2: The Concept2 Utility with a USB cable

You need a Mac running macOS 12 or later, or a PC running 64-bit Windows 10 or later, and a USB cable that fits your monitor. Newer PM5s have a USB-C port, and older ones take a USB-B plug (the square kind printers use). This is also the method to use if your firmware is very old: version 12 or earlier on a RowErg.

1. Download and install the free Concept2 Utility, then open it.
2. Plug the PM5 into your computer and wait for CONNECTED to show in the green box.
3. Click Update Firmware. The Utility checks your monitor and shows whether an update is available.
4. Click Install followed by the version number, and wait. It takes several minutes, with a progress bar.

Streaks Strokes

Reads your PM5's firmware when it connects, and shows its version and anything unavailable on it.

Option 3: The Concept2 Utility with a USB flash drive

This only works on a PM5 with a USB-A port (the usual rectangular kind). USB-C flash drives aren't compatible. The drive needs to be:

• USB 2.0 or 3.1, and 16GB or smaller
• formatted as FAT or FAT32, not exFAT or NTFS
• used only for your Concept2 equipment, with nothing else on it

1. The first time you use the drive, set it up on the PM5: press Menu to turn the monitor on, plug in the drive and wait 10 to 15 seconds. Give the USB Logbook a name with the arrow and +/- keys, press the checkmark, then take the drive out. Skip this step next time.
2. On your computer, open the Concept2 Utility and choose Update Firmware → PM5. Plug in the drive, choose Install Release Firmware, and eject the drive when it's finished.
3. Back on the PM5, press Menu, plug in the drive and wait 10 to 15 seconds. When it asks, choose Update Now, then Update Now again.
4. Wait several minutes. The update is finished when the monitor shows the Main Menu.

The full details are on Concept2's firmware page.

Afterwards

Check the version on the Product ID screen again. If it hasn't changed, run the update again or try another method.

Firmware and Streaks Strokes

Streaks Strokes works with any PM5 firmware. When it connects, it reads the monitor's firmware version, and it only asks for the force curve on the May 2026 release or later. On older firmware, or if it can't read the version, it leaves the force curve off so the monitor doesn't freeze. Everything else works as normal.

The force curve shows live beside your stats during most workouts, and as the average force curve on Workout Complete. On older firmware, those two are left out.

To see what your monitor has, open Settings → Connected Rowers and tap your rower. Its page shows the firmware version, and if a feature isn't available, it says "Some features are unavailable on this monitor's firmware." Tap Firmware to see which ones and why. After an update, connect again and tap Firmware: on new enough firmware, it says everything the app uses is available.

More guides

• How to connect a Concept2 PM5 to your iPhone and Apple Health
• How to pair a heart rate monitor to a Concept2 PM5
• Streaks Strokes support and FAQ

Streaks Strokes

A rowing app for iPhone and Apple Watch that connects to your Concept2 PM5. Free to download, no subscription.