Can't update Retimer firmware (Intel Ultra Series 1)

Device Information

System Model or SKU

Framework Laptop 13 (Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 1)

BIOS VERSION

3.03

DIY Edition information

Memory: Crucial 2x32Go 5600MHz (CT2K32G56C46S5)
Storage: Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB

Standalone Operation

No

Describe the bug

Cannot do step 2 of the 3.04 BIOS upgrade process (step 1 was successful).

Update Failed!!!
EFI ERROR CODE: 07
Firmware update failed!!!

Retimer stuck on version CF.

Steps To Reproduce

Ran Step2_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port01_624.exe

Expected behavior

I expected the update to be successful.

Screenshots

Operating System (please complete the following information):

OS/Distribution: Windows 11
Version: 22631.4890

What expansion cards have you got plugged in on the right side while doing the update?
Could you try again, unplugging them before you start the update?

What expansion cards have you got plugged in on the right side while doing the update? Could you try again, unplugging them before you start the update?

I had no expansion cards plugged except for the one for power on the left side. I also tried both sides.

Do you update the retimer firmware based on BIOS 3.03?

Do you update the retimer firmware based on BIOS 3.03?

Since I did step one successfully, my bios is 3.03 (was 3.01 before step one)

It is the known issue in previous BIOS version. System may report the device error when update the retimer.
If you want to do the retimer update, we suggest to use the latest version 3.09, which has the fixed for retimer update.
Since the BIOS version is 3.03 on your system, you need to update to 3.06 first, then update to 3.09.

However, the retimer update is optional, if you don't have any problem with tbt ports, you can ignore the retimer update.

It is the known issue in previous BIOS version. System may report the device error when update the retimer. If you want to do the retimer update, we suggest to use the latest version 3.09, which has the fixed for retimer update. Since the BIOS version is 3.03 on your system, you need to update to 3.06 first, then update to 3.09.

There are no such thing as 3.06 and 3.09 for Framework Laptop 13 Intel Core Ultra Series 1.
3.04 is the latest available BIOS firmware as seen here.

Also the instructions are clear:

Run the following updates in sequence. After each file is run your system will automatically restart.

Step1_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.03.exe

Step2_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port01_624.exe

Step3_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port23_624.exe

Step4_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.04.exe

However, the retimer update is optional, if you don't have any problem with tbt ports, you can ignore the retimer update.

Since upgrading to 3.03, I'm having an issue where the power led blink between white and orange while plugged in.

I want to know from the Framework team if it's safe to upgrade to 3.04 directly if the step 2 and 3 are failing (Retimer updates that won't work) if we can't figure out any way to make the Retimer updates work.

I also posted about my issue here: https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-13-intel-core-ultra-series-1-bios-3-04-release/59579/33?u=vicky

Sorry, I mixed up the product categories. The issue you reported is for Ultra Series 1. Let me check again, then have the update for you.

@VickyFrenzy

@VickyFrenzy Could you help me to check the PD version in BIOS setup after you update to 3.03?

@quinchou77

@VickyFrenzy Could you help me to check the PD version in BIOS setup after you update to 3.03?

Well I'm already on 3.03 like I said and I can't reinstall 3.03 from Windows as it's saying it's already installed.

The only way I found I could attempt to reinstall 3.03 is by rewriting the startup.nsh EFI script to just start the 3.03 update (since by default the script will install 3.04 if the current version is 3.03) which I haven't tried yet except for starting the retimers updates to see if that would make a difference if it's not started from Windows but it had the exact same result.

Since I'm unsure if it's safe to skip the retimers update before updating to 3.04, I preferred to wait for advice on my situation (but most importantly truly fix my issue with the retimers updates that are failing).

Anyway @quinchou77 the BIOS is reporting version 0.0.08 for both PD controllers.

I follow the same steps to update BIOS and retimer from BIOS 3.01.

Step1_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.03.exe Success with error
Step2_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port01_624.exe Complete without error
Step3_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port23_624.exe Complete without error
Step4_Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.04.exe Success with error

Retimer f/w update is optional, so you still can update to 3.04 with PD version 0.0.0A, then update the retimer firmware if you want.

I also do the below steps to make sure the BIOS and retimer update work from BIOS 3.01.
Step1 Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.03.exe Success with error
Step2 Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_BIOS_3.04.exe Success with error
Step3 Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port01_624.exe Complete without error
Step4 Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_Series1_Retimer_port23_624.exe Complete without error

I had exactly the same issue, to solve it, I had to reset secure boot with default keys: Restore Secure Boot to factory Settings.

I had enrolled my own keys, but without including OEM firmware's built-in certificates.

I had exactly the same issue, to solve it, I had to reset secure boot with default keys: Restore Secure Boot to factory Settings.

I had enrolled my own keys, but without including OEM firmware's built-in certificates.

Sounds weird... I don't believe I have enrolled my own keys since I'm currently using Windows on this laptop but I can certainly try that...

@benjarobin

I had exactly the same issue, to solve it, I had to reset secure boot with default keys: Restore Secure Boot to factory Settings.

I had enrolled my own keys, but without including OEM firmware's built-in certificates.

Well @benjarobin, I just restored secure boot to factory settings and tried to run the update again and I'm still running into the exact same issue.

Well it looks like resetting bios settings did allow the update to succeed.

Well, the bug is still there, and still need to be fixed. It just doesn't happen when the BIOS uses the default settings. The problem is that I don't know which BIOS setting causes this bug, and since the update was done on my laptop I cannot reproduce it anymore...

I have now run into this bug. I thought I had it, but another update was triggered using the fwupdmgr automatically in Discover on Plasma, after that happened, I am unable to get any sort of display out of my left-side ports on my Framework Laptop 13.
Vendor: INSYDE Corp.
Version: 03.06
Release Date: 08/08/2025
ROM Size: 16 MB
product: Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155H
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.170.4

I updated it successfully using EFI, everything worked, then it stopped working again. I have gone through every sort of fix, retrying solutions I have read, including clearing out and disabling secure boot. At this point, I have no idea what else to do to fix this. Not being able to dock or use video out on the left side of my Framework is causing me problems.

Any idea what I can do to reset or roll back the BIOS to restore this?

@CubicleNate

@CubicleNate could you please dump your EFI variables, we can check if there is anything wrong with them:

sudo tar caf efivars-dump.tar.xz /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

I sent you an email, you can respond there if you're uncomfortable sharing this data here in public.

I sent you an email, you can respond there

Thanks received - debugging

@JohnAZoidberg

Hi @JohnAZoidberg. I also have this issue and am now unable to display on the left side of my computer as well. I used fwpdmgr to update from 3.04 to 3.06 and then from 3.06 to 3.19. I'm using the Intel 12th generation (i7-1260P) of the Laptop 13, though. All the other updates worked—I actually didn't realize this one hadn't until I kept trying to do the update and every time I booted the update was still available. Didn't see it attempt to update and fail as the others seem to have seen.

@maxtheaxe

@maxtheaxe could you please run sudo framework_tool --test-retimer and post the output, please?
It was added in version 0.5.0 in this PR: FrameworkComputer/framework-system#232

Retimer Self-Test
Retimers on PD Controller 0
In update mode: false
Enabling update mode
In update mode: true
Disabling update mode
In update mode: false
Retimers on PD Controller 1
In update mode: false
Enabling update mode
In update mode: true
Disabling update mode
In update mode: false

@CubicleNate

Thanks @CubicleNate, that's looks okay.
Enabling and disabling works correctly.

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Can't update Retimer firmware (Intel Ultra Series 1) #47

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Can't update Retimer firmware (Intel Ultra Series 1) #47

Description

Device Information

System Model or SKU

BIOS VERSION

DIY Edition information

Standalone Operation

Describe the bug

Steps To Reproduce

Expected behavior

Screenshots

Operating System (please complete the following information):

Activity

JohnAZoidberg commented on Mar 7, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Mar 10, 2025

quinchou77 commented on Mar 11, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Mar 11, 2025

quinchou77 commented on Mar 12, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Mar 12, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Mar 12, 2025

quinchou77 commented on Mar 17, 2025

quinchou77 commented on Mar 17, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Mar 17, 2025

quinchou77 commented on Mar 20, 2025

11 remaining items

benjarobin commented on Aug 20, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Aug 20, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Sep 2, 2025

VickyFrenzy commented on Sep 3, 2025

benjarobin commented on Sep 3, 2025

CubicleNate commented on Sep 15, 2025

JohnAZoidberg commented on Sep 25, 2025

JohnAZoidberg commented on Oct 21, 2025

maxtheaxe commented on Jan 29, 2026

JohnAZoidberg commented on Feb 13, 2026

CubicleNate commented on Feb 18, 2026

JohnAZoidberg commented on Feb 19, 2026

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