RT-AX88U stuck on 386.2_6

[Wintermute1987]

Hey everyone,

I inherited an RT‑AX88U from a friend that’s currently running 386.2_6. When I log into the GUI, I see a yellow exclamation mark in the top‑right corner telling me there’s an update available.

But when I go to the firmware update page and click Check, nothing happens.

If I try to manually update using RT‑AX88U_3004_388.11_0_ubi from the ASUS website, it appears to install — the progress bar completes — but after that, nothing changes. The router stays on the old firmware and never actually updates.

Am I doing something wrong, or is there something special I need to do when upgrading from such an old version?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jksmurf]

Hmm… a few things going on here.

Just wanted to check first that it’s not a Pro version?

So first off the FW you’re referencing appears to be Asus Merlin FW and not ASUS. I.e. it cannot be from the Asus website as you mentioned.

This is the link to the Merlin FW for that model, date sorted. You can see the format of the FW you’re referring to in those lists. eg RT‑AX88U_3004_388.11_0

For that model, the ASUS FW is here. Their FW naming format is 3.0.0.4.388_24346 for example, very different.

So you appear to be running older 386 codebase Merlin FW.

The current 388 codebase Merlin FW is quite a bit different and you must read the readme that comes with the FW.

e.g.

NOTE: resetting to factory default after flashing is
strongly recommended for the following cases:

- Updating from a firmware version that is more than 3 releases older
- Switching from a Tomato/DD-WRT/OpenWRT firmware

If you run into any issue after an upgrade and you haven't done so,
try doing a factory default reset as well.

Always read the changelog, as mandatory resets will be mentionned
there when they are necessary.

In all of these cases, do NOT load a saved copy of your settings!
This would be the same thing as NOT resetting at all, as you will
simply re-enter any invalid setting you wanted to get rid of. Make
sure to create a new backup of your settings after reconfiguring.

So, on to your question, which is commonly asked.

If rebooting your router and doing an INTERIM 386 updates (to the last one, say), before perhaps an interim 388 one, then the final 388 one does not work, then I strongly suggest you HARD RESET (search on this procedure) your router first and then try again. Save all your settings as screenshots BEFOREHAND. As above:

1. Hard reset your router AGAIN after each of the major FW updates. Just configure it enough to be able to update it again. Suggest you download all your FW first.
2. Do NOT import an old config.

Let us know how you get on !

 

[Squall Leonhart]

You have to flash 3.0.0.4.386.45898 before you can move on to later versions if coming from 384 or prior versoins of 386, these released Octoberish 2021, so look for a Merlin version corresponding to this time period, 386.4, perhaps.

Alternatively, use recovery mode.

 

[Wintermute1987]

Hey both of you, sorry for the delay.

I hard reset the router and tried to update to https://sourceforge.net/projects/asuswrt-merlin/files/RT-AX88U/Release/RT-AX88U_386.3_0.zip/download and that did not work. Tired https://sourceforge.net/projects/asuswrt-merlin/files/RT-AX88U/Release/RT-AX88U_386.4_0.zip/download

and nothing happens. It goes to 100% and then back to the login screen. You login and you are stuck on Current Version : 386.2_6

I hard reset the router by holding down the WPS button while it was off. I set it up just as much as I had to get to the UI. Did not load any other settings.

I'm 99.9% sure I don't have a pro as it does not have 2.5 Gb.

What am I doing wrong ?

 

[Tech9]

Double check the exact router model (important, see the label), try Rescue Mode and Firmware Restoration Tool as suggested in post #3. Instructions how below. If it still doesn't work - this router has issues.

Offizieller Support | ASUS Deutschland

Das ASUS Support Center hilft Ihnen Treiber, Handbücher und Firmware-Versionen herunter zu laden. Hier finden Sie auch FAQs und Troubleshooting Hilfen

www.asus.com

 

[Wintermute1987]

Double check the exact router model (important, see the label), try Rescue Mode and Firmware Restoration Tool as suggested in post #3. Instructions how below. If it still doesn't work - this router has issues.

Offizieller Support | ASUS Deutschland

Das ASUS Support Center hilft Ihnen Treiber, Handbücher und Firmware-Versionen herunter zu laden. Hier finden Sie auch FAQs und Troubleshooting Hilfen

www.asus.com

Checked the model on the bottom. 100% a RT-AX88U.

I will try the above rescue mode a go. Am I flashing to the Firmware on ASUS website (ASUS RT-AX88U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24346) or the latest merlin (RT‑AX88U_3004_388.11_0) ?

Thanks again!

 

[Tech9]

When troubleshooting devices with issues always use the latest official firmware.

 

[bennor]

What am I doing wrong ?

Standard troubleshooting steps if you haven't tried them already.

• Try manually flashing the firmware using a different web browser.
• Temporarily disable any browser extensions or addons prior to flashing the firmware.
• Temporarily disable any security software (antivirus software, firewall software) on the computer prior to flashing.
• Make sure to use a computer wired directly to the router. Do not go through wireless extenders or similar devices, direct connection to router using Ethernet only.
• Disconnect all other devices other than the one wired computer from the router. This incudes turning off/disconnecting WiFi devices as well as wired devices.
• Reboot the router and try flashing the firmware again.
• Physically disconnect the power to the router, wait five minutes, then reconnect power to the router.
• If the computer has two (or more) network adapters (example WiFi and Ethernet), temporarily disable all but the Ethernet adapter.
• Perform a hard factory reset on the router. For the RT-AX88 hard reset, see this link: https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1039078/
• Try flashing the stock firmware for the router. Make sure to download the stock firmware from the Asus website: https://www.asus.com/us/networking-...rs/rt-ax88u/helpdesk_bios?model2Name=RT-AX88U
• If all else fails, try using the Asus Firmware Restoration Tool to flash stock Asus firmware: https://www.asus.com/us/networking-...t-ax88u/helpdesk_download?model2Name=RT-AX88U. Follow the tools directions exactly including changing the computer network address (IP address: 192.168.1.10, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0) on the computer wired directly to the router: https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1000814/

 

[visortgw]

Try installing, configuring, and running MerlinAU (menu option 8) via amtm — It has resolved countless situations for me where remote routers did not want to install an update.

 

[jksmurf]

I hard reset the router by holding down the WPS button while it was off.

Hopefully you just meant you used that method, but you didn’t elaborate what you did next so for avoidance doubt:

• Hold down the WPS button (NOT the reset button, NOT the LED button, easy to mistake) while the device is off.
• Still holding the WPS button down, turn it on.
• Wait until the power LED turns on, then wait until it goes off, release the WPS button, switch off the device, then on again (two observations here (1) sometimes the power LED comes on, becomes brighter and then turns off and (2) if you’re slow to turn it off, some other LEDs may come on, this was never an issue for me.)
• Connect and proceed to setup from scratch as normal.

You probably did all that but just in case…

 

[Wintermute1987]

Hopefully you just meant you used that method, but you didn’t elaborate what you did next so for avoidance doubt:

• Hold down the WPS button (NOT the reset button, NOT the LED button, easy to mistake) while the device is off.
• Still holding the WPS button down, turn it on.
• Wait until the power LED turns on, then wait until it goes off, release the WPS button, switch off the device, then on again (two observations here (1) sometimes the power LED comes on, becomes brighter and then turns off and (2) if you’re slow to turn it off, some other LEDs may come on, this was never an issue for me.)
• Connect and proceed to setup from scratch as normal.

You probably did all that but just in case…

Hey everyone thanks you very much for being patient and helping with this. So, an update that might be useful. I downloaded the firmware recovery tool, put the router into recovery mode, changed my IP, and it did not work. It kept saying that the router was not in recovery mode. Tried it a few times. Decided to look at the network adaptors and disabled Nord, tail scale, and any other adapters. Finally got it to upgarde to the latest asus firmware.

Should I flash to Merlin. Is it that much better ?

 

[Tech9]

Should I flash to Merlin. Is it that much better ?

Entirely up to you. If you don't need any complex VPN configurations and don't plan to run custom scripts stock Asuswrt is good enough. Asuswrt-Merlin is features expansion of stock Asuswrt.

 

[jksmurf]

Should I flash to Merlin. Is it that much better ?

What @Tech9 said.

Better at what? It will not turn your Router into a blazing speed demon, nor will it make it so incredibly stable you can never go back, so put that idea out of your head.

I would say right now be happy your machine still works and just assume you do not need anything from the RMerlin FW for the moment.

Let it settle on stock for a while, and use the time to read stuff. Start with the Merlin intro pages, which essentially say it says true to a lot of Asus FW capabilities (in many cases it must do, due to closed source elements), but adds enhancements and ways to make things easier to tweak or to view.

For those of us who do have it installed, it adds tools, viewers, GUIs and addons to manage things more easily, allows us to get under the hood, adds some advanced uses and enhanced functions.
If you don't know you need it right now, then the flast answer is no.

When you start thinking 'gee this <function, thing, capability> would be great', THEN go look for it here, you might find it in Merlin, you might find it in amtm or in an addon.

btw well done on getting it going again; always a relief.