How to Update Firmware on a Cricut Mug Press

On this page (9 sections)

1. Does the Cricut Mug Press update its firmware on its own?
2. What do you need before you start the update?
3. How to update firmware on a Cricut Mug Press step by step
4. Why does the firmware update matter for your mugs?
5. Which cable and computer setup works best?
6. What should you do if the update fails or freezes?
7. How often should you check for Mug Press firmware updates?
8. How does the Mug Press fit with the rest of your heat press setup?
9. What else should you know about the Mug Press update?

Here's how to update firmware on a Cricut Mug Press: connect the press to your computer with its USB cable, open Cricut Design Space, and accept the update the app offers. The whole job takes a few minutes, and Design Space confirms when the press is on the newest version.

The press has no update button and no settings menu of its own. Every firmware change runs through the software on your computer, so that's the only place to start.

Does the Cricut Mug Press update its firmware on its own?

No. The Cricut Mug Press doesn't update its firmware by itself.

It has no update control on the unit, so it receives firmware when you connect it to a computer running Design Space. That means the update is always a wired job you start from the app.

The upside is that you stay in control. You choose when to update, so you can pick a moment when you aren't midway through a mug order.

The downside is that you do need a computer with Design Space installed and a USB cable on hand.

If you have never connected the press to a computer, do that first before worrying about versions. A press that has only ever run on its own is still on the firmware it shipped with.

What do you need before you start the update?

You need three things: the Mug Press power adapter, its USB cable, and Cricut Design Space on a computer. The press runs on 120 volts and comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty from Cricut, so keep the original cable where you can find it.

Design Space is free from Cricut and runs on Windows and Mac. Install the newest version first, because an old copy may not carry the firmware package your press needs.

Sign in with your Cricut account so the app can see the press in your machine list.

Set the press on a flat, heat-safe surface near your computer. The power cord and USB cable both need to reach without strain, so a short extension cord for the power side is fine.

Keep the work area ventilated. Cricut notes that vapor is emitted during heat transfer, so run the update in a room with open air rather than a closed cabinet.

How to update firmware on a Cricut Mug Press step by step

Plug in power, connect USB, open Design Space, accept the update, and wait for confirmation. Follow the order below so the app detects the press cleanly.

1. Plug the Mug Press into a wall outlet with its own power adapter and switch it on.
2. Connect the USB cable from the press to your computer. Use a direct port rather than a hub if you can.
3. Open Design Space and sign in to your Cricut account.
4. Look for the update prompt or the device status for the Mug Press. Accept the update when it appears.
5. Leave both cables in place and the computer awake until Design Space says the update is finished.
6. Close the app, unplug the USB cable, and run a test mug to confirm the press heats and finishes a cycle as normal.

The press doesn't need a mug inside during the update. Leave the chamber empty so nothing heats while the firmware writes.

What if Design Space doesn't show an update?

If no prompt appears, the press is most likely already current. Reopen Design Space and check the machine status before assuming something is wrong.

Try a different USB port and a different cable if the press doesn't appear at all. Then restart both the app and the computer and open Design Space again with the press connected.

An update also won't appear if your copy of Design Space is behind. Run the app's own updater first, then reopen it with the press plugged in.

Why does the firmware update matter for your mugs?

Firmware controls the press's heat cycle, so updates can change how it heats and when it stops. A current version keeps the one-touch cycle working as Cricut intends for Infusible Ink transfers.

The press uses a patent-pending heat plate with zone heating, and Cricut says that design produces results that are peel-proof and dishwasher safe when you follow its process. The firmware runs that timed cycle, so the version on the press is part of the result.

Updates can also fix small bugs, such as a cycle that ends early or a press that won't enter its ready state. If your mugs have started coming out uneven when your blanks and designs haven't changed, a firmware update is a sensible first check.

Keeping the press current also means the steps in Cricut's own mug instructions match what your unit does. Follow the instructions at cricut.com/make-mugs alongside the app so the two agree.

Which cable and computer setup works best?

A direct USB connection to a desktop or laptop with a stable power supply is the most reliable setup. Avoid USB hubs, docking stations and very long extension cables when you run an update.

Keep the computer plugged in and stop it from sleeping during the job. A laptop that sleeps mid-update can interrupt the transfer and leave the press waiting.

Close other apps that might grab the USB port. Design Space needs a clear connection to talk to the press, and a busy port can make detection fail.

Run the update at a normal room temperature. Avoid pressing a mug at the same time, since the update and a heat cycle both draw on the same electronics.

What should you do if the update fails or freezes?

Don't unplug anything straight away. Leave the power and USB cables connected and give Design Space a few minutes in case the transfer is just slow.

If the progress bar stays frozen, close Design Space without touching the press, reopen the app and run the update again. A second attempt usually completes.

If the press won't respond at all, switch it off at the outlet, wait about 30 seconds, then power it back on and reconnect the USB cable. Then reopen Design Space and retry.

A press that still won't connect after two attempts points to a cable or port problem more often than a firmware one. Swap the cable, try another port, and test again on a different computer before assuming the press is faulty.

Cricut backs the Mug Press with a one-year manufacturer warranty, so contact Cricut support if the press won't update or power on after these steps.

How often should you check for Mug Press firmware updates?

Check whenever Design Space offers one, and otherwise about once a season. There's no set schedule, because Cricut releases firmware when it has a fix or a change to push.

The easiest habit is to open Design Space with the press connected before a big mug project. If an update appears, run it then, while you have time and no half-finished mugs on the bench.

Skip updating in the middle of an order. A press that works well on its current firmware will keep working, and you can update once the mugs are done.

Write down the firmware version Design Space shows after each update. If a mug problem starts later, you'll know whether the press changed since it last worked well.

How does the Mug Press fit with the rest of your heat press setup?

The Mug Press handles curved blanks; a flat press handles shirts, hoodies and totes. Keeping firmware current on the mug press and knowing your flat press settings gives you a complete setup for Infusible Ink and iron-on projects.

If you're new to heat transfer, start with what is a heat press and how it works. Then match the settings to the blank: our guide to how to heat press a hoodie covers thicker fabrics, and how to heat press a shirt walks through a standard tee.

Sublimation blanks need their own numbers. Use our sublimation temperature and time chart before you press, so a firmware update on the mug press doesn't send you back to guessing on flat projects.

Both EasyPress models reach up to 400°F and work with iron-on, Infusible Ink and sublimation products. The 12 x 10 covers bigger garments in one pass, while the 9 x 9 suits tight spaces and small items.

What else should you know about the Mug Press update?

The update is a short, wired job you run from Design Space, and the press gives you no other way to do it. Plug in, connect, accept, and wait for the confirmation message.

Pick the Cricut Mug Press when mugs are your main product and you want the one-touch cycle with zone heating. Add an EasyPress when your projects move onto fabric; the 12 x 10 for larger garments, the 9 x 9 for small ones.

For anyone searching how to update firmware on a Cricut Mug Press, the short version is simple: keep Design Space current, connect by USB, and never pull the cable mid-update. That routine keeps the press heating the way Cricut designed it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know when my Cricut Mug Press needs a firmware update?

Design Space tells you. When you open the app with the press connected by USB, it checks the firmware version and offers the update if one is available.

There is no update button or light on the mug press itself.

Can the Cricut Mug Press update firmware over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?

No. The Mug Press updates through a wired USB connection to a computer running Design Space.

Keep the press plugged into the computer for the whole update, and leave both cables connected until Design Space confirms it's finished.

What should I do if the firmware update stops partway through?

Leave the USB cable and the power cord connected, and don't close Design Space or turn the press off. Wait a few minutes to see if it resumes.

If it stays stuck, close the app, reopen it and run the update again.

Does updating the firmware erase my saved designs?

No. Firmware lives on the press, while your saved projects sit in your Cricut account.

An update doesn't touch your designs, your material settings or your machine list.

How long does a Mug Press firmware update take?

Usually a few minutes, since the press only carries its own control firmware rather than a full cutting-machine system. Keep the press plugged in and the computer awake until Design Space confirms the update is complete.