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Where can I download the latest Force update?

There are two ways to get the latest update for your Force:


Akai Pro User Account

  1. Log in to your akaipro.com account
  2. If you have not already, click Register New Product and enter the Force serial number, purchase date, and location to register the MPC to your account.
  3. In the Your Registered Products list, find your MPC in the list and click View Downloads.
  4. Look for the Firmware section. Here you will find downloads for the macOS, PC, and USB updater files, as well as update release notes.

Force Product Page

  1. Navigate to the Force product page at akaipro.com.
  2. Click the Downloads tab at the top of the screen or scroll down to the Downloads & Documents section. Here you will find downloads for the macOS, PC, and USB updater files, as well as update release notes. 



Before you Update

How will I know if I need to update?

You may be notified of a new update either by a new release notification through email, or a social media campaign.


To check if your Force is up-to-date, look for the latest update version available as described above and check which version is currently installed on your Force:

  1. On your Force, press the Menu button.
  2. Find and press the Preferences button to access the Force settings. This is usually indicated by a Gear icon.
  3. The current firmware version will be listed under the Info tab.



Preparing for the Update

Before updating any firmware on any operating system, it's important to take the following precautions:

  1. Backup Your Data - Updates can be tricky, so be sure you have all your projects and other data stored in a safe, separate drive - just in case.
  2. Connect the Force to a Power Source - The Force should be connected to a stable power source during the update. 
  3. Connect the Force Directly to a USB Port on Your Computer - Avoid using any USB hubs, adapters, extenders, or long USB cables to prevent any lost data during the update. Updates can take time and careful processing. By connecting the Force directly to the computer, we eliminate potential errors in the update transfer path.
  4. Do Not Use or Power Off the Force While it's Updating - If the update is interrupted or otherwise does not complete, it can be difficult (or on rare occasions, impossible) to recover it. Only power off the Force if it has been unresponsive in update mode for several hours. Before you re-attempt the update, be sure to check that all precautions listed here are taken.
  5. Eliminate Distractions- This includes:
    1. Disconnect all other USB/MIDI devices from the computer.
    2. Unplug any MIDI cables plugged into the MIDI ports on the module.
    3. Close all other software running on the computer.


In general, the Force should have a consistent and working connection to your computer. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms like the ones listed below, do NOT attempt to update the firmware in order to remedy this. 

  • The Force will not connect to a computer
  • Latency/delay in playback or other audio playback-related issues
  • Unexpected messages or graphics on the display
  • The Force will not power on or will power off intermittently


If you experience any trouble with this, please contact our support team before continuing with the update.   



Updating the Firmware

Updating with PC or Mac

Please refer to the precautions above before following the steps below:

  1. Download the PC or Mac Updater as described above
  2. Connect the Force to your computer and power it on.
  3. Run the firmware updater application.
  4. On your Force, press the Menu button and select Preferences (this is usually indicated by a gear icon).
  5. On your Force, select the Info tab on the left if it is not already selected.
  6. On your Force, tap the UPDATE button at the bottom of the Force display, then select Switch to Update Mode. Your Force will restart into Update Mode.
  7. In the firmware updater application on your computer, press Update Force.


The firmware updater application will begin processing the update. Please allow several minutes for the update to complete. Your Force will restart once the update is completed. 



Updating with a USB Drive

Please refer to the precautions above before following the steps below.


When updating with a USB drive, we recommend using an empty and newly reformatted drive with at least 1GB of space, if possible. The drive should be formatted to FAT32 or ExFat formats. Please refer to our guide here for any assistance formatting a drive.

  1. Download the USB image file (.img) as described above.
  2. Connect your drive to the computer and load the image file (.img) to the root of the USB drive. The root of any drive is the topmost location, outside of any folders. Do not place the image file inside a folder on the drive.
  3. On your Force, press the Menu button and select Preferences (this is usually indicated by a gear icon)
  4. On your Force, select the Info tab on the left if it is not already selected.
  5. On your Force, tap the UPDATE button at the bottom of the MPC display, then select USB Drive Update. Your Force should recognize the image file on your drive and ask if you would like to update. Press UPDATE to confirm and reboot the Force into update mode. 
  6. When your Force reboots, it will read Updating Firmware on the display. Once complete, the Force will reboot into normal operation.



Updating with WIFI or Ethernet Connection

The Force will need to be updated to firmware v3.10 at minimum to access the WIFI update functionality.


To update:

  1. On your Force, press the Menu button and select Preferences (this is usually indicated by a gear icon)
    • If connecting with WIFI, go to the Wi-Fi tab and set up the connection with your WIFI router. Make sure the connection is solid and stable before proceeding.
    • If connecting with wired Ethernet, use a Cat5 cable to connect your Force Ethernet port to your router. In your Force Preferences, go to the Ethernet tab and check that the status shows the Force is "connected" to your network.
  2. Once your network connection is set up, go to the Info tab in the Force Preferences. 
  3. On your Force, tap the UPDATE button at the bottom of the Force display, then select Online Update. The Force will search for any compatible updates for your Force. If an update is available, you will be prompted again to verify the firmware that will be installed. 
  4. Update Now, then tap Shut Down when prompted. The Force will restart and proceed with the firmware update. Once complete, the Force will reboot into normal operation.