How to Downgrade MikroTik RouterOS v7 to v6

MikroTik RouterOS v7 introduced significant changes compared with RouterOS v6. In some environments, administrators may need to return a compatible router from RouterOS v7 to RouterOS v6 because of configuration compatibility, existing scripts, legacy deployments, or software requirements.

Fortunately, MikroTik provides a built-in downgrade mechanism that can be performed from the terminal after the appropriate older RouterOS packages have been uploaded to the router.

However, not every MikroTik router can be downgraded to RouterOS v6. MikroTik states that a device can only be downgraded as far as its factory-installed RouterOS version, which can be checked using /system resource print.

This guide explains the complete process.

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Important: Check Whether Your Router Supports RouterOS v6

Before uploading any RouterOS v6 package, check the router's hardware information:

/system resource print

Look for:

architecture-name:
factory-software:
version:

For example:

architecture-name: arm
factory-software: 6.49
version: 7.xx.xx

The factory-software field tells you the oldest RouterOS version supported by the device. MikroTik warns that downgrading below that version can cause serious problems.

Your RouterOS v6 package must also match the router's architecture. MikroTik's download page provides packages for architectures including arm, arm64, mipsbe, mmips, ppc, smips, tile, and x86.

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Step 1: Back Up the Router Configuration

Before changing the operating system, create a backup of the current RouterOS v7 configuration.

Create a binary backup

Run:

/system backup save name=before-v7-to-v6

Create a text configuration export

Also create an export:

/export file=before-v7-to-v6

You should then see the files under:

Files

Download them to your computer using WinBox or WebFig.

Keeping both the .backup and .rsc files gives you additional recovery options if you need to rebuild or restore the configuration later.

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Step 2: Check the Installed RouterOS Packages

Run:

/system package print

This shows the packages currently installed on the router.

RouterOS features are distributed through .npk packages. The main RouterOS functionality is generally contained in the routeros package, while some features are provided through separate packages.

Before the downgrade, review any additional RouterOS v7 packages installed on the router.

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Step 3: Disable Additional RouterOS v7 Packages

As a preparation step, disable additional v7 packages that you do not need for the downgrade.

For example:

/system package disable <package-name>

You can check package names with:

/system package print

If disabling several packages at once fails

Do it one package at a time:

/system package disable package1

Then:

/system package disable package2

Continue until the necessary additional packages have been disabled.

After making the package changes, reboot the router while it is still running RouterOS v7:

/system reboot

Allow the router to start normally and confirm that it is still operating correctly.

Important: Do not disable or remove the main RouterOS package unless you specifically know why it is required. The purpose of this preparation is to deal with additional packages that may not have a matching v6 version.

RouterOS package changes such as enabling or disabling packages are applied during reboot.

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Step 4: Download the Correct RouterOS v6 Package

The next step is to obtain the RouterOS v6 .npk package for your router's architecture.

At the time of writing, RouterOS 6.49.22 is the latest v6 long-term release listed by MikroTik, released on September 21, 2026.

For example, an ARM router would use a package similar to:

routeros-arm-6.49.22.npk

An ARM64 router would use:

routeros-arm64-6.49.22.npk

A MIPSBE router would use:

routeros-mipsbe-6.49.22.npk

The exact package must match the architecture reported by:

/system resource print

MikroTik specifically recommends uploading the older .npk packages that match the device architecture.

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Step 5: Upload RouterOS v6 Through WinBox or WebFig

The easiest method for many administrators is to upload the RouterOS v6 package through WinBox or WebFig.

Open:

WinBox → Files

Then upload the appropriate .npk file.

After uploading, verify it from the terminal:

/file print

You should see something similar to:

routeros-arm-6.49.22.npk

MikroTik officially documents FTP, WebFig, and WinBox as supported ways to upload the older packages.

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Step 6: Download RouterOS v6 Using the Terminal

You can also download the package directly to the router using the RouterOS terminal's fetch command.

For example:

/tool fetch url="https://download.mikrotik.com/routeros/6.49.22/routeros-arm-6.49.22.npk" mode=https

For another architecture, replace the filename with the appropriate package.

For example:

/tool fetch url="https://download.mikrotik.com/routeros/6.49.22/routeros-mipsbe-6.49.22.npk" mode=https

Then verify that the downloaded file exists:

/file print

The important part is not simply the version number. The package architecture must match your router.

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Step 7: Run the RouterOS Downgrade Command

Once the correct RouterOS v6 packages are on the router, run:

/system package downgrade

This is the official MikroTik command for starting a RouterOS downgrade. MikroTik explains that the command prepares the downgrade and prompts for a reboot; during reboot, RouterOS checks the uploaded packages and attempts to install the older version.

You can then reboot from the terminal:

/system reboot

The router will restart and install the older RouterOS packages.

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Step 8: Verify RouterOS v6 After Reboot

Once the router has finished restarting, connect again and run:

/system resource print

Look for:

version: 6.xx.xx

You can also check the installed packages:

/system package print

If the downgrade was successful, the router should now report RouterOS v6.

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Complete RouterOS v7 to v6 Terminal Procedure

For reference, the basic workflow is:

1. Check the router

/system resource print

2. Back up the configuration

/system backup save name=before-v7-to-v6
/export file=before-v7-to-v6

3. Check installed packages

/system package print

4. Disable unnecessary additional v7 packages

/system package disable <package-name>

5. Reboot

/system reboot

6. Upload or fetch the appropriate v6 .npk package

Example:

/tool fetch url="https://download.mikrotik.com/routeros/6.49.22/routeros-arm-6.49.22.npk" mode=https

7. Confirm the file

/file print

8. Start the downgrade

/system package downgrade

9. Reboot

/system reboot

10. Verify the version

/system resource print

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Troubleshooting MikroTik RouterOS v7 to v6 Downgrade

1. /system package downgrade does not work

First check whether the .npk package is actually present:

/file print

Then check the router architecture:

/system resource print

Make sure the uploaded package matches the architecture.

For example, an arm package should not be installed on a mipsbe router.

MikroTik's official downgrade instructions specifically require the appropriate .npk packages for the device architecture.

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2. The downgrade starts but the router remains on RouterOS v7

Check the Files list again:

/file print

Make sure the older .npk package is actually stored in the router's files.

Also check:

/system package print

and:

/system resource print

If the package is for the wrong architecture or the requested version is below the router's supported factory version, the downgrade cannot proceed normally.

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3. My router does not support RouterOS v6

Check:

/system resource print

Look at:

factory-software:

MikroTik states that the factory software version is the oldest version supported by that device. A router whose hardware was introduced with a newer RouterOS generation may therefore not support v6.

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4. Disabling multiple packages fails

Disable the packages one at a time rather than attempting to disable several packages in one command.

For example:

/system package disable wireless

Then reboot:

/system reboot

After the reboot, check:

/system package print

and continue with the downgrade procedure.

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5. I cannot download the package with /tool fetch

Check that the router has working Internet access:

/ping 8.8.8.8

Then test DNS:

/ping download.mikrotik.com

If DNS is not working, check your DNS configuration:

/ip dns print

You can also avoid fetch entirely by downloading the package to your computer and uploading it through WinBox or WebFig.

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6. The configuration does not work properly after the downgrade

RouterOS v7 and v6 are different major versions, so you should not assume that every v7 configuration change will behave identically after returning to v6.

This is one of the reasons it is important to create both:

before-v7-to-v6.backup

and:

before-v7-to-v6.rsc

before starting the procedure.

If you need to recover the original setup, you can use the appropriate backup or rebuild parts of the configuration from the .rsc export.

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Important Warning About RouterOS v6

Downgrading RouterOS should not be treated as a routine update.

MikroTik explicitly warns that older RouterOS versions may contain bugs and security vulnerabilities.

If you are using RouterOS v6 because a specific application, configuration, or legacy environment requires it, use the newest compatible v6 release rather than unnecessarily installing an old v6 build.

At the time this article was prepared, MikroTik lists RouterOS 6.49.22 as the latest v6 long-term release.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I downgrade MikroTik RouterOS v7 to v6?

Yes, provided your MikroTik hardware supports RouterOS v6. MikroTik's downgrade process requires the older .npk packages to be uploaded to the router, after which you run:

/system package downgrade

What command is used to downgrade RouterOS?

Use:

/system package downgrade

The router will prompt for a reboot before applying the downgrade.

How do I check whether my MikroTik supports RouterOS v6?

Run:

/system resource print

Check the:

factory-software:

field.

Can I downgrade RouterOS without WinBox?

Yes. The package can be downloaded or uploaded using the terminal and the downgrade can then be initiated using:

/system package downgrade

Can I use /tool fetch to download RouterOS v6?

Yes. /tool fetch can be used to download the .npk package directly to the router, provided the router has Internet and DNS connectivity.

Do I need to back up before downgrading?

Yes. Create both a binary backup and a configuration export before starting:

/system backup save name=before-v7-to-v6
/export file=before-v7-to-v6

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Final Takeaway

The MikroTik RouterOS v7-to-v6 downgrade process is straightforward when the hardware supports RouterOS v6 and the correct architecture-specific packages are used.

The basic process is:

Check compatibility → Back up → Disable unnecessary additional v7 packages → Reboot → Upload or fetch the v6 packages → Run /system package downgrade → Reboot → Verify RouterOS v6.

The most important checks are the router's factory-software and architecture-name values. Never skip these checks before attempting a downgrade.

For official software downloads, use MikroTik's RouterOS download page and select the architecture matching your router.