The “Not So Confusing” Method to Upgrade Firmware on the Baofeng DM32-UV

  1. Plug the programming cable into the side of the DM32-UV
  2. With the radio off hold the PTT key and the SK1 (Special Key One) key right below it
  3. Turn the radio on while holding those two keys and set the volume knob to 50%. This is important because for some reason the volume knob affects the ability to transfer data reliably
  4. The screen should be off and the status light on the top of the radio should be solid green. If it is, keep going. If not try to get it into firmware mode again by repeating steps 1 and 2
  5. Open the CPS software. You can download it here if you don’t have it already: https://www.baofengradio.com/pages/download
  6. Go to Setting -> COM Setting, and pick your port number and set the baud to 115200
    (not the 256000 the manual says. 256000 might work but I know 100% for sure 115200 works.)
  7. Go to Tool(T) menu
  8. Click Firmware Upgrade
  9. In the dialog box click OPEN
  10. Find the firmware BIN file you downloaded from https://www.baofengradio.com/pages/download and select it.
  11. Click the “Upgrade” box
  12. The status light on the radio should flash green (not red like it says in the manual)
  13. You’ll see a progress bar in the dialog box moving
  14. When it’s done you’ll get a pop-up that it’s finished
  15. That’s it. You won at updating your firmware

Some things to note:

  1. Your codeplug will stay and not get wiped
  2. Check your CPS version in the Help(H) menu -> “About” screen
  3. This works with CPS 1.24 and CPS 1.45. Other versions have not been tested by the author