Snapmaker U1 Custom Firmware: Complete Guide

The Snapmaker U1 is a multi-material 3D printer with the SnapSwap automatic tool-changing system, capable of swapping toolheads in just 5 seconds. However, the stock firmware limits the capabilities of the built-in hardware: the camera runs at approximately 1 frame per second (1 Hz) in Fluidd, there is no proper SSH access, and Klipper and Moonraker are available only in modified versions without a full web interface. Custom firmware removes these limitations, transforming the U1 into a much more flexible tool.

Two major custom firmware projects have emerged in the Snapmaker U1 community: U1Supercharged (u1sc) and Extended Firmware by paxx12. Both aim to unlock the printer's full potential but took different approaches. In this article, we will cover what they offer, how to install custom firmware, what features it unlocks, and what risks are involved.

U1Supercharged vs Extended Firmware

U1Supercharged (u1sc) was created by a developer known as horza. The project included SSH server activation, root and lava password changes, a hardware-encoded camera via HLS/H.264 at 1080p@30fps, and integration with Entware and Debian chroot for installing additional software.

Extended Firmware by paxx12 was developed in parallel and implemented a similar feature set but with broader scope: a modular overlay system, hardware-accelerated camera stack based on Rockchip MPP/VPU with WebRTC streaming, full Fluidd and Mainsail web interfaces, USB Ethernet support, and much more.

In January 2026, horza announced the closure of U1Supercharged, having discovered that paxx12 and other developers were working on the same thing. The projects effectively merged, and now Extended Firmware is the primary and actively maintained custom firmware for the Snapmaker U1. The GitHub repository has over 350 stars and an active community in the Discord #u1-printer channel.

Feature	U1Supercharged	Extended Firmware
Status	Discontinued (Jan 2026)	Active development
SSH access	Yes	Yes
Camera	HLS/H.264 1080p@30fps	WebRTC, hardware-accelerated
Web interface	Basic Fluidd	Full Fluidd + Mainsail
USB Ethernet	No	Yes, with hot-plug
Overlay system	No	Yes
OctoEverywhere	No	Supported
License	Not specified	GPL-3.0

Installing Extended Firmware

Installing custom firmware on the Snapmaker U1 is surprisingly straightforward and does not require opening the case, connecting via UART, or any soldering. The entire process takes just a few minutes.

Download the firmware. Go to the releases page of the paxx12/SnapmakerU1-Extended-Firmware GitHub repository and download the latest .bin file. There are two variants: basic firmware (SSH, USB Ethernet, basic Fluidd) and extended (WebRTC camera, Mainsail, timelapses, and other features).
Prepare a USB drive. Format a USB flash drive as FAT32. Copy the downloaded .bin file to the root directory of the drive.
Insert the USB drive into the printer. The USB port is located on the back panel of the Snapmaker U1.
Start the update via the touchscreen. On the printer screen, navigate to Settings > About > Firmware Version > Local Update. Select the .bin file and tap Update Now.
Wait for completion. The printer will automatically install the firmware and reboot. Do not turn off the printer or remove the USB drive until the process is fully complete.
Configure features. After reboot, open the printer's web interface (the IP address is displayed on the touchscreen). Use the Extended Firmware Config page to enable the features you need: SSH, camera, additional interfaces.

Custom firmware is intended for users with appropriate technical knowledge. Before installation, we recommend reading the full documentation on the project website.

Custom Firmware Features

SSH Root Access

Extended Firmware activates a full SSH server on the printer. Two users are available: root (password: snapmaker) and lava (password: snapmaker). Through SSH, you can directly access the printer's filesystem, edit Klipper configuration, install additional software, and diagnose issues. This opens the door to deep customization of printer behavior, from custom G-code macros to fine-tuning TMC stepper motor driver parameters.

USB Ethernet

The stock firmware supports only Wi-Fi connectivity, which can be unreliable, especially when transferring large files or in congested wireless environments. Extended Firmware adds USB Ethernet adapter support with automatic detection on connection (hot-plug) and DHCP IP address assignment. Simply plug a USB-to-Ethernet adapter into the rear USB port of the printer, and the wired connection will configure itself automatically. This provides a stable and fast network connection, which is particularly important for WebRTC camera streaming and working with OctoEverywhere.

WebRTC Camera

One of the most noticeable improvements. The stock firmware delivers camera images at approximately 1 frame per second (1 Hz) in the Fluidd interface - this happens because Snapmaker did not implement the hardware video encoding support available on the CPU they used. Extended Firmware leverages the Rockchip MPP/VPU hardware video codec and provides low-latency WebRTC streaming.

As a result, you get smooth video from the printer's internal camera directly in your browser. Both the built-in MIPI CSI camera and external USB cameras with hot-plug detection are supported. Camera parameters can also be configured via V4L2 controls (brightness, contrast, exposure) with settings persisting across reboots. Additionally, Extended Firmware supports timelapse recording with automatic cleanup of old recordings.

Full Klipper, Mainsail, and Fluidd

The Snapmaker U1 runs Klipper and Moonraker out of the box, but with modified versions and without a full web interface. Extended Firmware installs complete and modern versions of the Fluidd and Mainsail web interfaces, unlocking all their capabilities: browser-based printer control, temperature monitoring, Klipper configuration viewing and editing, print queue management, G-code preview, and much more.

The extended firmware also allows experimenting with Klipper settings, including experimental TMC stepper motor driver optimizations. For advanced users, metrics can be exported to Prometheus, with Home Assistant and DataDog integration available for monitoring printer status.

OctoEverywhere

OctoEverywhere is a cloud platform for remote 3D printer management. Thanks to Extended Firmware and full Klipper/Moonraker support, you can connect your Snapmaker U1 to OctoEverywhere and get a complete set of remote management features.

Remote access - control your printer from anywhere in the world via browser or mobile app (iOS and Android).
Gadget AI - an artificial intelligence system for automatic print failure detection. It analyzes the camera video stream and can automatically pause printing when problems are detected.
Notifications - alerts about print start, completion, and errors via push notifications, email, Telegram, and other channels.
Camera streaming - access to the WebRTC camera feed through the OctoEverywhere cloud without needing to configure VPN or port forwarding.

In addition to OctoEverywhere, Extended Firmware supports connecting via Tailscale VPN for secure remote printer access without cloud services.

Additional Features

Remote screen - view and control the printer touchscreen through a web browser.
RFID filament tags - support for NFC tags (NTAG213/215/216) for automatic filament spool identification.
Web administration - configure all firmware features through a convenient web interface without needing SSH.
Monitoring - integration with Prometheus, Home Assistant, and DataDog for collecting and visualizing printer operation metrics.

Warranty and Risks

Installing custom firmware does not automatically void the product warranty. However, any damage caused by or attributable to the installation or use of custom firmware is not covered under warranty. You proceed at your own risk.

Snapmaker's position on custom firmware was communicated by official representative Simon_Zhi on the forum: the company welcomes developers sharing discoveries with the community and allows publishing projects on the official forum. At the same time, developers are required to include warnings: "Unofficial - use at your own risk" and "May void your warranty."

Snapmaker has also announced plans to publish the open-source portions of the U1 firmware by the end of March 2026. This means that official support for customization may become even easier in the future.

It is worth noting that Extended Firmware does not modify printing logic, thermal protection, or other safety-critical systems. The main improvements concern the camera, network features, and web interfaces. Nevertheless, Snapmaker warns against high-risk actions:

Bootloader modifications
Kernel command-line editing
System partition modifications
Interfering with toolhead swapping logic
Disabling or modifying thermal-runaway protection

Community member CoffeePot also raised the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (relevant for US users), which requires manufacturers to prove that user modifications caused the defect before denying warranty claims. Snapmaker acknowledged this point and adjusted their wording accordingly.

Rolling Back to Stock Firmware

One of the key advantages of Extended Firmware is its full reversibility. You can return to the official Snapmaker firmware at any time using the same USB drive process.

Go to the Snapmaker support page (support.snapmaker.com) or the Firmware Release Notes section on the Snapmaker Wiki.
Download the latest version of the official firmware (.bin file).
Copy the file to a USB drive formatted as FAT32.
Insert the drive into the USB port on the back panel of the printer.
On the touchscreen, navigate to Settings > About > Firmware Version > Local Update.
Select the .bin file and tap Update Now.
Wait for the update to complete and the printer to reboot.

After rolling back, all custom firmware features will be removed and the printer will return to standard behavior. If you need a specific stock firmware version (not the latest), previous versions are available on the Release Notes page in the Snapmaker Wiki.

Conclusion

Extended Firmware for the Snapmaker U1 is a mature open-source project that significantly expands the printer's capabilities. The hardware-accelerated WebRTC camera, full Klipper/Mainsail/Fluidd, SSH access, USB Ethernet, and OctoEverywhere integration transform the U1 into a truly flexible tool for advanced users.

Installation takes just a few minutes via USB drive, requires no case opening, and is fully reversible. Snapmaker has officially allowed custom firmware to be published on their forum and plans to open-source the U1 firmware by March 2026. However, it is important to remember that responsibility for any consequences of using custom firmware lies with the user.

If you want to get the most out of your Snapmaker U1 and are comfortable with a small amount of risk, Extended Firmware is an excellent choice. Join the community in the Discord #u1-printer channel for discussion, help, and experience sharing.