Peplink Balance 20X Firmware: Which Versions to Use and Which to Skip

When you depend on your router to keep your business or home connected, firmware stability matters just as much as the hardware itself. At 5Gstore, we’ve been working with Peplink for nearly two decades, and we test new firmware on real devices before making recommendations to our customers.

One model that’s been front and center in our testing is the Peplink Balance 20X (B20X), a flexible and affordable dual-WAN router with modular LTE options. While this router is a great choice for small businesses and advanced home users, not all firmware versions perform equally well on it.

In this post, we’ll share our firsthand experience with firmware versions 8.5.1, 8.5.2, and 8.5.3 on the Balance 20X. We’ll cover which versions to use, which to skip, and how to safely upgrade or downgrade firmware.

Alert: The Peplink Balance 20X is no longer available

Firmware 8.5.1: Rock Solid on the Balance 20X

Firmware 8.5.1 has been one of the most stable builds we’ve seen on the Balance 20X. In our testing:

• No random reboots were observed across multiple devices.
• Uptime remained consistent, even under heavy usage with multiple WAN connections.
• Performance was reliable, making it an excellent “set it and forget it” choice.

Many of our customers reported the same experience, confirming that 8.5.1 is rock solid for the B20X.

Firmware 8.5.2: Stability Issues Limited to Balance 20X

When firmware 8.5.2 was released, we tested it on three separate Balance 20X units. Unfortunately, all three experienced the same problem:

• Each device would reboot at least twice per day.
• This happened consistently, causing network disruptions.
• Other users on the official Peplink forums reported the same issue on the Balance 20X.

It’s important to note:
➡️ This reboot problem was isolated to the Balance 20X.
Other Peplink models running 8.5.2 did not experience the same instability.

If you are running 8.5.2 on a Balance 20X and experiencing unexpected reboots, the solution is simple: downgrade to 8.5.1 until you’re ready to move to 8.5.3.

Firmware 8.5.3: Stability Restored

When firmware 8.5.3 was released, we were cautiously optimistic. After upgrading our Balance 20X units, we are happy to report:

• The reboot issue has been resolved.
• Stability is once again on par with 8.5.1.
• Balance 20X users can now upgrade without fear of daily reboots.

For anyone who avoided 8.5.2 due to the instability, 8.5.3 is a safe upgrade that combines new features with reliable uptime.

How to Upgrade Firmware on a Balance 20X

Upgrading firmware is straightforward, but it’s worth doing carefully:

1. Log into the Balance 20X admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to System > Firmware.
3. Check which firmware slot is currently active. Peplink devices have two firmware slots, so you always have a fallback.
4. Click Check for Updates or upload the firmware file manually (downloadable from Peplink’s website).
5. Select the slot you want to upgrade.
6. Click Upgrade and allow the device to reboot.

👉 Tip: Always schedule upgrades during a maintenance window to avoid interrupting business operations.

How to Downgrade Firmware on a Balance 20X

One of the best features of Peplink routers is how easy it is to roll back if a new firmware introduces issues. The Balance 20X keeps two firmware versions stored, making downgrades painless.

Here’s how to revert to an earlier version:

1. Log into the admin dashboard.
2. Go to System > Firmware.
3. You’ll see two firmware slots: one active and one standby.
4. If the standby slot contains the older version (such as 8.5.1), simply click Reboot into that version.
5. If the standby slot is empty or contains a different version, you can manually upload the firmware file for 8.5.1 (available on Peplink’s website).
6. After the downgrade, verify your configuration is intact. Peplink devices usually preserve settings between versions, but it’s good practice to double-check.

👉 Tip: Keep a copy of the stable firmware file (like 8.5.1) saved locally. This ensures you can roll back even if Peplink pulls the download link in the future.

Recommendations for Balance 20X Owners

• If you’re on 8.5.1 and everything is running smoothly: you can stay put, or safely move to 8.5.3 if you want the latest features.
• If you’re on 8.5.2 and experiencing random reboots: downgrade immediately to 8.5.1 or upgrade to 8.5.3.
• If you’re considering 8.5.3: our testing shows it is stable and reliable on the Balance 20X.

Remember, the reboot issue was only present on the Balance 20X. Other Peplink models (Balance, MAX, etc.) performed normally on 8.5.2.

Final Thoughts

Peplink continues to deliver flexible, business-ready routers, and the Balance 20X is one of the most popular models thanks to its modular design and affordability. However, as with any technology, some firmware versions are more stable than others.

• 8.5.1: Rock solid.
• 8.5.2: Skip it if you own a Balance 20X.
• 8.5.3: Safe to upgrade, stability restored.

At 5Gstore, we’ll keep testing each release and sharing real-world results to help you avoid downtime and keep your network strong.

✅ Need help choosing the right Peplink router or managing your firmware? Contact the experts at 5Gstore.com.