The latest lab file on our download server, "fritzbox-6850_5g_v2-labor-xxxxx.zip", contains
- the lab version for FRITZ!Box
- this "infolab.txt" file with important information on this lab version
- Information, feedback options and the file at en.avm.de/fritz-lab


New Features: 
- Failover protection via the integrated mobile network modem for Internet connections via LAN or Wi-Fi [1]
- Overload protection for smart outlets: The FRITZ!Smart Energy 200 and 210 smart outlets can now be turned off if a defined power limit is exceeded for a specified duration
- Routines with multiple triggers can be set up: Users can define an if-then link with multiple triggers for routines, so that the routine is started by various smart home devices [2]
- SOS call: Up to four emergency contacts are automatically called one after the other in an emergency
- The F!Fon’s soft keys can be used as configurable speed dial buttons (phone number or function)


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# New Features and Improvements in FRITZ!OS 8.40
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This FRITZ! Beta offers a first look at the upcoming FRITZ!OS 8.50 and invites users to test new features in advance and provide feedback. The Beta lays the groundwork for new MyFRITZ!App features and optimizes the already industry-leading security architecture of FRITZ! products. In addition, switching FRITZ!Box models is made easier, with new features for Smart Home, parental controls, and telephony, as well as practical improvements to everyday convenience. In the coming months, additional FRITZ!Box models will be added and new features introduced—including the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro with Matter Bridge functionality for more Smart Home options.

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# New Features in FRITZ!OS 8.40

## Internet:
- **NEW** Internet connection via the LAN-1 port
- **NEW** Failover protection via the integrated mobile network modem for Internet connections via LAN or Wi-Fi

## DECT:
- **NEW** For simpler operation by challenged users, the following functions (among others) are available: After activation the soft keys can be used as quick-dial keys, as each key can be assigned a phone number or a function
- **NEW** The SOS call is part of the simple mode and allows up to four emergency contacts to be stored, who are automatically called in sequence in case of emergency Call duration and the number of times the call sequence repeats can be configured
- **NEW** The new "Simple Mode" for the FRITZ!Fon focuses menus and functions on telephony and greatly simplifies operation. The adjustments primarily address the restrictions of older people (accessibility) and give special attention to the needs of more technology-shy users

## Smart Home:
- **NEW** When the "Switch off in case of overload" function is enabled, smart plugs are turned off after a defined period of time when a defined power level is exceeded
- **NEW** Several triggers can be selected when creating the if-this-then-that statement of a routine

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# Further Improvements of FRITZ!OS 8.40

## Mobile Communications:
- **Improved** New software for the mobile modem with improved mobile connection stability
- **Improved** Improved automatic detection of the mobile network operator associated with the SIM card
- **Improved** Automatic detection of the mobile network operator associated with the SIM card now possible even after changing the SIM card

## Internet:
- **Improved** During manual configuration of WireGuard® connections, now VPN connections for user dial-in can be created as well
- **Improved** For local name resolution (via mDNS), the following are supported: fritzbox.local, gateway.local, box.local (FRITZ!Box only), repeater.local, fritzrepeater.local (Repeater/MeshSet only), as well as router.local and gateway.local in general
- **Improved** In parental controls, the function for extending online time by 45 minutes is now supported for shared time budgets as well
- **Improved** Information about the requesting device added to the event message by parental controls about blocked direct IP calls
- **Improved** To guarantee compatibility, the Let's Encrypt certificate for the MyFRITZ!Net address are renewed after the 2/3 of the term of validity for the current certificate has elapsed
- **Improved** Warning messages displayed when creating potentially dangerous port sharings were revised
- **Improved** For VPN connections, additional "remote networks" at the remote site can be added
- **Improved** If a WireGuard® connection drops, data intended for that connection is not sent over the internet connection (kill switch)
- **Improved** Port sharing is also possible for WireGuard® VPN connections that link companies
- **Improved** The MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) can be set manually for all WireGuard® VPN connections
- **Improved** WireGuard® VPN connections can be created without a MyFRITZ!Net or DynDNS address
- **Fixed** Internet blocks for parental controls no longer worked when a VPN connection was used
- **Fixed** After changing the country and time zone settings, the Online Monitor could no longer be opened
- **Fixed** Blocking of devices in the guest network in parental controls did not work as expected
- **Fixed** Internet access (remote access) to the FRITZ!Box could be configured only while the FRITZ!Box was connected to the internet

## Wi-Fi:
- **Fixed** After deactivation of the 5-GHz band on the Mesh Master, it did not always transmit in repeater mode
- **Fixed** Corrected the display of energy consumption with reduced transmitter power

## Mesh:
- **Improved** Via the FRITZ!Box user interface, one or multiple FRITZ! devices can be enabled for Mesh without having to press a button on the FRITZ!Box

## Telephony:
- **Improved** Voice messages can be deleted automatically after a specified waiting period or when a specified count has been exceeded
- **Fixed** In some cases, anonymous incoming calls to the mobile phone number were not signaled

## DECT:
- **Improved** Better support for DECT phones from other manufacturers without support for CAT-iq 2.0
- **Improved** Phone numbers belonging to a phone book entry can now also be sorted later in FRITZ!Fon

## Home Network:
- **Improved** User guidance added for changing and managing IPv4 addresses in the Network Device Details
- **Changed** The DNS suffix "fritz.box" is no longer distributed to home network devices via DHCP by default. Home network devices no longer automatically repeat failed name queries with the ending "fritz.box". The previous type of distribution can be enabled unter "Home Network > Network > Network Settings > Change Advanced Network Settings > IPv4 > DHCP"
- **Fixed** Rendering of special characters in device names was not always correct

## Storage (NAS):
- **Improved** Internet radio stations list preconfigured for more countries
- **Improved** Maximum permissible number of shares raised from 20 to 250

## System:
- **Improved** Clearer rendering of rate information in the "FRITZ!Box Info" push service mail when data capacity or free time was exceeded
- **Improved** The list of home network devices in the "Info" push service mail is now sorted by name
- **Improved** Users can now delete individual devices from the list of known devices before transferring settings to a new FRITZ!Box and receive guidance on managing devices that cannot be reached
- **Improved** More flexibility for selecting the FRITZ!Box name (UTF-8)
- **Improved** Minor corrections and translation updates to the offline help
- **Improved** When push service is enabled, the dispatch ID for sending support information to FRITZ! is also sent to the default recipient by mail
- **Fixed** The FRITZ!Box itself was listed as a connected network device in the "Info" push service mail


[1] Failover protection via the integrated mobile network modem for LAN or Wi-Fi internet connections

With FRITZ!OS 8.40, FRITZ! Failsafe—the failover protection feature for FRITZ!Box—is now available directly on FRITZ! models with mobile connectivity. Unlike DSL, fiber, and cable models, this does not require an additional failover device; instead, the integrated mobile modem itself serves as the failover mechanism for the primary internet connection (previously set up via LAN or Wi-Fi). As part of this update, the ability to use LAN for internet access has also been added to all mobile-enabled FRITZ!Box models running FRITZ!OS 8.40. This allows, for example, an upstream ONT at a fiber connection to be used directly for the primary internet connection, as well as a DSL modem or other upstream internet access device—including other FRITZ!Box units. If the primary internet connection fails, the new FRITZ! Failsafe function kicks in after a user-defined interval, maintaining the home network's internet connection via the integrated mobile modem until the primary connection becomes available again.

[2] Smart Check displays the current status of the FRITZ!Box in the MyFRITZ!App and provides tips and recommendations.

With the new "Smart Check" feature, the MyFRITZ!App now proactively displays the current status of the FRITZ!Box directly on the home screen. Users receive helpful recommendations, tips, and warnings across categories such as F!OS, Smart Home, Telephony, USB, Home Network, Internet, Wi-Fi, LAN, and Security—complete with practical guidance for quick implementation. This allows users to keep track of their home network and ensure optimal performance and security in just a few steps (requires MyFRITZ!App version 2.16.0 for iOS or 2.29.0 for Android). Access the MyFRITZ!App beta for iOS (https://fritz.com/pages/fritz-labor-fuer-ios) and Android (https://fritz.com/pages/fritz-labor-fuer-android).

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History of New Functions and Improvements in FRITZ!OS 8.40
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# Further Improvements of FRITZ!OS 8.40-136257
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initial lab version


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III. Additional Feedback on FRITZ!OS
====================================

In addition to direct feedback in our lab area en.avm.de/fritz-lab, there are three additional feedback functions in the user interface which provide information. FRITZ! has automated the processing of feedback supplied by these functions.

1) Mobile communications feedback: "Internet/5G Information/Feedback"
2) WiFi feedback: "Wireless / Radio Network", Feedback icon after the clients
3) VoIP feedback: "Telephony / Telephone Numbers / Voice Transmission", "Other" column: Feedback icon after each call


IV. Information on the Lab Update
=================================

This FRITZ! Lab firmware is a beta version. FRITZ! tested the software in standard environments before making it available to the public, but it may still result in malfunctions. FRITZ! will not be liable for any damages that arise from the use of the lab version.

Information on Working with Lab Versions

We appreciate any feedback from our users, which can be submitted on the page en.avm.de/fritz-lab.
This page also presents all of the current FRITZ! Lab versions with corresponding feedback areas.

Before You Start Testing the Lab Version

1) You have not installed the latest firmware for your FRITZ!Box yet? Then you must first update the firmware to the latest release.
2) Save your current settings under "System / Backup". The saved settings will be needed if you want to switch back from the lab firmware back to the release firmware.


Testing the Lab Version

Once the latest firmware has been installed on your FRITZ!Box and you have saved your current settings, you can begin testing.

1) Unzip the "fritzbox-6850_5g_v2-labor-xxxxx.zip file".
2) Use the FRITZ!Box user interface to install the update:
- Select "View: Advanced" in the footer.
- Navigate left in the menu to "System / Update".
- Switch to the "FRITZ!OS File" tab.
- Follow the instructions displayed on the screen.
Enter in the input field the path to the lab firmware and the name of the firmware itself (FRITZ.Box_6850_5G_v2-08.40-xxxxx-LabBETA.image).
3) The firmware is transferred to the FRITZ!Box. Then the FRITZ!Box will restart.


Restoring Your Device to the Condition It Was in Before Testing

You can restore the official FRITZ!OS to your FRITZ!Box at any time under "System / Update / FRITZ!OS Version", or reset the FRITZ!Box using the included Windows program "FRITZ.Box_6850_5G_v2-08.25-recover" (included in the lab package).

_________________________________________________________


© FRITZ! GmbH 2004-2026. All rights reserved.

This FRITZ! firmware package contains files that are propagated under different
licenses, in particular under a license held by FRITZ! or under an open-source
license (the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License
or FreeBSD License). For details on the various licenses, see the "license.txt"
file (https://download.avm.de/fritzbox/license.txt).
The source code of the files propagated as open source files can be obtained
upon a written request to fritzbox_info@avm.de.

FRITZ! grants the non-exclusive right to use this FRITZ! firmware package, which
is supplied exclusively in object code format. The licensee may create only
one copy of the software, which may be used exclusively for backup use.
FRITZ! reserves all intellectual property rights except as expressly granted
herein. Without previous approval in writing, and except for in cases
permitted by law, it is particularly forbidden for this FRITZ! firmware packet
to be
- copied, propagated, or in any other manner made publicly accessible, or
- processed, disassembled, reverse engineered, translated, decompiled or in
  any other manner "opened" and subsequently copied, propagated or made
  publicly accessible in any other manner.

_________________________________________________________
TVI 2026-09-04