Bambu Lab Authorization Control System: Difference between revisions

Line 69:

=== Reduced Home Automation Capabilities ===

While basic status monitoring remains available (e.g., print progress updates in Home Assistant), the new firmware removes the ability for home automation systems to control printer functions. Users can no longer:

* Start or stop prints remotely via Home Assistant

* Start or stop prints remotely via Home Assistant or BTT Panda Touch or other third party accessories and/or software interfaces

* Control printer temperatures or cooling

* Automate printer behaviors based on sensor data or events

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=== Permanent Nature of the Update ===

Once a printer is updated to the new firmware, users cannot revert to previous versions that allowed fuller third-party integration. This creates a one-way transition that permanently removes capabilities users had when purchasing their printer. While Bambu Lab presents this as optional for existing users, all new printers will ship with the restricted firmware pre-installed, eliminating user choice entirely<ref>https://blog.bambulab.com/firmware-update-introducing-new-authorization-control-system-2/</ref>.

Once a printer is updated to the new firmware, users cannot revert to previous versions that allowed fuller third-party integration. This creates a one-way transition that permanently removes capabilities users had when purchasing their printer. While Bambu Lab presents this as optional for existing users, all new printers will ship with the restricted firmware pre-installed, eliminating user choice entirely<ref>https://blog.bambulab.com/firmware-update-introducing-new-authorization-control-system-2/</ref>.\

The manufacturer states this change is required for security, but community members note that many of the security vulnerabilities being addressed stem from Bambu's own cloud-centric design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/12</ref>. The update forces users into Bambu's ecosystem of applications & cloud services, regardless of their preferences or needs for local network automation.

This is a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software & home automation tools. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, demonstrates how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.

For users that would want to use a third-party slicer, Bambu would require those users to download and install Bambu Connect in order to send gcode wirelessly over LAN or over the cloud. While Bambu claims that they were in contact with Softfever, the developer of Orcaslicer, as of writing, Softfever still does not have any keys for Bambu Connect.

== Impact on Functionality ==

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 === Reduced Home Automation Capabilities ===
 While basic status monitoring remains available (e.g., print progress updates in Home Assistant), the new firmware removes the ability for home automation systems to control printer functions. Users can no longer:
-* Start or stop prints remotely via Home Assistant
+* Start or stop prints remotely via Home Assistant or BTT Panda Touch or other third party accessories and/or software interfaces
 * Control printer temperatures or cooling
 * Automate printer behaviors based on sensor data or events
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 === Permanent Nature of the Update ===
-Once a printer is updated to the new firmware, users cannot revert to previous versions that allowed fuller third-party integration. This creates a one-way transition that permanently removes capabilities users had when purchasing their printer. While Bambu Lab presents this as optional for existing users, all new printers will ship with the restricted firmware pre-installed, eliminating user choice entirely<ref>https://blog.bambulab.com/firmware-update-introducing-new-authorization-control-system-2/</ref>.
+Once a printer is updated to the new firmware, users cannot revert to previous versions that allowed fuller third-party integration. This creates a one-way transition that permanently removes capabilities users had when purchasing their printer. While Bambu Lab presents this as optional for existing users, all new printers will ship with the restricted firmware pre-installed, eliminating user choice entirely<ref>https://blog.bambulab.com/firmware-update-introducing-new-authorization-control-system-2/</ref>.\
 The manufacturer states this change is required for security, but community members note that many of the security vulnerabilities being addressed stem from Bambu's own cloud-centric design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/12</ref>. The update forces users into Bambu's ecosystem of applications & cloud services, regardless of their preferences or needs for local network automation.
 This is a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software & home automation tools. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, demonstrates how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.
+For users that would want to use a third-party slicer, Bambu would require those users to download and install Bambu Connect in order to send gcode wirelessly over LAN or over the cloud. While Bambu claims that they were in contact with Softfever, the developer of Orcaslicer, as of writing, Softfever still does not have any keys for Bambu Connect.
 == Impact on Functionality ==