Operational Excellence
Stop Typing Wi-Fi Passwords Into ZKTeco Clocks
There's a faster way: build a single options2.cfg, put it on a USB, then apply System → Upgrade Options to set Wi-Fi, URLs, IP, and more in seconds. Free tool included.
Skip on-device typing—apply settings in seconds
Why This Matters
ZKTeco biometric time clocks have a powerful but underutilized feature: USB Upgrade Options. Most installers never discover it. Here's what it does: create a simple text file called options2.cfg, put it on a USB drive, plug it into the device, then navigate to System → Upgrade Options. In seconds, all your settings are applied—Wi-Fi credentials, server URLs, network configuration, timezone settings, you name it. (We built a free tool to generate these files for you.)
Manual vs USB (per device)
| Task | Manual Entry | USB config |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi SSID + Password | 2–5 min | — |
| Server URL + Port | 1–2 min | — |
| IP/Gateway/DNS | 2–3 min | — |
| Timezone/Format | ~1 min | — |
| Apply / Verify | ~1 min | 30 sec |
| Total per device | 7–12 min | ~30 sec |
For 20 devices: ~3–4 hours → ~10 minutes
*Actual times vary by model and environment.
How to Create a Configuration File
The options2.cfg file is simple. Each line is a key–value pair. Example:
DHCP=1
WifiOn=1
WirelessSSID=YourNetworkName
WirelessKey=YourSecurePassword
WebServerURLModel=1
ICLOCKSVRURL=https://yourdomain.com/sync/endpoint
Save as options2.cfg → copy to USB → on device go to System → Upgrade Options.
Heads-up: Supported keys differ by model/firmware. The free generator only shows valid options and formats for common time-attendance models.
Free: ZKTeco USB Upgrade Options Generator
Pick Ethernet/Wi-Fi, server URLs, user/attendance options, and more. Download a clean options2.cfg—no syntax guessing, no manual typing.
- Guides you through common settings – Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cloud server, UI, access control
- Validates formats before download – No syntax errors, no invalid values
- Share configs via URL for team use – Build once, share the link, deploy everywhere
Compatibility
Works with many ZKTeco time-attendance models. Exact keys can vary by firmware; always test one device before fleet rollout.
Next Step: Zero-Touch Setup with Reliatime
Today, you can generate per-client USB configs in minutes. Next, clocks will self-configure the moment they connect to Reliatime—no USB, no manual steps. Perfect for multi-site, multi-client deployments.
Stop configuring clocks one by one.
Let's talk about per-client policies, automatic provisioning, and fleet health.