Borderlands 4 (BL4): Firmware Transfer Machine Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Firmware Transfer Machines are the endgame build-perfection tool in Borderlands 4 — 5 machines placed in Faction Towns and major hubs across Kairos that allow Vault Hunters to move Firmware perks from one piece of gear to another.

All five become active only after completing the main campaign and picking up the introductory endgame mission from Moxxi's Bar.

Every machine location is marked on the interactive BL4 maps.

What Firmware Is in Borderlands 4

Firmware is a set-bonus system introduced in Borderlands 4. Starting at Level 25, Firmware can randomly roll on Repkits, Ordnance, Class Mods, Shields, and Enhancements — the five non-weapon gear slots.

Weapons never carry Firmware. Each Firmware piece belongs to a named set, and equipping multiple pieces of the same set increases its bonus — a 3-piece set activates the full set perk, while combining a 3-piece and a 2-piece set from a different Firmware type allows two simultaneous set bonuses.

The Firmware Transfer Machine exists specifically to move desirable Firmware from weaker gear onto stronger items as Vault Hunters upgrade their loadout.

How to Use a Firmware Transfer Machine

Each transfer follows four steps:

• Select the source item — place the gear containing the Firmware you want to extract in the first slot. This item is permanently destroyed during the transfer regardless of its rarity or value. Confirm you no longer need it before proceeding.

• Select the target item — place the gear you want to receive the Firmware in the second slot. The target must be the same item type as the source: Class Mod to Class Mod, Ordnance to Ordnance, Repkit to Repkit, Shield to Shield, Enhancement to Enhancement. Cross-type transfers are not possible.

• Preview the result — the machine generates a preview of the modified item before the transfer is confirmed, allowing a final check before committing.

• Pay the cost — each transfer costs 80 Eridium plus a cash fee that varies by item pair. Farm Eridium efficiently through Contracts Board Vile Bounties or Moxxi's Big Encore runs to maintain a healthy Eridium reserve for multiple transfers.

The Lock Rule: What Actually Gets Locked

The existing description of the locked mechanic requires clarification. After a transfer:

• The source item is destroyed — it no longer exists.
• The recipient item cannot itself become a donor in a future transfer — the Firmware on it cannot be extracted and moved again.
• The recipient item CAN receive a new Firmware transfer from a different donor — overwriting its current Firmware with newer or better Firmware from another source item.

Firmware is not permanently fixed to a recipient. If a better Firmware set becomes available later, a new transfer can overwrite the existing one on the same piece of gear.

Plan transfers with this flexibility in mind rather than treating the first transfer as a permanent commitment.

All 5 Firmware Transfer Machine Locations

All five machines unlock simultaneously after completing the main campaign and the introductory Moxxi's Bar mission. An icon appears above each machine when using Echo-4 scanning:

• The Howl — inside a building in The Launchpad Faction Town
• Ruined Sumplands — next to a couch by a glass wall inside the main building of Carcadia Faction Town
• The Low Leys — between two sets of stairs on a platform inside Belton's Bore Faction Town
• Heart of the Mountain — next to the ramp leading inside the ship at Bones of Sanctuary
• Carcadia District — inside the Safehouse in Dominion City