Minelab has rolled out a major software update for the Minelab Manticore (build 6.20.0-3.7.1), and it's one of the more meaningful firmware releases the machine has had. It adds a genuinely useful new Stabiliser control, sharpens small-gold sensitivity, and layers in a stack of quality-of-life improvements. If you own a Manticore, it's a free update worth doing. Below is what's actually new, which changes matter most in the field, and exactly how to install it.
Already own a Manticore? Jump to how to update. Still deciding on a flagship? See our best flagship metal detectors guide for the full lineup, or compare it head-to-head in our Manticore vs Equinox 900 breakdown.
Is this update worth installing?
Short answer: yes, and there's no reason not to. It's free, your saved settings are preserved through the update, and the Stabiliser setting alone changes how the Manticore behaves in iron-heavy ground. If you hunt trashy relic sites or old home sites, you'll feel the difference immediately. Gold prospectors get a real bump too. Everyone else at least gets the stability, language, and shortcut improvements. We update every Manticore that comes through our shop before it ships, and we'd tell any owner to do the same.
What's new in the Manticore update
Here's each change, plus what it actually means when you're swinging the coil — not just the spec sheet.
1. Stabiliser Setting (the headline feature)
A new Stabiliser control has been added to the All-Terrain search modes, adjustable from 0 to 12. It settles the audio and steadies your Target IDs at sites where iron is making the machine "false" — those phantom high tones over nails and iron trash that make you dig junk. In our experience this is the most impactful change in the whole update. On iron-saturated ground — colonial home sites, old farm fields, relic-heavy dirt — a moderate Stabiliser setting cleans up the chatter without you having to bury sensitivity. It's the setting we reach for first now on trashy ground.
2. Enhanced Goldfield Search Mode
Goldfield mode has been reworked for noticeably better sensitivity to small, sub-gram gold. This was a fair criticism of the earlier software — the Manticore is a formidable all-terrain machine, but a few prospectors felt Goldfield mode left performance on the table. The update meaningfully closes that gap. To be straight with you: a dedicated pulse-induction detector still goes deeper on the tiniest nuggets in extreme mineralization, so if nugget hunting is your whole game, browse our gold detectors collection for a purpose-built machine. But if you want one detector that handles coins, relics, the beach and gets serious about small gold, the improved Goldfield mode makes the Manticore a much stronger all-rounder.
3. Soft Key Shortcuts
You can now assign soft-key shortcuts to jump straight to the controls you change most — Search Mode, Flashlight, Display Brightness, Sensitivity Boost, Clear ID Map, Speaker Mute, Recovery Speed, and Frequency. It sounds minor until you're standing over a target in fading light and can toggle the flashlight or nudge recovery speed without diving into menus. Set these up once for how you hunt and the machine gets noticeably faster to run.
4. Customisable Ferrous Target ID
You can now highlight ferrous Target IDs in red on the display. It's a small visual change that pays off for anyone who relies on the screen as much as the audio — iron reads jump out at a glance, so you spend less time second-guessing a number and more time deciding whether to dig.
5. Underwater Headphone Boost
A new Underwater Boost raises headphone volume when you're using Minelab's waterproof accessory headphones (sold separately), so you can actually hear faint targets over wave and water noise while wading or in the surf. If you hunt wet, it's a genuine improvement. Grab a set of Minelab waterproof headphones if you don't have them yet.
6. Language Customisation
The interface is now available in ten languages: English, French, German, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Hindi.
7. General Stability Enhancements
The release also includes a range of under-the-hood fixes: better Beach Mode ground balance on dry sand, refined default settings across search modes, and improved wireless-audio connection stability, among others. Owners have reported the machine running smoother at higher sensitivity settings after updating.
How to update your Minelab Manticore
Minelab handles the update through its free Minelab Update Utility (MUU), which walks you through the process automatically. A few things worth knowing before you start:
- You'll need a laptop or desktop computer (Windows or Mac) with a USB 2.0 port — phones and tablets aren't supported.
- Use the Manticore USB charging cable with the magnetic connector, and make sure the coil is connected and the detector is powered on throughout the update.
- Your user settings are preserved — you won't lose your saved modes.
- You need internet to download the MUU, but not to run the update — the update itself can be done offline.
- The ML 105 wireless headphones have their own separate update (and a separate MUU). If you run ML 105 headphones, update them too — it improves connection stability with the Manticore.
- If an update ever gets interrupted, don't panic — the MUU can recover the detector. Just reconnect and restart the process.
Download the utility and follow Minelab's step-by-step instructions here: Minelab Manticore Software Upgrade (official). The version to watch for during install is 6.20.0-3.7.1.
Prefer to watch it done first? Here's a full walkthrough of the update and its key features:
Manticore update FAQ
Will I lose my settings when I update?
No. Minelab confirms user settings are preserved during the update. As always, it's not a bad idea to note your favorite mode settings beforehand, just for peace of mind.
Can I update from my phone?
No — the Minelab Update Utility only runs on a Windows or Mac computer with a USB 2.0 port. Smartphones and tablets aren't compatible.
Is the update free?
Yes. Minelab's software updates for the Manticore are free to download and install.
Can I go back to the previous version?
Yes. The MUU keeps previous releases — you can downgrade from the utility's menu if you ever need to.
Do I need to update my ML 105 headphones separately?
Yes, if you use them. The headphones have their own update and utility, and updating them improves wireless stability with the Manticore.
Ready to get a Manticore — or gear it up?
The Manticore keeps getting better, and this update is a good reminder of why it sits at the top of Minelab's lineup. Whether you're buying your first one or kitting out the one you own:
- Shop the full Minelab Manticore lineup — detectors, bundles, coils, and accessories, from an authorized US dealer with free shipping over $99.
- Not sure it's the right Minelab for you? Read our Best Minelab Metal Detectors guide.
- Cross-shopping the top machines? See our best flagship metal detectors guide and our Manticore vs Equinox 900 comparison.
- Chasing gold specifically? Browse dedicated gold detectors.
- Expand your Manticore with additional Manticore coils and headphones.
Questions about whether the Manticore fits your sites? Our team runs these machines in the field and answers calls daily — reach out and we'll point you the right way.
