On August 11, 2026, AVM released a new FRITZ! Lab, showcasing additional features from the upcoming FRITZ!OS 8.50. The focus is on a new Smart Check in the MyFRITZ! app, a network-wide DNS filter, automatic prioritization for video conferences, and an SOS call feature for the FRITZ!Fon. If you’d like to test it out, you can find the Lab version as usual at fritz.com/labor.
In a nutshell:
- Smart Check in the MyFRITZ! app provides diagnostics for the Internet, Wi-Fi, phone service, and smart home right on the home screen
- The new DNS filter simultaneously blocks ads, trackers, phishing sites, and malware for all devices on the home network
- Automatic prioritization stabilizes video conferences, initially for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro and 7690
- FRITZ! Failsafe now also works on FRITZ!Box 4G and 5G models via a LAN connection
- Simple mode for FRITZ!Fon with SOS call for up to four emergency contacts
- FRITZ!Smart Energy 200 and 210 automatically shut off in case of overload; routines allow for multiple combined triggers
Smart Check shows the status of the FRITZ!Box at a glance
Until now, you had to click through several menus to see if everything was okay with your FRITZ!Box. The new Smart Check changes that: It runs in the MyFRITZ! app and displays the current status directly on the home screen, broken down into the categories Internet, Telephony, Home Network, Wi-Fi, LAN, USB, Smart Home, and Security. For example, if the mesh connection to a repeater is missing, Smart Check flags this and immediately provides a suggestion for resolving the issue. Tips for dealing with calls from premium-rate numbers are also included in the feature set.
In the beta version of the app, simply tapping the status opens the full analysis. Additionally, the current app version provides direct access to the newly integrated service pages with a chatbot as well as the FRITZ! Online Shop.
DNS Filter blocks ads, trackers, and phishing across the entire home network
With the new DNS filter, you can simultaneously block access to unwanted websites for all devices on your home network—whether it’s a smartphone, smart TV, laptop, or smart light bulb. This applies to sites with excessive advertising, tracking, or known malware, as well as phishing sites and botnet addresses. If a device on the network attempts to access a blocked address, the FRITZ!Box automatically blocks the request before the connection is even established.
A practical feature: The FRITZ!Box supports common formats for block lists, so freely available lists and those maintained by the community can also be integrated. Users who already have their own rules for parental controls or port forwarding can run the DNS filter alongside them as an additional layer of protection.
Automatic prioritization ensures more stable video conferences
Anyone who works from home has probably experienced choppy connections in the middle of a video call. This is exactly where automatic prioritization comes in: It automatically detects real-time traffic—such as video conferences—and gives it priority on the home network, without any manual configuration. If a prioritized connection is currently active, the user interface displays this directly on the respective network device, and the information remains visible for up to 24 hours.
The feature is currently available in the FRITZ! Lab for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro and the FRITZ!Box 7690. According to AVM, it will be expanded to additional models in the coming weeks leading up to the rollout of FRITZ!OS 8.50.
FRITZ! Failsafe Now Also Available for 4G and 5G Routers
FRITZ! Failsafe has long ensured that users do not go completely offline when their landline connection is disrupted. What’s new is that this safeguard now also works on FRITZ!Box 4G and 5G models. This is possible because, for the first time, these devices can access the internet via a LAN port—for example, through an upstream ONT connected to a fiber-optic line.
If the landline connection fails, the cellular connection automatically and temporarily takes over Internet access for the home network. For households with only one access point, this is a noticeable security boost, especially when working from home or when smart devices need to be online at all times.
Simple Mode and SOS Call for the FRITZ!Fon
The new “Simple Mode” reduces the FRITZ!Fon’s menus and functions to just making calls, making it ideal for older adults and anyone who prefers traditional phone use over navigating complex settings. Once activated, the selection keys can be assigned as speed-dial keys, with each key corresponding to a specific phone number or function.
Part of this mode is the SOS call: It allows you to store up to four emergency contacts, which are automatically called one after the other in an emergency. You can set the duration and repetition of the call sequence individually, which is designed to save valuable time in an emergency.
Energy-Saving Features and More Flexible Routines in the Smart Home
There have also been some developments in the smart home sector. The FRITZ!Smart Energy 200 and 210 smart outlets can now be configured to automatically shut off if a defined power limit is exceeded after a set duration—a practical feature for devices that would otherwise draw unnecessary power in the event of a malfunction. Users who have a compatible FRITZ!Smart Thermo 303 or other Matter-enabled radiator thermostats will also benefit from the new automation options.
Frequently used routines such as “Leaving Home,” “Coming Home,” or “Vacation” can now be linked to zones (geofences) that were previously set up in the FRITZ!App Smart Home. The next update will also introduce combinable routine triggers, allowing you to specify, for example, that a routine only activates once all residents have actually left the house. In addition, the Lab is bringing the Matter feature—which was already introduced in July for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro—into the official framework of FRITZ!OS 8.50: As a Matter bridge, FRITZ! Smart Home devices and compatible products from other manufacturers can be integrated into Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa. We’ve already described how this works in detail in our article on the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro as a Matter bridge.
Availability: How to Test the New FRITZ! Lab
The latest update is already the third step in the Lab on the path to FRITZ!OS 8.50. In May, AVM laid the groundwork for the MyFRITZ!App and Migration Assistant, among other features, with the first preview of FRITZ!OS 8.50; the Matter bridge for the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro followed in July. The new version now adds Smart Check, DNS filtering, automatic prioritization, a failsafe for mobile models, and the FRITZ!Fon updates.
The lab firmware and instructions for testing the new MyFRITZ!App are available for download at fritz.com/labor. As with any beta version, this software comes directly from development and is not yet intended for continuous use. Before installation, it’s a good idea to back up your current settings in case you need to revert to the regular firmware.
Conclusion
With Smart Check, DNS Filter, and enhanced automatic prioritization, FRITZ!OS 8.50 bundles several features that can noticeably simplify everyday life on your home network without requiring you to delve deeply into settings. In particular, the SOS call feature for the FRITZ!Fon and the enhanced failsafe for 4G and 5G models demonstrate that AVM is not only focusing on convenience features but is also specifically working to improve security and reliability. However, it will likely be some time before the final rollout of FRITZ!OS 8.50, and as is usual with lab versions, the software remains in beta for now—intended for users who want to try out new features early and provide feedback to AVM.
