@caver01 said in 8Bitdo -> checking firmware version ?:

@jeffjordan Well, none of us here can really speak to the quality/effectiveness of their flashing utility. ....

Of course not !
this is a retropie related forum and my question was "at the edge" of being off-topic.
just wanted to inform other users with my reply about the curious behaviour.
and yes: you need to get into the mode where you can flash the pad, you need to press <power> & <pair> for a few seconds, until the pad led's flash yellow; afterwards you can connect the pad to the usb port...