diff --git a/include/librealsense2/h/rs_device.h b/include/librealsense2/h/rs_device.h
index 156825a08be..c3d9ab86a16 100644
--- a/include/librealsense2/h/rs_device.h
+++ b/include/librealsense2/h/rs_device.h
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ int rs2_supports_device_info(const rs2_device* device, rs2_camera_info info, rs2
  */
 void rs2_hardware_reset(const rs2_device * device, rs2_error ** error);
 
+/**
+* Check if a camera is in recovery mode
+* \param[in]  device    The RealSense device to check
+* \param[out] error     If non-null, receives any error that occurs during this call, otherwise, errors are ignored*/
+int rs2_is_in_recovery_mode(const rs2_device* device, rs2_error** error);
+
 /**
 * Build debug_protocol raw data command from opcode, parameters and data.
 * The result can be used as raw_data_to_send parameter in send_and_receive_raw_data
diff --git a/include/librealsense2/hpp/rs_device.hpp b/include/librealsense2/hpp/rs_device.hpp
index 7c06c3d757b..3909662afb2 100644
--- a/include/librealsense2/hpp/rs_device.hpp
+++ b/include/librealsense2/hpp/rs_device.hpp
@@ -130,6 +130,17 @@ namespace rs2
             error::handle(e);
         }
 
+        /**
+        * Find if a camera is in recovery mode
+        */
+        bool is_in_recovery_mode()
+        {
+            rs2_error* e = nullptr;
+            auto result = rs2_is_in_recovery_mode(_dev.get(), &e);
+            error::handle(e);
+            return result;
+        }
+
         device& operator=(const std::shared_ptr<rs2_device> dev)
         {
             _dev.reset();
diff --git a/src/core/device-interface.h b/src/core/device-interface.h
index 478112488c2..ebf100a3b7f 100644
--- a/src/core/device-interface.h
+++ b/src/core/device-interface.h
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ class device_interface
 
     virtual bool is_valid() const = 0;
 
+    virtual bool is_in_recovery_mode() const = 0;
+
     virtual std::vector< tagged_profile > get_profiles_tags() const = 0;
 
     using stream_profiles = std::vector< std::shared_ptr< stream_profile_interface > >;
diff --git a/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.cpp b/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.cpp
index 4b759d7d8ba..3e5b1985393 100644
--- a/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.cpp
+++ b/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.cpp
@@ -659,6 +659,11 @@ void dds_device_proxy::hardware_reset()
     _dds_dev->send_control( control, &reply );
 }
 
+bool dds_device_proxy::is_in_recovery_mode() const
+{
+    return _dds_dev->device_info().is_recovery();
+}
+
 std::string dds_device_proxy::get_opcode_string(int opcode) const
 {
     std::string product_line = get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_PRODUCT_LINE);
diff --git a/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.h b/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.h
index 5e6814499d5..acd4b2f6f42 100644
--- a/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.h
+++ b/src/dds/rs-dds-device-proxy.h
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ class dds_device_proxy
 
     void hardware_reset() override;
 
+    bool is_in_recovery_mode() const override;
+
     // calibration_change_device
 public:
     void register_calibration_change_callback( rs2_calibration_change_callback_sptr callback ) override
diff --git a/src/device.h b/src/device.h
index cc9bc0af97f..370541a91b0 100644
--- a/src/device.h
+++ b/src/device.h
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ class device
 
     bool is_valid() const override { return *_is_alive; }
 
+    bool is_in_recovery_mode() const override { return false; }
+
     void tag_profiles(stream_profiles profiles) const override;
 
     virtual bool compress_while_record() const override { return true; }
diff --git a/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.cpp b/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.cpp
index 469d41c298c..e2c7cb2938c 100644
--- a/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.cpp
+++ b/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.cpp
@@ -398,6 +398,11 @@ namespace librealsense
         return true;
     }
 
+    bool update_device::is_in_recovery_mode() const
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     std::vector<tagged_profile> update_device::get_profiles_tags() const
     {
         return std::vector<tagged_profile>();
diff --git a/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.h b/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.h
index 3a184fae66c..d4fa81c4f12 100644
--- a/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.h
+++ b/src/fw-update/fw-update-device.h
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ namespace librealsense
 
         virtual bool is_valid() const override;
 
+        virtual bool is_in_recovery_mode() const override;
+
         virtual std::vector<tagged_profile> get_profiles_tags() const override;
 
         virtual void tag_profiles(stream_profiles profiles) const override;
diff --git a/src/media/playback/playback_device.cpp b/src/media/playback/playback_device.cpp
index aa5e8b425c3..3c1e7966f47 100644
--- a/src/media/playback/playback_device.cpp
+++ b/src/media/playback/playback_device.cpp
@@ -429,6 +429,11 @@ bool playback_device::is_valid() const
     return true;
 }
 
+bool playback_device::is_in_recovery_mode() const
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
 void playback_device::update_time_base(device_serializer::nanoseconds base_timestamp)
 {
     m_base_sys_time = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
diff --git a/src/media/playback/playback_device.h b/src/media/playback/playback_device.h
index 9fcff5891fd..7cbdd52ccce 100644
--- a/src/media/playback/playback_device.h
+++ b/src/media/playback/playback_device.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ namespace librealsense
         std::pair<uint32_t, rs2_extrinsics> get_extrinsics(const stream_interface& stream) const override;
         static bool try_extend_snapshot(std::shared_ptr<extension_snapshot>& e, rs2_extension extension_type, void** ext);
         bool is_valid() const override;
+        bool is_in_recovery_mode() const override;
 
         std::vector<tagged_profile> get_profiles_tags() const override { return std::vector<tagged_profile>(); };//no hard-coded default streams for playback
         void tag_profiles(stream_profiles profiles) const override
diff --git a/src/media/record/record_device.cpp b/src/media/record/record_device.cpp
index c5ecec3d77f..6b12d607631 100644
--- a/src/media/record/record_device.cpp
+++ b/src/media/record/record_device.cpp
@@ -465,3 +465,8 @@ bool record_device::is_valid() const
 {
     return m_device->is_valid();
 }
+
+bool record_device::is_in_recovery_mode() const
+{
+    return m_device->is_in_recovery_mode();
+}
diff --git a/src/media/record/record_device.h b/src/media/record/record_device.h
index 5957eb9acd8..9ffa43a1e17 100644
--- a/src/media/record/record_device.h
+++ b/src/media/record/record_device.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ namespace librealsense
         std::shared_ptr< const device_info > get_device_info() const override;
         std::pair<uint32_t, rs2_extrinsics> get_extrinsics(const stream_interface& stream) const override;
         bool is_valid() const override;
+        bool is_in_recovery_mode() const override;
 
         std::vector<tagged_profile> get_profiles_tags() const override { return m_device->get_profiles_tags(); };
         void tag_profiles(stream_profiles profiles) const override { m_device->tag_profiles(profiles); }
diff --git a/src/realsense.def b/src/realsense.def
index f79a5bc4c0a..1db0f00a4d8 100644
--- a/src/realsense.def
+++ b/src/realsense.def
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ EXPORTS
     rs2_start_cpp
     rs2_stop
     rs2_hardware_reset
+    rs2_is_in_recovery_mode
 
     rs2_set_notifications_callback
     rs2_set_notifications_callback_cpp
diff --git a/src/rs.cpp b/src/rs.cpp
index b5bf2b1c6ba..95bf5c95240 100644
--- a/src/rs.cpp
+++ b/src/rs.cpp
@@ -1748,6 +1748,14 @@ void rs2_hardware_reset(const rs2_device* device, rs2_error** error) BEGIN_API_C
 }
 HANDLE_EXCEPTIONS_AND_RETURN(, device)
 
+int rs2_is_in_recovery_mode(const rs2_device* device, rs2_error** error) BEGIN_API_CALL
+{
+    VALIDATE_NOT_NULL(device);
+    VALIDATE_NOT_NULL(device->device);
+    return device->device->is_in_recovery_mode();
+}
+HANDLE_EXCEPTIONS_AND_RETURN(0, device)
+
 // Verify  and provide API version encoded as integer value
 int rs2_get_api_version(rs2_error** error) BEGIN_API_CALL
 {
diff --git a/tools/fw-update/rs-fw-update.cpp b/tools/fw-update/rs-fw-update.cpp
index 4d6d974d24d..81db78c4f80 100644
--- a/tools/fw-update/rs-fw-update.cpp
+++ b/tools/fw-update/rs-fw-update.cpp
@@ -45,12 +45,6 @@ std::vector<uint8_t> read_fw_file(std::string file_path)
     std::vector<uint8_t> rv;
 
     std::ifstream file(file_path, std::ios::in | std::ios::binary | std::ios::ate);
-    auto file_deleter = std::unique_ptr< std::ifstream, void (*)(std::ifstream*) >(&file,
-        [](std::ifstream* file)
-        {
-            if (file)
-                file->close();
-        });
     if (file.is_open())
     {
         rv.resize(file.tellg());
@@ -175,33 +169,35 @@ void waiting_for_device_to_reconnect(rs2::context& ctx, rs2::cli::value<std::str
 
 }
 
+bool is_fw_compatible(const rs2::device& dev, const std::vector< uint8_t >& fw_image)
+{
+    auto upd = dev.as<rs2::updatable>();
+    if ( !upd )
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Device could not be used as updatable device");
+    }
+    // checking compatibility bewtween firmware and device
+    if ( !upd.check_firmware_compatibility( fw_image ) )
+    {
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        ss << "This firmware version is not compatible with ";
+        ss << dev.get_info( RS2_CAMERA_INFO_NAME ) << std::endl;
+        std::cout << std::endl << ss.str() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
 int write_fw_to_mipi_device(rs2::context& ctx, rs2::cli::value<std::string>& serial_number_arg, const rs2::device& dev, const std::vector< uint8_t >& fw_image)
 {
     // Write firmware to appropriate file descriptor
     std::cout << std::endl << "Update can take up to 2 minutes" << std::endl;
     std::ofstream fw_path_in_device( dev.get_info( RS2_CAMERA_INFO_DFU_DEVICE_PATH ), std::ios::binary );
-    auto file_deleter = std::unique_ptr< std::ofstream, void ( * )( std::ofstream * ) >( &fw_path_in_device,
-                                                                                         []( std::ofstream * file )
-                                                                                         {
-                                                                                             if( file )
-                                                                                                 file->close();
-                                                                                         } );
+
     if( fw_path_in_device )
     {
-        auto upd = dev.as<rs2::updatable>();
-        if ( !upd )
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("Device could not be used as updatable device");
-        }
-        // checking compatibility bewtween firmware and device
-        if( !upd.check_firmware_compatibility( fw_image ) )
-        {
-            std::stringstream ss;
-            ss << "This firmware version is not compatible with ";
-            ss << dev.get_info( RS2_CAMERA_INFO_NAME ) << std::endl;
-            std::cout << std::endl << ss.str() << std::endl;
+        if (!is_fw_compatible(dev, fw_image))
             return EXIT_FAILURE;
-        }
 
         bool burn_done = false;
         std::thread show_progress_thread(
@@ -322,7 +318,7 @@ try
 
         for (auto&& d : devs)
         {
-            if (!d.is< rs2::update_device >())
+            if (!d.is_in_recovery_mode())
                 continue;
             auto sn = d.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_FIRMWARE_UPDATE_ID);
             if (!selected_serial_number.empty() && sn != selected_serial_number)
@@ -347,7 +343,7 @@ try
             ctx.set_devices_changed_callback([&](rs2::event_information& info) {
                 for (auto&& d : info.get_new_devices())
                 {
-                    if (d.is< rs2::update_device >())
+                    if (d.is_in_recovery_mode()) 
                         continue;
                     auto recovery_sn = d.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_FIRMWARE_UPDATE_ID);
                     if (recovery_sn == update_serial_number)
@@ -363,6 +359,13 @@ try
                 });
             std::cout << std::endl << "Recovering device: " << std::endl;
             print_device_info(recovery_device);
+            
+            std::string camera_name = recovery_device.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_NAME);
+            // on D555 check FW compatibility also sends FW to the device
+            if (camera_name.find("D555") != std::string::npos &&
+                (!is_fw_compatible(recovery_device, fw_image)))
+                return EXIT_FAILURE;
+
             update(recovery_device, fw_image);
             std::cout << "Waiting for new device..." << std::endl;
             if (!d457_recovery_device)
@@ -404,7 +407,7 @@ try
             for (auto&& d : info.get_new_devices())
             {
                 std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
-                if (d.is<rs2::update_device>() && (d.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_FIRMWARE_UPDATE_ID) == update_serial_number))
+                if (d.is_in_recovery_mode() && (d.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_FIRMWARE_UPDATE_ID) == update_serial_number))
                     new_fw_update_device = d;
                 else
                     new_device = d;
@@ -424,7 +427,7 @@ try
     if (devs.size() == 1)
     {
         auto dev = devs[0];
-        if (dev.is< rs2::update_device >() && !dev.is< rs2::updatable >())
+        if (dev.is_in_recovery_mode() && !dev.is< rs2::updatable >())
         {
             std::cout << std::endl << "Device is in recovery mode, use -r to recover" << std::endl << std::endl;
             return EXIT_FAILURE;
@@ -486,12 +489,6 @@ try
             {
                 auto temp = backup_arg.getValue();
                 std::ofstream file(temp.c_str(), std::ios::binary);
-                auto file_deleter = std::unique_ptr< std::ofstream, void (*)(std::ofstream*) >(&file,
-                    [](std::ofstream* file)
-                    {
-                        if (file)
-                            file->close();
-                    });
                 try
                 {
                     file.write((const char*)flash.data(), flash.size());
@@ -543,22 +540,10 @@ try
             }
             else
             {
-                auto upd = d.as<rs2::updatable>();
-
-                if ( !upd )
-                {
-                    throw std::runtime_error("Device could not be used as updatable device");
-                }
-                // checking compatibility bewtween firmware and device
-                if( !upd.check_firmware_compatibility( fw_image ) )
-                {
-                    std::stringstream ss;
-                    ss << "This firmware version is not compatible with ";
-                    ss << d.get_info(RS2_CAMERA_INFO_NAME) << std::endl;
-                    std::cout << std::endl << ss.str() << std::endl;
+                if (!is_fw_compatible(d, fw_image))
                     return EXIT_FAILURE;
-                }
 
+                auto upd = d.as<rs2::updatable>();
                 upd.enter_update_state();
 
                 // Some devices may immediately get in an update state?
diff --git a/unit-tests/py/rspy/devices.py b/unit-tests/py/rspy/devices.py
index 1c30ccbfa55..623acef91cd 100644
--- a/unit-tests/py/rspy/devices.py
+++ b/unit-tests/py/rspy/devices.py
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ def recovery():
     :return: A set of all device serial-numbers that are in recovery mode
     """
     global _device_by_sn
-    return { device.serial_number for device in _device_by_sn.values() if device.handle.is_update_device() }
+    return { device.serial_number for device in _device_by_sn.values() if device.handle.is_in_recovery_mode() }
 
 
 def enable_only( serial_numbers, recycle = False, timeout = MAX_ENUMERATION_TIME ):
diff --git a/unit-tests/test-fw-update.py b/unit-tests/test-fw-update.py
index dea11d99a74..73c9da27d3f 100644
--- a/unit-tests/test-fw-update.py
+++ b/unit-tests/test-fw-update.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def find_image_or_exit( product_name, fw_version_regex = r'(\d+\.){3}(\d+)' ):
 test.start( "Update FW" )
 # check if recovery. If so recover
 recovered = False
-if device.is_update_device():
+if device.is_in_recovery_mode():
     log.d( "recovering device ..." )
     try:
         # always flash signed fw when device on recovery befre flashing anything else
diff --git a/wrappers/python/pyrs_device.cpp b/wrappers/python/pyrs_device.cpp
index f5bf0a9633e..25d691fa093 100644
--- a/wrappers/python/pyrs_device.cpp
+++ b/wrappers/python/pyrs_device.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ void init_device(py::module &m) {
         .def("__nonzero__", &rs2::device::operator bool) // Called to implement truth value testing in Python 2
         .def("__bool__", &rs2::device::operator bool) // Called to implement truth value testing in Python 3
         .def( "is_connected", &rs2::device::is_connected )
+        .def("is_in_recovery_mode", &rs2::device::is_in_recovery_mode)
         .def(BIND_DOWNCAST(device, debug_protocol))
         .def(BIND_DOWNCAST(device, playback))
         .def(BIND_DOWNCAST(device, recorder))