meshtastic/docs/getting-started/flashing-esp32.md

---
id: flashing-esp32
title: Flashing ESP32 devices firmware
sidebar_label: ESP32 devices
---

import Tabs from '@theme/Tabs';
import TabItem from '@theme/TabItem';

## Prerequisites

### Check Data Cable

Plug your device into your computer using a USB cable and then do the following:
:::important
You may need to install a driver from Silicon Labs for the [CP210X USB to UART bridge](https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers)

Some newer boards may require the drivers for the [CH9102 Windows](http://www.wch.cn/downloads/CH343SER_ZIP.html) or [Direct Download](https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/CH9102_Driver) for Windows 7. For [CH9102 Mac](http://www.wch.cn/downloads/CH34XSER_MAC_ZIP.html). Click the big blue button with the down arrow. Be sure to open up the application and click "Install" after the package is installed. Also, reboot.
:::

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Connect your Meshtastic device to your USB port, open a `Terminal` and enter the following command:

```bash
lsusb
```

You should see something like: `ID 10c4:ea60 Silicon Labs CP210x UART Bridge` for CP210X or `ID 1a86:55d4 QinHeng Electronics USB Single Serial` for CH9102

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="macos">

Navigate to `Apple Menu  > About This Mac > System Report... > Hardware > USB`. You should see something like `CP210X USB to UART Bridge Controller`. If not download the appropriate drivers

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="windows">

Navigate to `Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT)`. You should see something like `Silicon Labs CP210X USB to UART Bridge (COM5)`. If not download the appropriate drivers

  </TabItem>
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### Download Latest Firmware

Firmware can be downloaded from the [Downloads](/downloads) page. Your initial installation has to happen over USB from your Mac, Windows, or Linux PC. Once our software is installed, all future software updates happen over Bluetooth from your phone.

:::note
The [T-Beam 0.7](/docs/hardware/supported/tbeam#t-beam---v07) board is an earlier version of the T-Beam board, and due to changes in the design in subsequent iterations this board uses a specific firmware file different from the other T-Beam boards.

`firmware-tbeam0.7-1.x.x.bin` is the correct firmware. `firmware-tbeam-1.x.x.bin` is incompatible. For all other [T-Beam](/docs/hardware/supported/tbeam) boards `firmware-tbeam-1.x.x.bin` is the correct selection.
:::

## Command Line Interface Instructions

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### Install Prerequisite Software

Check if you have `python3` and `pip` installed with the following command

```bash
python3 --version
pip3 --version
```

If `python3` is not installed, install with

```bash
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3
```

If `pip` is not installed, install with

```bash
sudo apt-get install python3-pip
```

### Install `esptool`

```bash
pip3 install --upgrade esptool
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="macos">

### Install Prerequisite Software

OS X comes with `Python 2.7` installed, but not `pip`. The following uses Homebrew to install `python3` which includes `pip3`. On MacOS you will use `pip3` instead > of `pip`.

:::note
Check if you have Homebrew installed with the following command

```bash
brew -v
```

If it's not installed, follow the instructions on the [Homebrew website](https://brew.sh) before continuing.
:::

Check if you have `python3` and `pip` installed with the following command

```bash
python3 --version
pip3 --version
```

If `python3` is not installed, install with
Install Python3

```bash
brew install python3
```

Confirm `pip3` was installed alongside `python3`

```bash
pip3 -v
```

### Install `esptool`

```bash
pip3 install --upgrade esptool
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="windows">

- Download and install [Python](https://www.python.org/). When installing, make sure to click `Add Python X.Y to PATH`.
- Download and install [Gitbash](https://gitforwindows.org/) (or other appropriate shell) and run all subsequent commands from that shell.

:::note
Confirm installation of `python` & `pip` with the following commands.

```bash
py --version
```

```bash
pip --version
```

:::

### Install `esptool`

```bash
pip install --upgrade esptool
```

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

### Confirm Communication With Chip

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  <TabItem value="windows">

:::important
On Windows, you must explicitly declare esptool as a .py script. Use `esptool.py chip_id`.
:::

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

Connect the radio to your computer using a data USB cable. Confirm your device is talking to your computer using the following command:

```bash title="Command"
esptool chip_id
```

```bash title="Expected Output"
# You should see a result similar to this:
mydir$ esptool chip_id
esptool.py v2.6
Found 2 serial ports
Serial port /dev/ttyUSB0
Connecting....
Detecting chip type... ESP32
Chip is ESP32D0WDQ6 (revision 1)
Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None
MAC: 24:6f:28:b5:36:71
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Warning: ESP32 has no Chip ID. Reading MAC instead.
MAC: 24:6f:28:b5:36:71
Hard resetting via RTS pin...
```

### Navigate to Firmware

`cd` into the directory where you unzipped the latest release. For example:

```bash title="Example"
cd ~/Downloads/firmware/
```

### Install/Update Firmware

Install or Update the device that you have by using the following commands according to your operating system:

:::caution
Be very careful to install the correct load for your board. In particular the popular 'T-BEAM' radio from TTGO is not called 'TTGO-Lora' (that is a different board). So don't install the 'TTGO-Lora' build on a TBEAM, it won't work correctly.
:::

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<TabItem value="linux">

#### Install

```bash title="Command"
./device-install.sh -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

#### Update

```bash title="Command"
./device-update.sh -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="macos">

#### Install

```bash title="Command"
./device-install.sh -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

#### Update

```bash title="Command"
./device-update.sh -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

  </TabItem>
  <TabItem value="windows">

#### Install

```bash title="Command"
./device-install.bat -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

#### Update

```bash title="Command"
./device-update.bat -f firmware-BOARD-VERSION.bin
```

  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

### Select Firmware

Browse to the previously downloaded firmware and select the correct firmware based on the board type and frequency.

:::caution
Be very careful to install the correct load for your board. In particular the popular 'T-BEAM' radio from TTGO is not called 'TTGO-Lora' (that is a different board). So don't install the 'TTGO-Lora' build on a TBEAM, it won't work correctly. If you flash the incorrect firmware: It may appear to flash correctly, but if your device has a screen it might stay blank. On-board radio peripherals might be damaged because of GPIO pin direction, but you should just try to flash with the correct version.
:::

### Flash Firmware

Select `Flash ESP`. It may take a minute or two. Once complete, "Done! Flashing is complete!" will be shown.

## Over the Air Update Instructions

OTA updates are only currently available on Android.

<!--- TODO --->