Flash the AstroCan X firmware onto your board straight from the browser — no IDE and no command line. Pick your board, plug it in over USB, and click Connect & Flash. You will need Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a desktop or laptop (the Web Serial API these use is not available on Safari, Firefox, iOS or Android) and a good-quality USB-C data cable.

When you connect, the installer asks whether to erase the device. Leave “Erase device” unchecked to keep your WiFi, pairing and saved projects. Tick it only for a first install or a deliberate factory reset — that wipes WiFi networks, pairing, light inventory, sequences, schedules and all saved projects.
Your browser can’t talk to USB devices — use Chrome or Edge on a desktop (not Safari, Firefox, iOS or Android).

Step by step

  1. Select your board in the dropdown above — the firmware version and chip are shown so you can confirm you picked the right one.
  2. Plug the board into your computer via its USB-C port.
  3. Click “Connect & Flash” and choose the serial port that appears.
  4. Leave “Erase device” unchecked. When connecting, the installer asks whether to erase the device — leaving it unchecked keeps your WiFi, pairing and saved projects. Only tick it for a first install or a deliberate factory reset, which wipes WiFi networks, pairing, light inventory, sequences, schedules and all saved projects.
  5. Confirm the install. Flashing and verifying takes about a minute — do not unplug during it. The board reboots into the new firmware, and you configure everything from there in the AstroCan X browser interface.

The Core has two ESPs — flash both “AstroCan X Master” and “AstroCan X Gateway” (one after the other). If no port appears or flashing won’t start, hold BOOT, tap RESET, release BOOT to force download mode, then click Connect again.

Serial monitor

Watch a board’s serial output live in the browser — handy for checking boot messages or config. Connect, pick the baud rate (default 115200) and read along. Disconnect the monitor before flashing (and vice-versa), as only one tool can hold the port at a time.

Serial monitor needs Chrome or Edge on a desktop (Web Serial API).

Keep your modules in sync

When you update one AstroCan X module to a new major version, update all of your modules to the matching version. Mixed versions can stop talking to each other.

Updating later (OTA)

This page is for the initial firmware flash over USB. Once a board is running, later updates can be pushed over the air from the browser interface — no cable needed.

Trouble?

  • No port listed: try another USB cable (it must carry data, not charge only) and another port; avoid USB hubs.
  • “Wrong chip” / won’t install: you probably picked the wrong board — the flasher checks the chip and refuses a mismatch. Re-select the correct board.
  • Port is busy: the flasher and the serial monitor can’t use the port at the same time — disconnect one before using the other, and close any Arduino IDE or serial monitor app.