Update Without Wifi

This guide provides instructions for recovering or updating firmware on Maus-Tec ESP32-based devices using the web-based esptool interface. Use this guide if you need to:

• Recover a device that appears unresponsive after a failed firmware update
• Update to a new firmware version
• Reinstall firmware after accidental deletion or corruption

Important: This process requires a compatible firmware binary image provided by Maus-Tec. If you do not have the firmware file, contact support before proceeding.

Prerequisites

• Google Chrome or Chromium-based browser (required for USB serial access)
• USB cable compatible with your device
• Firmware binary image (provided by Maus-Tec; typically named firmware.bin or similar)
• Device-specific flash address (see Flash Address Reference table below)
• Device connected via USB to your computer

Flash Address Reference

Identify your device and note the corresponding flash address(es):

Recovery Procedure

Step 1: Access the Flash Tool

1. Open Google Chrome (or Edge/Brave if you're using Chromium)
2. Navigate to: https://espressif.github.io/esptool-js/
3. Ensure your device is not yet connected to USB

Step 2: Connect Your Device

1. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable
2. Wait 2–3 seconds for the device to appear in your system
3. If you see an "Unknown Device" or similar notification, the device driver may need attention (contact support)

Step 3: Establish Serial Connection

1. On the esptool-js webpage, locate the "Program" section
2. Set Baudrate to 921600
3. Click "Connect"
4. If prompted, select your device's USB Serial Port from the browser dialog
   • On Mac, look for a port like /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART or /dev/tty.usbserial-* or similar
   • On Windows, look for a COM port (e.g., COM3)
   • On Linux, look for /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyACM0
5. Click "Connect" to confirm
6. You should see a message like "Connected" or "Ready" on the webpage

Step 4: Select Firmware and Set Address

1. In the esptool-js interface, find the "Flash Address" field
2. Set it to 0x10000 (from the table above for your device)
3. Click "Browse" or "Select file" next to the Flash Address field
4. Locate and select your firmware binary image file

Step 5: Flash the Firmware

1. Click "Program" to begin flashing
2. Wait for the progress bar to complete (typically 30–60 seconds depending on file size)
3. You should see a success message

Step 6: Verify Recovery

1. After flashing completes, your device should automatically restart
2. If the device restarts successfully and appears responsive (LED indicators, etc.), recovery is complete
3. If the device remains unresponsive or does not restart, even after manually un-plugging and plugging the device back in, proceed to Troubleshooting below

Troubleshooting

Device Does Not Restart After Flashing

1. Return to the esptool-js webpage
2. Change the Flash Address to 0x1F0000 (fallback address)
3. Repeat Step 4 (reselect the firmware file)
4. Click "Program" again
5. Wait for completion and check if the device restarts

Connection Issues ("Failed to Connect")

Problem: The browser cannot find or connect to the device's serial port.

Solutions:

• Verify the USB cable is firmly connected and functioning (test with another cable if available)
• Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable, then try connecting again
• Close other applications that may be using the serial port (IDEs, serial monitors, etc.)
• Try a different USB port on your computer
• On Windows, ensure you have the appropriate USB-to-UART driver installed (ask support if unsure)

"Device Not Found" in Browser Dialog

Problem: The browser cannot see any USB serial ports.

Solutions:

• Confirm you are using Google Chrome (or a Chromium-based alternative; Firefox and Safari do not support USB serial access)
• Grant the website permission to access USB devices when prompted by your browser
• Restart your browser and try again
• Verify the device is powered on (most devices power on via USB)

Flashing Completes but Device Does Not Restart

Problem: The flash appears successful, but the device does not respond.

Solutions:

• Wait 10 seconds (some devices take time to initialize after flashing)
• Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to power-cycle the device
• Try the fallback flash address (0x1F0000) following the steps in "Device Does Not Restart" above
• Contact support with details of the error and your device model

Additional Notes

Bootloader and Partition Files

Some firmware distributions include additional files such as:

• bootloader.bin — Core bootloader (only needed in rare cases; usually pre-installed)
• partitions.bin — Partition table definition (optional; most firmware files do not require this)

You should only use firmware.bin for routine updates. Only use additional files if explicitly instructed by Maus-Tec support.

Baudrate Explanation

The 921600 baud rate is a high-speed setting that reduces flashing time. If you experience connection problems, you may try 115200 baud (slower, more stable), though this is not typically necessary.

USB Cable and Power

Ensure your USB cable is a data cable (not power-only) and carries both power and data signals. Low-quality or power-only cables will not work for firmware flashing.

Support

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide or need assistance with your specific device, please contact Maus-Tec support with:

• Your device model and serial number (if visible)
• The error message or behavior you observed
• The firmware version you were attempting to install
• The last firmware update you installed that failed, and the installation method used
• Your operating system (macOS, Windows, Linux)

We are here to help!