2
Getting Started — Step 2 of 5
Flash the Firmware
variants that can be installed. One device may support multiple MeshCore interfaces.
Most devices ship with Meshtastic firmware. Switching to MeshCore takes about 2 minutes in any modern browser — no drivers, no command line, and it's completely reversible.
Before you start
- A data-capable USB cable — many cheap cables are power-only. If nothing shows up in the browser dialog, try a different cable first.
- Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge — the Web Serial API used by the flasher is not supported in Firefox or Safari.
- Your device — make sure it's charged or plugged in so it doesn't die mid-flash.
Choose your firmware
The flasher at
flasher.meshcore.dev offers several firmware personalities.
Pick one matching your
hardware and planned usage.
Try each of them (over time) to see which
you prefer!
| Firmware | Best for | UI |
|---|---|---|
| Community | Companion radios — phone or web app controls the radio, providing the screen/keyboard via Bluetooth, USB or WiFi. ⭐ Most popular! | Phone/browser app |
| MeshOS | All-in-one devices with built-in screen & keyboard. Lilygo's proprietary software. | On-device screen |
| Ripple | All-in-one devices, alternative to MeshOS. Also closed source. | On-device screen |
| Repeater | Don't select this for your 1st radio! Repeaters can ONLY be accessed & managed from one of the 3 options above, or the web flasher web page via USB. Repeaters extend network coverage by relaying messages. | None (headless) |
| Room Server | Don't select this for your 1st radio! Room servers can ONLY be accessed & managed from one of the top 3 options above, or the web flasher web page via USB. Room servers are a simple bulletin board service (BBS) server for shared posts. | None (headless) |
Not sure? Pick Community — it's the most flexible and works with the MeshCore phone and web apps.
Flashing step by step
Open flasher.meshcore.dev in Chrome or Edge — the Web Serial API used by the flasher is not supported in Firefox or Safari.
Type part of your device name in the filter field to hide unrelated devices and find yours quickly.
Select your firmware type: Community, MeshOS, Ripple, or Repeater. Not sure? Pick Community — it's the most flexible and works with the MeshCore phone and web apps.
Put the device into MCU / bootloader mode:
- On most ESP32 devices: hold the BOOT button while pressing RST, then release both.
- On the T-Deck: hold the trackball button at power-on.
- Search "[your device name] MCU mode" if unsure.
Screenshot coming soon
First time only: click Erase before flashing. This factory-resets the device and ensures a clean install. You'll need to reconfigure settings after, but it prevents ghost settings from old firmware carrying over.
Screenshot coming soon
Click Flash. A browser dialog will appear asking you to select a serial port.
Tip — identifying your device in the list: plug/unplug the USB cable while the dialog is open — a new COM port appears when you plug it back in. Select that port, then click Connect.
Tip — identifying your device in the list: plug/unplug the USB cable while the dialog is open — a new COM port appears when you plug it back in. Select that port, then click Connect.
Screenshot coming soon
Click Connect and wait ~60 seconds. The progress bar fills, then the device reboots automatically.
🎉 Done! Your device is now running MeshCore. The screen may show a startup logo or a QR code. Continue to Step 3: First-Time Setup →
🎉 Done! Your device is now running MeshCore. The screen may show a startup logo or a QR code. Continue to Step 3: First-Time Setup →
Screenshot coming soon
Step 1 of 7
🔧 Troubleshooting
Nothing appears in the serial port dialog
- Try a different USB cable (most common cause — many cables are charge-only)
- Try a different USB port on your computer
- Make sure the device is actually in MCU/bootloader mode
- On Windows: check Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT) — you should see a new COM port appear when the device is plugged in
Flash fails partway through
- Try again — the flasher is reliable but occasionally needs a second attempt
- Erase first if you haven't already
- Close and reopen the browser tab and start fresh
Device won't enter MCU mode
- Check the community docs for your specific device model
- The PugetMesh Discord is a great place to ask — someone has almost certainly flashed the same device
↩ Switching back to Meshtastic
It's just as easy — open flasher.meshtastic.org and follow the same steps. Nothing is permanently changed.
✅ Device flashed? Next up:
Head to Step 3: First-Time Setup — connect the app, set your region, and give your node a name.