Unable to update firmware using esp-launchpad

[HackingThings]

Hi,
I have tried using Chrome, Edge, Brave on windows 11,10 and ubuntu 22.04 .
on windows i tried ALL cp210x driver versions and possible combination.
in every case the result was the same:
"Unable to detect device. Please ensure the device is not connected in another application"

Is there a known way to update the firmware NOT via this cursed webpage?

[erocm123]

I have been having the same experience today lol. A workaround would be great. Tried different computers, cables, browsers, etc.

[mishan]

I'm having the same issue with latest Chrome stable on two different machines running Debian. I am no stranger to flashing ESP32 devices, though this is my first time with this website. Could you recommend a CLI tool as an alternative perhaps? Web based is convenient until it doesn't work for whatever reason

[stephensilber]

I'm also running into this issue I'm afraid. Chrome on macOS 26.4 using Apple's out of the box USB-C cable which has data support

[cachamber]

I like to use ESPConnect to upload firmware. But I've also been able to update firmware using esptool: which needs python.

Using Windows PowerShell (python already installed), and the cable that came with the AirCube:

C:\temp>python -m venv esptool
C:\temp>.\esptool\Scripts\Activate.ps1
C:\temp>pip install esptool
...
C:\temp>esptool --port COM4 write-flash 0x10000 .\AirCube_firmware_v1.X.X.bin
esptool v5.2.0
Connected to ESP32-H2 on COM4:
Chip type:          ESP32-H2 (revision v1.2)
Features:           BT 5 (LE), IEEE802.15.4, Single Core, 96MHz
Crystal frequency:  32MHz
USB mode:           USB-Serial/JTAG
MAC:                74:4d:bd:ff:fe:69:05:d2
BASE MAC:           74:4d:bd:69:05:d2
MAC_EXT:            ff:fe

Stub flasher running.

Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x000b4fff...
Wrote 674224 bytes (394988 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 4.8 seconds (1122.6 kbit/s).
Hash of data verified.

Hard resetting via RTS pin...

This is using my build of the firmware - but you can use the official builds from Releases

After flashing the firmware, have your zigbee controller re-interview the device.

[cachamber]

One other thing - I've found that for some reason my slicer for my 3d printer likes to grab serial ports. Make sure you don't have something running in the background that grabs the port for some reason.

[mishan]

One other thing - I've found that for some reason my slicer for my 3d printer likes to grab serial ports. Make sure you don't have something running in the background that grabs the port for some reason.

I ran lsof and only Chrome had /dev/ttyACM0 open

[HackingThings]

On windows , I can confirm that using https://thelastoutpostworkshop.github.io/ESPConnect/ worked for me to upgrade from v1.4.2 to v1.4.3 , Thanks for that @cachamber ! 🙏
Might be worth updating the how-to instructions and include these two options (at least for windows)

[cachamber]

I've been digging into this some more. I can confirm that WebSerial doesn't work with the AirCube on Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS. I can confirm that I can connect to my generic ESP32-H2 devkit board - so there's something keeping the AirCube from connecting. It's interesting that it is working for me on Windows.

ESPTool does work on that version of Ubuntu - so you can flash firmware that way.

Looking into the design of the AirCube - the USB-C connector is only utilizing a single pair of data lines to the ESP32-H2 - A6/A7. This explains why some USB-C cables only work when in a particular orientation. For the DevKit - it has both A6/B6 and A7/B7 connected to the ESP32-H2.

As a test, I used a USB-C to USB-A converter on the cable, which bridges A6/A7 and B6/B7. I was able to connect to the AirCube using WebSerial on Ubuntu. Connection is USB-C host -> USB-C to A -> Orig USBA to USB-C cable -> AirCube. Not entirely sure why this works on Windows.

For future AirCube revision:
USB-C connector

• Bridge A6/B6
• Bridge A7/B7
• Bridge A1/B12

[xtex404]

macOS 26.5, MBA M3, chrome and edge woudln't work with esp-launchpad, i've had no problem with flashing via esphome via the same browsers, same laptop. rebooted. reset USB permissions. turned off bluetooth.

used the website @cachamber mentioned, and it worked the first time. interesting thing is it saw a LOT more devices (with bluetooth on) that the esp-launchpad didn't see. unsure why - I have no idea how webusb works, tbh.

[erocm123]

used the website @cachamber mentioned, and it worked the first time

Same here: https://thelastoutpostworkshop.github.io/ESPConnect/ worked first time.

[mmcdtech01]

ESP Connect worked perfectly

[9025spencer-maker]

Web page corrupted the Aircube, but I was able to flash it via
ESP Connect

This was after trying to get it into boot mode after disassembly

All good now