ST7789 240X280 Display on esp32s3 not working

So I’m trying to use the S3 sense to connect to a spi display and the goal of the project is to get the camera to display an image on the display however I’m using the graphic test included with the Adafruit Library from where I got the screen from to no luck and I have also searched the solution online with no solution found I just get a blank screen with the back light on has anyone been able to figure this out or is there any way someone could point me in the right direction

I’m using Adafruit gfx Library

Display has Cs and DC along with Din and clock

CS is connected to gpio2
DC is connected to gpio 4
Din is connected to gpio 9
Clock is connected to gpio7

Hi Ryan_Davis,
I tried it on ST7789 240x240 and it works fine.
Where is the RST pin connected?
Did you RESET after the upload?
If you can show us your sketch, we might be able to figure something out.

I do not have the reset pin connected to anything from the screen

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>    // Core graphics library
#include <Adafruit_ST7789.h> // Hardware-specific library for ST7789
#include <SPI.h>


  // For the breakout board, you can use any 2 or 3 pins.
  // These pins will also work for the 1.8" TFT shield.
  #define TFT_CS        2
  #define TFT_RST        1 // Or set to -1 and connect to Arduino RESET pin
  #define TFT_DC         4

// OPTION 1 (recommended) is to use the HARDWARE SPI pins, which are unique
// to each board and not reassignable. For Arduino Uno: MOSI = pin 11 and
// SCLK = pin 13. This is the fastest mode of operation and is required if
// using the breakout board's microSD card.

Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

// OPTION 2 lets you interface the display using ANY TWO or THREE PINS,
// tradeoff being that performance is not as fast as hardware SPI above.
#define TFT_MOSI 9 // Data out
#define TFT_SCLK 7  // Clock out

//Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_MOSI, TFT_SCLK, TFT_RST);


float p = 3.1415926;

void setup(void) {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.print(F("Hello! ST77xx TFT Test"));

  // Use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.3" or 1.54" 240x240 TFT:
  //tft.init(240, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x240

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.69" 280x240 TFT:
  tft.init(240, 280);           // Init ST7789 280x240

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 2.0" 320x240 TFT:
  //tft.init(240, 320);           // Init ST7789 320x240

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.14" 240x135 TFT:
  //tft.init(135, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x135
  
  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.47" 172x320 TFT:
  //tft.init(172, 320);           // Init ST7789 172x320

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.9" 170x320 TFT:
  //tft.init(170, 320);           // Init ST7789 170x320

  // SPI speed defaults to SPI_DEFAULT_FREQ defined in the library, you can override it here
  // Note that speed allowable depends on chip and quality of wiring, if you go too fast, you
  // may end up with a black screen some times, or all the time.
  tft.setSPISpeed(40000000);
  Serial.println(F("Initialized"));

  uint16_t time = millis();
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  time = millis() - time;

  Serial.println(time, DEC);
  delay(500);

  // large block of text
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  testdrawtext("Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur adipiscing ante sed nibh tincidunt feugiat. Maecenas enim massa, fringilla sed malesuada et, malesuada sit amet turpis. Sed porttitor neque ut ante pretium vitae malesuada nunc bibendum. Nullam aliquet ultrices massa eu hendrerit. Ut sed nisi lorem. In vestibulum purus a tortor imperdiet posuere. ", ST77XX_WHITE);
  delay(1000);

  // tft print function!
  tftPrintTest();
  delay(4000);

  // a single pixel
  tft.drawPixel(tft.width()/2, tft.height()/2, ST77XX_GREEN);
  delay(500);

  // line draw test
  testlines(ST77XX_YELLOW);
  delay(500);

  // optimized lines
  testfastlines(ST77XX_RED, ST77XX_BLUE);
  delay(500);

  testdrawrects(ST77XX_GREEN);
  delay(500);

  testfillrects(ST77XX_YELLOW, ST77XX_MAGENTA);
  delay(500);

  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  testfillcircles(10, ST77XX_BLUE);
  testdrawcircles(10, ST77XX_WHITE);
  delay(500);

  testroundrects();
  delay(500);

  testtriangles();
  delay(500);

  mediabuttons();
  delay(500);

  Serial.println("done");
  delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
  tft.invertDisplay(true);
  delay(500);
  tft.invertDisplay(false);
  delay(500);
}

void testlines(uint16_t color) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);
    delay(0);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, 0, tft.width()-1, y, color);
    delay(0);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, x, tft.height()-1, color);
    delay(0);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, 0, 0, y, color);
    delay(0);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);
    delay(0);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(0, tft.height()-1, tft.width()-1, y, color);
    delay(0);
  }

  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, x, 0, color);
    delay(0);
  }
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=6) {
    tft.drawLine(tft.width()-1, tft.height()-1, 0, y, color);
    delay(0);
  }
}

void testdrawtext(char *text, uint16_t color) {
  tft.setCursor(0, 0);
  tft.setTextColor(color);
  tft.setTextWrap(true);
  tft.print(text);
}

void testfastlines(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height(); y+=5) {
    tft.drawFastHLine(0, y, tft.width(), color1);
  }
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=5) {
    tft.drawFastVLine(x, 0, tft.height(), color2);
  }
}

void testdrawrects(uint16_t color) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width(); x+=6) {
    tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color);
  }
}

void testfillrects(uint16_t color1, uint16_t color2) {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  for (int16_t x=tft.width()-1; x > 6; x-=6) {
    tft.fillRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color1);
    tft.drawRect(tft.width()/2 -x/2, tft.height()/2 -x/2 , x, x, color2);
  }
}

void testfillcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {
  for (int16_t x=radius; x < tft.width(); x+=radius*2) {
    for (int16_t y=radius; y < tft.height(); y+=radius*2) {
      tft.fillCircle(x, y, radius, color);
    }
  }
}

void testdrawcircles(uint8_t radius, uint16_t color) {
  for (int16_t x=0; x < tft.width()+radius; x+=radius*2) {
    for (int16_t y=0; y < tft.height()+radius; y+=radius*2) {
      tft.drawCircle(x, y, radius, color);
    }
  }
}

void testtriangles() {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  uint16_t color = 0xF800;
  int t;
  int w = tft.width()/2;
  int x = tft.height()-1;
  int y = 0;
  int z = tft.width();
  for(t = 0 ; t <= 15; t++) {
    tft.drawTriangle(w, y, y, x, z, x, color);
    x-=4;
    y+=4;
    z-=4;
    color+=100;
  }
}

void testroundrects() {
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  uint16_t color = 100;
  int i;
  int t;
  for(t = 0 ; t <= 4; t+=1) {
    int x = 0;
    int y = 0;
    int w = tft.width()-2;
    int h = tft.height()-2;
    for(i = 0 ; i <= 16; i+=1) {
      tft.drawRoundRect(x, y, w, h, 5, color);
      x+=2;
      y+=3;
      w-=4;
      h-=6;
      color+=1100;
    }
    color+=100;
  }
}

void tftPrintTest() {
  tft.setTextWrap(false);
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  tft.setCursor(0, 30);
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_RED);
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_YELLOW);
  tft.setTextSize(2);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_GREEN);
  tft.setTextSize(3);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_BLUE);
  tft.setTextSize(4);
  tft.print(1234.567);
  delay(1500);
  tft.setCursor(0, 0);
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
  tft.setTextSize(0);
  tft.println("Hello World!");
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_GREEN);
  tft.print(p, 6);
  tft.println(" Want pi?");
  tft.println(" ");
  tft.print(8675309, HEX); // print 8,675,309 out in HEX!
  tft.println(" Print HEX!");
  tft.println(" ");
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
  tft.println("Sketch has been");
  tft.println("running for: ");
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_MAGENTA);
  tft.print(millis() / 1000);
  tft.setTextColor(ST77XX_WHITE);
  tft.print(" seconds.");
}

void mediabuttons() {
  // play
  tft.fillScreen(ST77XX_BLACK);
  tft.fillRoundRect(25, 10, 78, 60, 8, ST77XX_WHITE);
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_RED);
  delay(500);
  // pause
  tft.fillRoundRect(25, 90, 78, 60, 8, ST77XX_WHITE);
  tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_GREEN);
  tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_GREEN);
  delay(500);
  // play color
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_BLUE);
  delay(50);
  // pause color
  tft.fillRoundRect(39, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_RED);
  tft.fillRoundRect(69, 98, 20, 45, 5, ST77XX_RED);
  // play color
  tft.fillTriangle(42, 20, 42, 60, 90, 40, ST77XX_GREEN);
}

I have tried your sketch and it works fine.
Please try the following

//#define TFT_RST        1 // Or set to -1 and connect to Arduino RESET pin
#define TFT_RST        -1
//  tft.init(240, 280);           // Init ST7789 280x240
  tft.init(280, 240);

What is the link to the display?

And originally the RTS pin was set to negative one and I changed it because I was going to connect it to see if that made a difference I have not yet done that

Does your display have an RST pin ?

Yes the display does have an RTS pen but I do not have it connected because according to the code it should be able to work without it with a two pin setup so I didn’t connect it but I was going to to see if that made a difference I don’t know yet

If the display has an RST pin, it must be connected to XIAO.
If the RST pin is not used, the RST pin must be connected HIGH.

Okay I just connected the rst pin and modified the code and uploaded it the display is still blank

Perhaps the connection does not match the code. Can you provide a datasheet or link for the display?

https://bigupgadgets.com/waveshare-1-69-inch-240280-resolution-ips-lcd-display-module-with-spi-interface-06-0153946?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgL-3BhDnARIsAL6KZ68M_j0S0OfOP9OcYFo8tzVbGqdtDXGZx_wCKMb5bU9qS83ZZn79pcYaAhriEALw_wcB

https://www.amazon.com/waveshare-1-69inch-Resolution-Interface-Raspberry/dp/B0C1ZTV84Z/ref=asc_df_B0C1ZTV84Z/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693308325739&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9371776281526225815&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1014573&hvtargid=pla-2189028447585&psc=1&mcid=d78045dafdc03f1b8421461b6881c3e8

The Amazon link is where I actually bought it I think the other link might give you more information

Is the VCC pin of the display connected to the 3V3 pin of the XIAO?

No it is not it works on both and three volt input so I have it on the 5 volt output I’m also about to switch microcontrollers cuz I have two of the S3s I’m going to switch over to the other one and see if it’s microcontroller

The output of the S3 port is 3.3 V, so the VCC pin of the display must be connected to the 3V3 pin of the XIAO.

Specifications
Operating voltage: 3.3V/5V (Please ensure that the power supply voltage and logic voltage are the same, otherwise it will not work properly.)

Yeah it’s still not working I’m using the S3 sense with the camera I also switched it over to the a different one same model and everything I just happen to have a second one and as for the schematic on the display it works for both 5 and 3.3 volts so it doesn’t matter where that one’s plugged in it has a built-in voltage regulator

for the schematic on the display it works for both 5 and 3.3 volts

Can you give me a link to the schematic?

I’m using the S3 sense with the camera

Have you ever run it with just the S3 without the camera? I have run it with just the S3 and display.
Or have you ever run it with different GPIO ports?

edit
According to the schematic, the VCC voltage and the port voltage must be the same.

Specifications
Operating voltage: 3.3V/5V (Please ensure that the power supply voltage and logic voltage are the same, otherwise it will not work properly.)

Yes I have tried to run it without the camera and with the camera attached it doesn’t work either way I have also tried a couple different gpio pins but originally I had it soldered to the other one and I thought maybe I did a bad job soldering so I disconnected it and hooked it up to one that’s on a board that I can switch things around on so I can do more testing to see if I can get it to work however since I have switched it over I have not tested it on any other gpio pins

According to the schematic, the VCC voltage and the port voltage must be the same.

Specifications
Operating voltage: 3.3V/5V (Please ensure that the power supply voltage and logic voltage are the same, otherwise it will not work properly.)

Yes I have the screen connected to the USB 5 volt pin output on the board and the ground is connected to the ground pin on the board