Will ESP32-C6 show up as a windows drive if put in bootloader mode?

Products & Technology XIAO
#1

Just bought 5 Xiao ESP32-C6 and integrated into a product. Out of the box I can upload Arduino code to it. Now I want to try it with microPython (but as far as I know there is no port for it yet) and CircuitPython (planning to use this bin: ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1-N4 Download ). On different boards than this one (e.g Pi Pico and generic ESP32-S2), the procedure to upload new firmware is to press the BOOT button while connecting it to the computer USB, or sometimes press and hold BOOT then press RESET; a drive will then show in Windows for me to drag the bin file. Trying either with my Xiao ESP32-C6 won’t show any Windows driver, is it normal?

Will ESP32-C6 show up as a windows drive if put in bootloader mode?

#2

Hi there,
No the Xiao C6 won’t do that without being programed to do so.
It will if in BootLoader mode put out a Line on the Serial port it’s connected to.
for example: here is one plugged in with boot loop code, just keeps scrolling,
If I hit the reset and hold down the boot buttons I get the last line pops out and it’s ready for good code, provided I have some :face_with_peeking_eye: :smiley:

408192d0: 0xb33fffff 0x00000000 0xffffffff 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x4081938c
408192f0: 0x00000000 0x00000000 0xffffffff 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x408193f0
40819310: 0x00000000 0x00000000 0xbaad5678 0x00000060 0xabba1234 0x00000054 0x00000000 0x40819328
40819330: 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x40819340 0xffffffff 0x40819340 0x40819340 0x00000000



ELF file SHA256: 9608d0dbb2114c79

Rebooting...
ESP-ROM:esp32c6-20220919
Build:Sep 19 2022
rst:0xc (SW_CPU),boot:0x7f (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
Saved PC:0x4001975a
SPIWP:0xee
mode:DIO, clock div:2
load:0x4086c410,len:0xbc4
load:0x4086e610,len:0x2708
load:0x40875728,len:0x594
entry 0x4086c410/// This is the last line of the boot loop code it just repeats when it is looping.

//This line here pops out when I hold the **boot down** and **Tap the reset** 
ESP-ROM:esp32c6-20220919

Hope that helps, typically I plug in the usb , see which port it’s on then go select board type.
HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ
:v:

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#3

I guess my question was more how to update the bootloader in order to use circuitpython on these boards.

#4

Hi there,
Ok, so looks like it’s up on the dev board so,

CircuitPython 9.1.0

This is the latest stable release of CircuitPython that will work with the ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1-N4.

I would look at Adafruits web site see if they have it for there Arduino nano Esp32 bootloader

Not exactly but it may get you closer.
HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ
:v:

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#5

So, I was not completely understood in the answers above. What I want to know is how to flash the Circuitpython bootloader on the Xiao ESP32-C6?

#6

Hi there,
Try this
Non-UF2 Installation | Welcome to CircuitPython! | Adafruit Learning System
On an Nrf52840 it’s a drag and drop with UF2 file, Espressif doesn’t have that.
HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ
:v:

#7

Thank you for the answer. Also found this Overview | CircuitPython on ESP32 Quick Start | Adafruit Learning System , will try later.

#8

Got it working, was able to flash the CircuitPython bin to Xiao ESP32-C6, by using the Espressif “Flash download tool” bootloader - Xiao ESP32-C6 in CircuitPython - Arduino Stack Exchange . Tested with the blink sketch in Thonny IDE

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2021 Kattni Rembor for Adafruit Industries
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""CircuitPython CPU temperature example in Celsius"""
import time
import microcontroller
import board
import digitalio

led = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.IO18)
led.direction = digitalio.Direction.OUTPUT

while True:
    print(microcontroller.cpu.temperature)
    print("On!")
    led.value = True
    time.sleep(0.5)
  
    print("Off!")
    led.value = False
    time.sleep(0.5)

I document my experience here: Using the ESP32-C6 with CircuitPython - flashing the bin file - FritzenLab electronics

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