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Arduino CLI Guide Boot Loop Troubleshooting Boot Screens and Errors Changelog Code Style Guide Config Backup Config Dashboard Why the Dashboard Uses System Fonts CONFIG Payload Format Configuration Reference Dashboard HTTP API Dashboard Rendering ESP32 ADC Guide ESP32 Flash Security ESP32 Interrupts Guide ESP32 RTC Notes ESP32 Serial Debug Output ESP32 Timers Guide ESP32 WiFi Hardware esptool Guide Extending the Serial Protocol Factory Reset and Recovery Firmware CW Decoder Firmware System Monitoring Frequency Setting over Serial The Button System in Firmware How Firmware Loads Configuration Firmware Deep Sleep Firmware Error Codes Firmware GPS Handling The Firmware Main Loop Firmware NVS Keys Firmware Overview The Payload Builder Firmware RSSI Measurement The Scan Cycle in Detail Firmware Scan Engine The Firmware State Machine Firmware Tone Generation The TX Cycle in Detail Firmware TX Scheduler Upgrading to v5.5 Firmware Update in the Field Firmware Wake Sources The Watchdog Benchmark Demo Mode Flash Troubleshooting No Boot? Troubleshooting No Display? Troubleshooting NVS Configuration Store PlatformIO Guide RTC RAM State Battery Logging over Serial Serial Bridge Guide Serial Command Automation Serial Command Protocol Serial Debug System Serial Monitor Guide Software Build Process Unit Testing the Firmware Upload and Monitor What's New in v5.5 What's New in v6.0 WiFi and Security WiFi Configuration Portal WiFi Troubleshooting
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Morse & Communication
Audio Recording Guide Band Plan Etiquette Decibel Table Mayday vs Pan Pan Morse Abbreviations and Prosigns Morse Audio Cheat Sheet Morse Code Engine Morse Code Learning Apps Morse Decoder Tools Morse Code Background Morse Keying Practice Morse Listening Workflow Morse Letter Table Morse Numbers and Punctuation Morse Practice Morse Timing Reference Payload Examples Phonetics Q Codes Radio Communication Basics Radio Etiquette Basics Reading CW by Ear Receiver Compatibility Rescue Communication Basics SDR Beacon Build SDR Decoding Morse SDR Listening Guide SDR Software Setup Signal Reporting Conventions Simplex Communication Spectrum Analyzers Two-Way Build
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Field Operations & Rescue
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Docs Firmware & Software esptool Guide

esptool Guide

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The low-level ESP32 flashing tool: when to use it, the key commands, and the recovery procedures PlatformIO cannot do.

esptool Guide

esptool is the low-level tool under every ESP32 flasher. PlatformIO and the Arduino CLI call it for you; knowing it directly is how you recover a bricked board.

Install

CODE
pip install esptool

Or use the copy bundled with PlatformIO (python -m esptool).

The essential commands

CommandPurpose
esptool.py chip_idConfirm the chip and connection
esptool.py --port COM3 flash_idRead the flash chip
esptool.py --port COM3 erase_flashErase everything
esptool.py --port COM3 write_flash 0x0 firmware.binWrite a raw image
esptool.py --port COM3 read_flash 0 1M dump.binBackup the flash

When to use it directly

  • Flash locked or write-protected: esptool reports the chip state clearly.
  • Erase before a clean install: a full erase_flash fixes most post-upgrade corruption.
  • Recovering a board that will not enter flash mode: esptool with the --before default_reset sequence and the chip forced into download mode.
  • Reading a bricked board’s bootloader for diagnosis.

The reset dance

Most ESP32 boards: hold BOOT, press EN, release BOOT. esptool prints:

CODE
Chip is ESP32-D0WD-V3 (revision 3)

when it connects. If it hangs on “Connecting…”, the board is not in download mode.

The partition layout

The beacon uses the default 4 MB layout with the NVS partition the firmware writes (see ESP32 Flash Partitions). When flashing raw, write the bootloader at 0x1000, the partition table at 0x8000, and the app at 0x10000. PlatformIO does this automatically; manual flashing is for recovery only.