Set up your micro:bit
It’s really simple to get started with the BBC micro:bit
Program it
The micro:bit is a tiny computer that makes coding tangible and promotes digital creativity.
You create a program to tell it what to do using one of the online code editors, and download it to your computer as a .hex file - a version of your program that your micro:bit can read.
Transfer your program
When you've created your program in the online editor, transfer it to your micro:bit to make it run independently of your computer. You can even unplug your micro:bit from the computer, attach a battery pack, and your program still runs. Watch this video to learn how this works:
Connect your micro:bit
Plug the micro USB cable into the USB socket on the top of your micro:bit, and connect the other end of the cable to your computer so you can transfer your program.
Find your micro:bit, copy your program file
When you plug the micro:bit into your computer's USB socket, it will show up automatically like any other USB storage or memory stick as a drive called 'MICROBIT'.
Use the pictures below to help you find the micro:bit on your computer:
Now you've found the micro:bit on your computer, you're ready to transfer the .hex file you downloaded from the online editor to the MICROBIT drive, just like you would copy a file to a USB drive. This will transfer your program to your micro:bit.
Your micro:bit will pause and the yellow LED on the back will blink while your program is being transferred. Once it’s copied across, your program will run automatically.
Where's my .hex file gone?
It's worth noting that your micro:bit is only pretending to be a USB drive and you can't store files on it like a memory stick. Once your .hex file has been copied across from your computer and starts running on your micro:bit, it will seem to disappear from the MICROBIT drive. This is perfectly normal.
Quick transfer without drag and drop or copying files
If you've got a recent version of the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browsers, you can send programs direct from the online editor to your micro:bit using WebUSB.