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User guide

Firmware

You may need to update the firmware on your micro:bit to use features like WebUSB

What is firmware?

Hardware is the physical part of a micro:bit.

Software is made up of the programs you write and run on your micro:bit.

Firmware is in the middle: a special kind of software that makes devices function properly. It’s physically stored in the micro:bit’s interface chip and doesn’t change when you write programs or turn your micro:bit off, but it can be updated.

The micro:bit will work with the firmware it came with, so you should only update it if you really need to. This might be because you have an older micro:bit and need to update the firmware to use a feature like WebUSB (direct flashing of code from the online editors, introduced in firmware version 0243) or when troubleshooting a problem.

Checking your firmware version

To find out what version of the firmware you have on your micro:bit:

  • Plug it in to a computer using the USB cable
  • Open the DETAILS.TXT file on the MICROBIT drive
  • Look for the number on the line that begins 'Interface Version'. For example, a micro:bit with firmware version 0249 will read:

    Interface Version: 0249

How to update the firmware

If you need to update the firmware to access a new feature or troubleshoot a problem, here is how to do it:

  • Disconnect the USB cable and battery pack from the micro:bit.
  • Hold the reset button at the back of the micro:bit and plug the USB lead into the micro:bit and a computer. You should see a drive appear in your file manager called MAINTENANCE (instead of MICROBIT).
diagram of back of micro:bit board showing position of reset button next to USB socket
animation showing how to hold down reset button as you plug in the USB cable so it appears in maintenance mode
  • The MAINTENANCE drive will look like this, depending on your computer:

Windows

Windows screenshot showing how a micro:bit in maintenance mode appears as MAINTENANCE (D)

macOS

MacOS screenshot showing how a micro:bit in maintenance mode appears as a USB drive called MAINTENANCE
  • Download the hex file appropriate for your version of the micro:bit from this page to your computer. Read our article on identifying the micro:bit version, if you are unsure about which version you have.
Firmware for micro:bit V1
Firmware for micro:bit V2
  • Drag and drop the new firmware.HEX file you downloaded from this page onto the MAINTENANCE drive and wait for the yellow LED on the back of the device to stop flashing. When the upgrade is completed, the micro:bit will reset, ejecting itself from the computer and re-appear in normal MICROBIT drive mode.
  • Finally, check the DETAILS.TXT file that is on the MICROBIT drive and make sure that it has the same version number as the .HEX firmware that you just downloaded and flashed to the interface chip.
  • For any issues or help with the process of updating your firmware, please contact micro:bit support

Previous firmware versions

In the unlikely event you need to roll-back your micro:bit's firmware to a previous version, you can find information on previous firmware versions in our developer documentation.