Tutorial: install Pixlet

The install page covers this in five short steps. This page walks through the same install with more detail and a troubleshooting section, for the first time you do it.

Before you start

A supported board

Today that's the Guition JC3248W535. Don't have one yet? See supported devices for where to buy it.

A microSD card

Any size up to 32 GB, formatted FAT32. This is where Pixlets, music and photos live - it holds nothing that needs backing up beforehand.

A USB-C data cable

Many cables that came with chargers only carry power, not data. If the browser never sees a port in step 3 below, this is the first thing to swap.

Chrome or Edge

On a Mac, Windows or Linux computer - the installer uses Web Serial, which only these two browsers support. A phone or tablet cannot install Pixlet.

Step by step

1. Card in Put the FAT32 microSD card in the slot on the back of the board, contacts facing into the board. Push gently until it clicks into place.
2. USB in Connect the board to your computer with the data cable. It powers on immediately and shows the maker's stock demo screen (usually a colour test or a counter) - that's expected, and the install in the next step replaces it.
3. Open the install page and press Install Go to the install page in Chrome or Edge and press the yellow Install button. The browser shows a picker of serial ports - the board is usually the only one listed. Select it and press Connect.
4. Keep "erase device" ticked On the dialog that follows, leave "Erase device" checked the first time you install (it wipes the maker's original firmware) and press Install. A progress bar runs for about a minute - don't unplug the board or close the tab while it's running.
5. First boot The board restarts on its own and shows the Pixlet splash, then the home screen: a seven-segment clock, weather, and a market card. This is the launcher - the permanent home Pixlet always returns to.
6. Join your WiFi Tap the gear icon on the home screen, choose WiFi, pick your network from the list and type the password on the on-screen keyboard. The WiFi icon top-left turns solid once connected. Note: this board's WiFi is 2.4 GHz only - if your router shows separate "2.4G" and "5G" networks, join the 2.4G one.
7. Pick your first Pixlets Tap Pix Store on the home screen, browse the list, and tap any tile to download it to the card - it takes a few seconds and the Pixlet appears under My Pixlets, ready to open.
8. Sign in if you want to buy one Free Pixlets need nothing extra. A priced Pixlet needs a Pixlet Store account: register here, then enter the device sign-in token shown on your account page once, either through the SD Manager Pixlet's web page or the launcher's own keyboard. Purchases made through Lemon Squeezy, our payment provider, are then unlocked on that device automatically.

Troubleshooting

No port shows up

Try a different USB cable - many are charge-only. Try a different USB port, and on Windows, unplug and replug once if nothing appears the first time.

"This browser cannot talk to USB devices"

You're on Firefox, Safari or a phone. Use Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer instead, or install with esptool from the command line (see the bottom of the install page).

Install fails partway through

Just press Install again with "erase device" still ticked - it's safe to retry from the start.

Screen stays black after install

Unplug the board and plug it back in. If it still doesn't boot, reopen the install page and install again.

Touch doesn't respond right after boot

Normal - the launcher ignores taps for its first few seconds while the touch controller settles.

WiFi won't join

Make sure you picked the 2.4 GHz network, not 5 GHz - this board's WiFi doesn't support 5 GHz at all.

Card not detected, or files won't save

The card must be FAT32 on a single partition. Reformatting it (a Mac, PC, or the SD Manager Pixlet can all do this) fixes almost every card issue.

Bought a Pixlet but it won't download

Check your account page for the device sign-in token and make sure it's entered on the device - a purchase alone isn't enough, the device also needs to be paired with your account.

Ready? Go to the install page.