Install Firmware

Install by USB from a computer. Then set up your gateway from your phone or PC.

Firmware v3.0.2

ESP32-S3 N8R8 / N16R8 · 8 MB octal PSRAM

Install from a computer

This browser does not support USB serial access. For the first install, open this page in desktop Chrome or Edge with the board connected by USB, or run Easy Install on Windows, macOS or Linux.

After installation, you can set up and manage the gateway from your phone.

Easy Install guide Set up from your phone

Open the secure page

The USB installer requires HTTPS. Open the official installer.

Already installed? Use System → Firmware on your gateway to update without a USB cable.

Board not detected? USB connection help

Board not found, or the install stops at "Connecting"? Put the ESP32-S3 in download mode, then press Connect & Install again:

Press and hold the BOOT button (sometimes labelled IO0).
While still holding BOOT, press and release RST once (also labelled RESET or EN).
Release BOOT. The board now waits for the installer and can be written from this page.

When the installer reports success, press RST once (or unplug and reconnect the board) to start the new firmware.

Prefer a download?

Guided USB installation on Windows, macOS or Linux. Run the package on a computer, not on your phone.

Download Easy Install (.zip)

Read the instructions

How it works

Connect the ESP32-S3 to this computer with a USB data cable.
Open this page in Chrome or Edge on Windows, macOS, Linux or ChromeOS.
Press Connect & Install and choose the board's serial port in the browser prompt.
Choose Install. The browser asks whether to erase the device first (see below).
Wait until the installer reports success, then unplug and power the board normally.
Continue with the first start: join ESP32-Tailnet-Setup-XXXX and follow the setup page.

New device or update?

Install on a new device

For a board that has never run this firmware, or one you want to reset. Tick Erase device when asked: all settings, saved Wi-Fi and the tailnet identity are removed, and the gateway starts the guided setup.

Update an existing device

Prefer the gateway's own update: System → Firmware in the Web UI keeps every setting and falls back to the previous image if the new one does not start. If you must use USB, leave Erase device unticked: settings are kept and the board boots the new image from its first slot.

Never tick Erase device to fix a connection problem: it deletes your configuration. Back up first (System → Backup).

Supported browsers

The installer uses the Web Serial API. Use desktop Chrome or Edge on Windows, macOS, Linux or ChromeOS. Safari, Firefox and standard phone browsers cannot flash through this installer. Use a computer for USB installation (or the Easy Install package on Windows, macOS or Linux). The first-boot setup and everyday dashboard work from a phone after installation.

If the board is not found

Use a cable that carries data, not a charge-only cable, and a direct USB port.
Close any other program that uses the serial port (serial monitors, PlatformIO, Arduino IDE).
Boards with a USB-to-UART chip may need its driver (CP210x or CH34x). Boards using the ESP32-S3 native USB need none.
Still nothing: put the board in download mode (hold BOOT, press and release RST, release BOOT), then try again.

Technical details: the installer writes the bootloader at 0x0, the partition table at 0x8000, the initial OTA data at 0x19000 and the application at 0x20000, taken from the project's partitions.csv. It is ESP Web Tools 10.4.0 (Apache-2.0), served from this site.