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You can flash custom firmware to the Waveshare ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G over USB, but there is no universal “custom OS” image or address. First match your board and revision to the project’s release, then use that project’s image format, partition layout and offsets. For Waveshare’s bundled example firmware, the documented address is 0x00; that value must not be copied to an unrelated custom build.
Start by identifying the exact board
Waveshare sells several ESP32-S3 e-paper boards. Display size, revision, connector wiring, flash layout and pin assignments can differ, so instructions for one model cannot safely be generalized to every board carrying an ESP32-S3.
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The procedure documented here is for the ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G development board. Read the name printed on your board and compare it with the custom project’s supported-hardware list before connecting power. A project that supports a different Waveshare model may use a different display driver, GPIO map or partition table even if both boards use the same microcontroller family.
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- Confirm the complete model name, including the display size and any revision marking.
- Check that the custom project explicitly supports that model or gives a tested equivalent configuration.
- Verify whether the release is for ESP-IDF, Arduino, another framework, or a prebuilt application image.
- Find out whether the release is one merged binary or several files that must be written at separate offsets.
The Waveshare guide’s statement that “The development board uses USB for programming” applies to this 1.54G board and its documented example firmware. It does not, by itself, prove that every USB connector on every ESP32-S3 e-paper product supports the same programming method.
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What to confirm in the custom project before flashing
Manufacturer instructions cover Waveshare’s example package. A third-party operating system or firmware project must supply its own build and flashing details. Locate the project’s release notes, board configuration and installation instructions before choosing a tool.
Target and revision
Confirm the exact ESP32-S3 board target, display controller, memory configuration and hardware revision. A generic ESP32-S3 image can boot while still failing to refresh the e-paper panel because its GPIO or controller settings are wrong.
Image type
Determine whether the download is a single merged .bin containing bootloader, partition table and application, or multiple binaries. A multiple-file release normally lists an address for every file. Do not infer those offsets from the Waveshare example.
Flash and partition settings
Check the project’s required flash size, partition table, encryption or secure-boot assumptions, and any migration step from an older release. These values are project-specific. If the author requires a full erase, understand that it removes existing applications, settings and stored data before you run it.
Build framework and host tools
For an ESP-IDF project, follow its stated ESP-IDF version and toolchain requirements. A prebuilt image may instead instruct you to use a serial flasher or a vendor utility. Use the method named by the project rather than selecting a tool solely because the board has a USB socket.
Connect the ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G and enter BOOT mode
- Close any serial monitor or application that may have the board’s port open.
- Connect the board to the computer with USB. The opened Waveshare page does not specify the connector type or cable standard, so verify the physical connection for your particular board and use a cable capable of data if the board’s documentation requires one.
- Wait for the operating system to enumerate the programming port.
- If no port appears, hold the board’s BOOT button while connecting USB, then release BOOT after the connection is established. This is Waveshare’s documented fallback for a port that is not recognized.
- Record the COM port or device name shown by your flashing program. A different port can appear after reconnecting or entering download mode.
BOOT mode is a bootloader state, not a separate firmware image. The button timing matters when the tool cannot begin communication or reports that it is waiting for synchronization.
Choose the flashing route
| Route | Use it when | What must match | Documented details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waveshare online flasher | You are installing the bundled example firmware for the 1.54G board. | Board COM port, Waveshare example .bin and its published address. |
Select the connected port, set address to 0, choose the model package’s binary and start flashing. |
| Desktop Flash Download Tool | You prefer a desktop utility for the bundled example firmware. | ESP32-S3 MCU selection, USB download interface, COM port, binary and address. | The Waveshare example uses a maximum BAUD setting of 1152000; reset after completion. |
| Project-specified ESP-IDF or serial workflow | The custom project supplies its own build or release instructions. | Exact target, image set, partition offsets, flash settings and erase requirements. | Follow the project’s commands and image layout; Waveshare’s example address is not a universal recipe. |
| ESP-IDF USB-OTG DFU | Only when the project and board explicitly support Espressif’s USB-OTG DFU path. | USB-OTG hardware, bootloader mode, host drivers and security configuration. | Use the DFU commands and prerequisites documented by Espressif, not ordinary USB serial assumptions. |
The online and desktop utilities are convenient for the supplied Waveshare image because the file and address are already specified. They are not automatically better choices for a custom build. A project that distributes separate bootloader, partition and application files needs a tool that accepts multiple address/file pairs. Conversely, a merged image may require one specific command that handles its embedded layout. Confirm that capability before starting.
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Host setup also differs. A serial or USB_SERIAL_JTAG workflow depends on the operating system exposing the board’s programming interface and on the project’s chosen utility. USB-OTG DFU can require a different device driver and enumeration mode. On Windows, Espressif notes that WinUSB may be needed for DFU; Linux may require a udev rule, while macOS should work without additional setup. These requirements are for the DFU path, not proof that the Waveshare board uses DFU.
Flash Waveshare’s bundled example firmware
This section is a known-good description of the manufacturer’s example package, not a recipe for an unspecified custom OS. The files are in the package’s ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54GFirmware directory.
Using the online flasher
- Open the Waveshare online flashing page for the ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G example.
- Choose the COM port belonging to the connected board.
- Set the flash address to
0, equivalent to0x00. - Select the example package’s
.binfile from theFirmwaredirectory. - Start the flash operation and wait for the tool to report completion.
- Press reset or power-cycle the board, then verify that the example starts and the display behaves as expected.
The address and file in these steps belong together. Substituting a custom binary while leaving the example address unchanged can overwrite the wrong region or produce an image that does not boot.
Using the desktop Flash Download Tool
- Launch the desktop Flash Download Tool.
- Choose the MCU and download interface to match the board; Waveshare’s example illustrates ESP32-S3 with USB.
- Select the board’s COM port.
- Choose the Waveshare
.binfrom the model’s example package. - Enter the documented address,
0x00. - Set the BAUD to the example guide’s maximum value,
1152000, if that setting is available in your version of the tool. - Start downloading. When the utility finishes, press reset and check the display.
Do not select a different chip family, change the image address or add files unless the firmware’s own instructions require it.
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Once the project has supplied a board-specific image and layout, use its named workflow. The safe sequence is:
- Download the release intended for the ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G, not merely a generic ESP32-S3 build.
- Read the release’s flash map. Record every filename, address, partition-table offset and required flash mode or size.
- Install the project’s specified version of ESP-IDF, serial flasher or other utility.
- Connect USB and identify the port. If enumeration fails, reconnect while holding BOOT as described above.
- Enter the exact addresses supplied by the project. Use
0x00only when that custom project explicitly assigns it. - Erase flash only when the project requests it or when its migration instructions say it is necessary. Treat an erase as destructive.
- Start the download and leave the board connected until the tool verifies completion.
- Reset or power-cycle the board, then verify both firmware boot and e-paper operation.
If the project provides a merged image, use the project’s stated single-image command. If it provides bootloader, partition and application files separately, enter each one at its supplied offset. Never create offsets by copying values from another board or from the Waveshare example.
Make a recovery record
Before erasing or replacing a working image, save the release files, the project’s installation page and a plain-text copy of its flash map. Note the board revision, selected port, erase choice and firmware version. This record makes a rollback reproducible and prevents accidentally mixing a new application with an old partition table. If the project supplies checksums, compare them before flashing; do not assume that a file with the right name is the correct build.
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When an ESP-IDF project uses USB-OTG DFU
Espressif distinguishes ordinary serial programming and USB_SERIAL_JTAG from USB-OTG DFU. A USB connector alone does not establish DFU support on the Waveshare board.
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For a project that explicitly supports this path, Espressif documents building the DFU image after selecting the target, then transferring it with:
idf.py set-target esp32s3
idf.py dfu
idf.py dfu-flashUse the project’s stated target and configuration before running those commands. The DFU workflow requires dfu-util. On Windows, a WinUSB driver may be required; Linux may need a udev rule; macOS is expected to work without additional setup. Secure Boot, flash encryption or Secure Download Mode can disable or prevent the documented USB-OTG DFU method.
These requirements apply to USB-OTG DFU specifically. They do not mean that the standard Waveshare USB programming procedure is a DFU procedure, nor that a board designed for USB serial/JTAG can be converted to DFU through software alone.
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Troubleshoot common flashing failures
The port is not recognized
- Close other serial tools and reconnect the board.
- Hold BOOT while connecting USB, then release it after the port appears.
- Check whether the operating system assigns a new COM or device name in download mode.
- Confirm that the selected tool is using the board’s actual interface rather than a stale port entry.
The tool says “Waiting for power-on sync”
Waveshare recommends holding BOOT and power-cycling the board into download mode. Keep BOOT held while restarting power, then retry the connection. If the tool still waits, close it, reconnect the board, select the newly enumerated port and repeat the BOOT sequence.
Erase fails or the board does not respond
Waveshare’s recovery instruction is to hold BOOT, power-cycle and retry. Erasing is destructive: it removes the existing flash contents, including installed firmware and stored settings. Do not erase merely because a custom image uses a different address; first follow the custom project’s migration instructions.
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The download completes but the screen stays blank
- Confirm that the image targets the ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G rather than another display size or revision.
- Check the project’s display-controller and GPIO configuration.
- Verify that all bootloader, partition and application files were written at the project’s specified offsets.
- Press reset or power-cycle after flashing.
- Check whether the project requires an initial erase, a particular partition table or a separate data asset.
A successful transfer only proves that bytes were written; it does not prove that the firmware matches the panel wiring or partition layout.
The board resets repeatedly
Recheck the target, flash-size assumption, partition table and security settings. A mismatched application can be accepted by the downloader yet fail during boot. Return to the project’s release instructions rather than trying random offsets or binaries.
The tool reports success but the expected USB device does not appear
That may be normal if the firmware exposes serial or USB_SERIAL_JTAG rather than USB-OTG DFU. Do not install DFU drivers or change eFuses solely because a DFU device is absent. First identify which USB interface the project says it uses and whether the board hardware routes that interface to the connector.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need a TF card?
Waveshare’s guide mentions a TF card for examples that specifically use TF-card storage. It does not identify a TF card as a requirement for USB flashing. Unless the custom project explicitly stores assets or firmware on a card, the flashing operation itself is performed through the board’s programming interface.
Verification after flashing
- Reset or power-cycle the board after the tool reports success.
- Confirm that the firmware reaches its normal startup screen or serial log.
- Check that the e-paper panel refreshes without persistent artifacts.
- Test the project’s board-specific inputs, wireless functions and storage features if applicable.
- Record the image version, flash map and erase status so a later rollback uses the same layout.
If verification fails, preserve the project’s original binaries and addresses. Reflashing an example image can help determine whether the hardware still responds, but it also replaces the custom firmware and should be treated as a separate recovery action.
Key rules to remember
- This procedure is model-specific to the Waveshare ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G.
- USB programming and USB-OTG DFU are different paths.
0x00is the documented address for Waveshare’s bundled example firmware, not a universal custom-OS address.- BOOT mode is the first recovery step when the port is missing, synchronization times out or erase fails.
- Custom projects must define their own image files, offsets, partitions, target and security requirements.
- Flash erasure destroys existing contents and should be performed only when the applicable instructions require it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flash address should I use for a custom OS?
Use the address or addresses in the custom project’s release instructions. Waveshare’s 0x00 setting applies to the bundled ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G example binary only; it is not a universal ESP32-S3 value.
How do I put the board in BOOT mode?
Hold the board’s BOOT button while connecting USB or while power-cycling it, then release BOOT after the port appears or the download tool begins communicating. Waveshare recommends this sequence when enumeration, synchronization or erase fails.
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What should I do if the tool is waiting for power-on sync?
Hold BOOT, power-cycle the board into download mode, select the newly enumerated COM port and retry. Close other serial applications first so they do not keep the port open.
Can I use the Waveshare online flasher for any custom firmware?
Only if the custom project explicitly supports that tool and supplies the correct image format and layout. The documented online route selects the 1.54G board port, the Waveshare example binary and address 0; those settings should not be assumed for another image.
Is a USB connector proof that USB-OTG DFU will work?
No. Espressif’s USB-OTG DFU path requires the USB-OTG peripheral, suitable PHY routing or configuration, bootloader mode and host setup. A board may instead expose serial programming or USB_SERIAL_JTAG.
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Only when the project’s installation or migration instructions require it. Erasing removes existing firmware, settings and stored data, so preserve anything needed for recovery first.
Do I need a TF card to flash the board?
Not for the documented USB programming procedure. Waveshare mentions a TF card only for examples that use TF-card storage; a custom project may add its own storage requirement.
Why does flashing finish successfully but the e-paper stay blank?
Check the exact board revision, display controller, GPIO configuration, partition table and offsets. A downloader can write every byte successfully even when the image targets another Waveshare model or uses incompatible panel settings.
The Bottom Line
For a Waveshare ESP32-S3-ePaper-1.54G, connect over USB and use BOOT mode when the port or synchronization fails. Flash the custom project’s exact image and offsets, not the example firmware’s 0x00 setting by habit. Treat USB-OTG DFU as a separate, hardware-dependent workflow, and erase flash only when the project explicitly requires it.
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