Flashing and Recovery

Flashing and Recovery

Which file do I need?

Situation	File	How
First install / coming from stock	feralcat-OTA-merged-0x0.bin	USB flash at 0x0 (once)
Already on this firmware	nothing	Firmware → Update over WiFi, or SD
Updating manually	firmware.bin	SD → Update from SD, or USB at 0x10000

The merged image is the whole chip (bootloader + partition table + app). You need it once because a plain app flash can't fix the bootloader (it must be DIO or it bootloops) or install the dual-OTA partition table. After that, updates are just firmware.bin. Downloads are on the Releases page; verify against SHA256SUMS.txt.

Entering download mode

• From the firmware: open Firmware → USB Download Mode → A (no BOOT button needed), or
• Fallback: power off, hold BOOT, plug USB, hold ~3 s, release.

Flashing over USB (Web-Serial)

Docker on macOS can't pass through USB serial, so flash from a Chrome/Edge Web-Serial flasher such as https://esp.huhn.me (or ESP-Launchpad):

1. Enter download mode (above).
2. Connect.
3. First install: Erase Flash (safe — it's a partition-layout change), then add feralcat-OTA-merged-0x0.bin at offset 0x0 → Program. App-only update: add firmware.bin at 0x10000 → Program (do not erase).
4. Power-cycle.

The merged image must be DIO. A QIO image boots once then crash-loops.

Recovery

• Empty apps menu / stuck UI: you can still reach Settings ▸ System ▸ Firmware ▸ Open to reflash (added in v0.5.2). If even that fails, USB-flash the merged image at 0x0.
• Back to factory: run the official installer at https://meowkit.cc/pages/download — it writes the stock image and restores original behaviour (single app slot).
• Won't boot after a flash: re-flash the merged image at 0x0 with Erase Flash first; that cures any half-written state.