Connecting and flashing your micro:bit

"Flashing" just means sending a program to the micro:bit so it runs. MicroChat does this straight from your browser — no files to drag around.

What you need

• A BBC micro:bit (version 2 is best) and a USB cable that carries data, not just power.
• Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Safari and Firefox can't connect to the micro:bit.
• A computer — not a phone or tablet.

Connecting for the first time

1. Plug the micro:bit into your computer.
2. In MicroChat, click the micro:bit disconnected pill in the top-right corner, or simply click Download.
3. Your browser opens a small window listing devices. Choose BBC micro:bit and click Connect.
4. The pill changes to micro:bit connected.

You only need to do this once per browser session.

Sending a program

Click Download on any program. A spinner appears, then a checkmark when the micro:bit has received it. The program starts running right away.

If it isn't working

The browser window doesn't show the micro:bit

• Try a different USB cable. Many cables only charge and can't carry data.
• Try another USB port, or unplug and plug the micro:bit back in.
• Make sure you're using Chrome or Edge.

"WebUSB not supported in this browser"

• Switch to Chrome or Edge on a computer.

The pill says connected, but nothing happens

• Unplug the micro:bit, plug it back in, and click Download again.
• Very old micro:bit firmware can cause trouble. The micro:bit website has a free firmware update.

"The compiled file isn't ready" message in the chat

• MicroChat wrote your program fine, but couldn't store the file to download yet. Wait a minute and click Download again. See When something goes wrong.

Arcade games

Arcade games go on the CodeCTRL handheld, which has a micro:bit inside. Connecting and downloading works exactly the same way. See Making games with Arcade.