Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
esptool is a Python-based command-line utility used to communicate with Espressif chips like the ESP8266 and ESP32 over a serial connection. It allows users to flash firmware, erase flash memory, read chip details, and perform other low-level operations. Commonly used in development workflows involving MicroPython, Arduino, or ESP-IDF, esptool plays a vital role in uploading firmware and recovering bricked devices. It interacts directly with the chip's built-in bootloader, making it a powerful and essential tool for embedded developers working with ESP devices. In this video tutorial you will learn how to write bootloader and/or firmware to the ESP32-C3 chip with RISC-V architecture. For the demonstrations in the video is used the open source hardware ANAVI Miracle Emitter. This is a home automation dev board with XIAO ESP32C3 module for controlling addressable LED strips also known as NeoPixles.
* Install esptool on a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Debian (tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 pipx -y
pipx install esptool
pipx ensurepath
* Check that esptool runs and print the version:
esptool version
* Flash bootloader and firmware on ANAVI Miracle Emitter with XIAO ESP32C3:
esptool.py --chip esp32c3 --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 460800 write_flash 0x0 anavi-miracle-emitter-sw/build/esp32.esp32.XIAO_ESP32C3/anavi-miracle-emitter-sw.ino.merged.bin
* Flash just the firmware by keeping the existing bootloader on ANAVI Miracle Emitter with XIAO ESP32C3:
esptool.py --chip esp32c3 --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 460800 write_flash 0x10000 anavi-miracle-emitter-sw/build/esp32.esp32.XIAO_ESP32C3/anavi-miracle-emitter-sw.ino.bin
📹 Related Videos
===
Getting started with esptool for ESP8266 & ESP32
youtu.be/8_ct4JQXeWI?si=96ycOGYXufDvNytB
ANAVI Miracle Emitter
youtu.be/J6L-GI_Qu7k?si=5c9xYrdv_nmY0_wb
ANAVI Miracle Emitter: Step-by-Step Assembly Guide
youtu.be/Nb9teMWVYBs?si=vJWCMkFumnp5ehdv
How To Install WLED on an ESP32 Board from Chrome Web Browser? Demo with XIAO ESP32C3
youtu.be/bktjlJ_jN0U?si=9P3fi7zNZ1ejnOph
NeoPixel WS2812B LED Panels with WLED and ESP32. Demo featuring XIAO ESP32C3 with 32-bit RISC-V Core
youtu.be/zhpkE2imopU?si=coNwCTOeDIMHxvzW
Multicolor Floor Lamp with NeoPixel LEDs and the WLED Open Source Firmware on ESP32-C3
youtu.be/euYTd7wFaOU?si=ECkxp3bbxlOY5o14
esptool is a Python-based command-line utility used to communicate with Espressif chips like the ESP8266 and ESP32 over a serial connection. It allows users to flash firmware, erase flash memory, read chip details, and perform other low-level operations. Commonly used in development workflows involving MicroPython, Arduino, or ESP-IDF, esptool plays a vital role in uploading firmware and recovering bricked devices. It interacts directly with the chip's built-in bootloader, making it a powerful and essential tool for embedded developers working with ESP devices. In this video tutorial you will learn how to write bootloader and/or firmware to the ESP32-C3 chip with RISC-V architecture. For the demonstrations in the video is used the open source hardware ANAVI Miracle Emitter. This is a home automation dev board with XIAO ESP32C3 module for controlling addressable LED strips also known as NeoPixles.
* Install esptool on a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Debian (tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install python3 pipx -y
pipx install esptool
pipx ensurepath
* Check that esptool runs and print the version:
esptool version
* Flash bootloader and firmware on ANAVI Miracle Emitter with XIAO ESP32C3:
esptool.py --chip esp32c3 --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 460800 write_flash 0x0 anavi-miracle-emitter-sw/build/esp32.esp32.XIAO_ESP32C3/anavi-miracle-emitter-sw.ino.merged.bin
* Flash just the firmware by keeping the existing bootloader on ANAVI Miracle Emitter with XIAO ESP32C3:
esptool.py --chip esp32c3 --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 460800 write_flash 0x10000 anavi-miracle-emitter-sw/build/esp32.esp32.XIAO_ESP32C3/anavi-miracle-emitter-sw.ino.bin
📹 Related Videos
===
Getting started with esptool for ESP8266 & ESP32
youtu.be/8_ct4JQXeWI?si=96ycOGYXufDvNytB
ANAVI Miracle Emitter
youtu.be/J6L-GI_Qu7k?si=5c9xYrdv_nmY0_wb
ANAVI Miracle Emitter: Step-by-Step Assembly Guide
youtu.be/Nb9teMWVYBs?si=vJWCMkFumnp5ehdv
How To Install WLED on an ESP32 Board from Chrome Web Browser? Demo with XIAO ESP32C3
youtu.be/bktjlJ_jN0U?si=9P3fi7zNZ1ejnOph
NeoPixel WS2812B LED Panels with WLED and ESP32. Demo featuring XIAO ESP32C3 with 32-bit RISC-V Core
youtu.be/zhpkE2imopU?si=coNwCTOeDIMHxvzW
Multicolor Floor Lamp with NeoPixel LEDs and the WLED Open Source Firmware on ESP32-C3
youtu.be/euYTd7wFaOU?si=ECkxp3bbxlOY5o14
