Restore or Upgrade Firmware on ESP8266 (ESP-01) Module Using Arduino MKR

Arduino MKR series, Arduino Zero or compatibles, based on SAMD21 or SAMD51 MCU’s with at least 8 Kbytes of SRAM and 16 Kbyte of flash, working at 3.3 volt.

These MCU's have native USB for PC connection and hardware UART for connection to ESP.

The method might also work for other 3.3V Arduino compatibles, but then the sketch must be set to FlashingMode instead of AutoMode.

(ESP pinout diagram by blinkmaker)

Supplies

Arduino MKR, Arduino Zero or other SAMD21 and SAMD51-based Arduino compatible.

USB cable for Arduino

ESP8266 (ESP-01)

7 breadboard leads

Arduino sketch for EspSerialPassthrough.

Step 1: Hardware Setup

Connect the ESP8266 (ESP-01) to the Arduino like this:

Arduino pin     ESP8266 (ESP-01) pin              Purpose   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 (D8)           CH_PD / EN (the marking differ)   Chip select / Chip enable signal. Used to enable and reset the ESP.
9 (D9)           GPIO0                             Select flashing mode in ESP.
10 (D10)         RESET                             ESP reset.   
RX (13 on MKR)   TX                                Serial   
TX (14 on MKR)   RX                                Serial   
GND              GND                               Ground   
VCC (3.3V/3V3)   3V3                               3.3V power

Step 2: Firmware From Espressif

Firmware may be found at https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/at.

Content of firmware download from espressif:

 Filename                                                                      Size
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\.DS_Store                                          8196
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\ESP8266 NonOS AT Release Note.pdf                117598
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\.DS_Store                                     10244
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\blank.bin                                      4096
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\boot_v1.7.bin                                  4080
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\esp_init_data_default_v08.bin                   128
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\.DS_Store                                   8196
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\README.md                                   2182
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\1024+1024\user1.2048.new.5.bin            413444
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\1024+1024\user2.2048.new.5.bin            413444
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\512+512\user1.1024.new.2.bin              413444
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\512+512\user2.1024.new.2.bin              413444
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at_sdio\README.md                              1764
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at_sdio\1024+1024\user1.2048.new.5.bin       461732
 ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at_sdio\1024+1024\user2.2048.new.5.bin       461732

First part of ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at\README.md:

# Notice:
 AT firmware becomes larger since it supports more functions. So, we provide two firmwares here:
 * 1024+1024: Normal AT, which is compiled from ESP8266_NONOS_SDK/examples/at, and uses mbedTLS lib.
 * 512+512: Nano AT, which is compiled from ESP8266_NONOS_SDK/examples/at_nano, and uses SSL lib that supports less cipher suites.
 It is suggested to use normal AT(1024+1024), if your flash size is 2MB or larger.
 # BOOT MODE
 ## download
 ### Flash size 8Mbit: 512KB+512KB
     boot_v1.2+.bin              0x00000
     user1.1024.new.2.bin        0x01000
     esp_init_data_default.bin   0xfc000
     blank.bin                   0x7e000 & 0xfe000
 ### Flash size 16Mbit-C1: 1024KB+1024KB
     boot_v1.2+.bin              0x00000
     user1.2048.new.5.bin        0x01000
     esp_init_data_default.bin   0x1fc000
     blank.bin                   0xfe000 & 0x1fe000

Step 3: 8 Mbit Firmware Information

For an ESP8266 with 8 Mbit / 1 Mbyte flash, configure the ESP8266 Download Tool according to the information from the README.md file like below. Some deduction must be done, to find the correct files.

Step 4: 16 Mbit Firmware Information

For an ESP8266 with 16 Mbit / 2 Mbyte flash, configure the ESP8266 Download Tool according to the information from the README.md file like below. Some deduction must be done, to find the correct files.

If having a flash of 16 Mbit or more or wanting to use the AT-SDIO version for 16 Mbit flash, refer to the ESP8266_NonOS_AT_Bin_V1.7.4\bin\at_sdio\README.md file.

Step 5: ESP Firmware Download Tool

The ESP firmware flashing tool may be downloaded from https://www.espressif.com/en/support/download/other-tools.

Unpack and run the flash download tool.

First a black window appears, then after up to 20-30 seconds, a selection box appears.

Step 6: Select Developer Mode

Step 7: Select ESP8266 DownloadTool

Step 8: Read Information From ESP

Use SpiAutoSet to get parameters from ESP, by checking SpiAutoSet and pressing START with no files selected for flashing. Filenames may be listed, but they must be unchecked.

When using an Arduino MKR or Zero, baud rate could be set at up to 1500000 baud. If using an Arduino without native USB, 115200 should be used, and PASSTHROUGH_MODE should be set to FlashingMode in the sketch.

Step 9: Statuswindow

The command window shows the working. Initially the flashing program connect using 115200 baud, sending a stub loader to the ESP. If another baud rate than 115200 is selected in the user interface, the baud rate is switched. Switching baud rates will only work for Arduinos with native USB connection to the PC, since they in fact ignore the baud rate between the PC and Arduino, always running at full USB speed, which for an SAMD21 is 12 Mbit/sec. The EspSerialPassthrough sketch detects the baud rate change command, and changes the baud rate between the Arduino and the ESP accordingly.

Step 10: The Result for an ESP-01 / ESP8266 With 8 Mbit Flash

The program finds the crystal frequency (CrystFreq) and flash size. In my case it keeps the SPI MODE set to QIO. Several tries flashing with SPI mode set to QIO failed, but an Internet search found that DOUT might be necessary to select manually.

Step 11: Select SPI MODE

Uncheck SpiAutoSet and select the appropriate SPI MODE, which for my ESP8266 was DOUT. SPI Mode seems to control the way the ESP flashes itself.

Step 12: Flash Firmware

Select the correct files to flash, according to the README.md file of the ESP firmware (information extracted into tables above), and click START.

For baud rates, using an Arduino MKR with SAMD21 microcontroller, connected to the PC using native USB, I successfully have flashed with baud rates up to 1500000.

Step 13: Verify Successful Flashing

Reset the Arduino, which makes the Arduino program reset the ESP8266.

Open a serial monitor or terminal emulator like Putty. Make sure to send both NewLine and Carriage Return as line feeds. May manually be entered as Ctrl-M + Ctrl-J instead of using the ENTER key.