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ESPlorer Can’t Autodetect Firmware

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The ESPlorer error “can’t autodetect firmware because proper answer not received (maybe unknown firmware)” appears on the right pane of the ESPlorer IDE screen. This happens right after flashing an ESP8266 module such as ESP-01 module with NodeMCU firmware. See Figure 1.

Screenshot of ESPlorer IDE showing the ESPlorer cant autodetect firmware error.
Figure 1. ESPlorer IDE Screen Showing the Error Message

By following the message on the screen to reset the module, the result is a gibberish message with the words “MEM CHECK FAIL” at the end. See Figure 2.

Screenshot of ESPlorer IDE showing the ESPlorer can't autodetect firmware error and the mem check fail error
Figure 2. ESPlorer IDE Screen with Gibberish Message

Cause of the Error Can’t Autodetect Firmware

This error can often be mistaken for a failed NodeMCU firmware flashing. But whether you used the NodeMCU Flasher or the Espressif Download Tool or manually used ESPTool.py to flash the NodeMCU firmware, you will get the same error.

The error is caused by a wrong BAUD rate setting on the ESPlorer IDE and NOT on a defective firmware flashing. See Figure 3. The baud rate setting is at 115200 baud when it should be only 9600 baud.

Picture of ESPlorer IDE showing the baud rate setting that is causing the  ESPlorer Cant Autodetect Firmware
Figure 3. ESPlorer IDE with Annotated Baud Rate Setting

How to Fix the Error Can’t Autodetect Firmware

To fix the error “can’t autodetect firmware”, close the connection and change the baud rate to 9600 baud. Then reset the ESP8266 module by pressing the reset button or simply click the RTS button on the ESPtool IDE twice. Figure 4 shows the fixed error and with the NodeMCU firmware being detected correctly.

Picture of ESPlorer IDE with the fixed error ESPlorer Can't Autodetect Firmware
Figure 4. ESPlorer IDE with Baud Rate Setting Fixed

Important Note on ESPlorer Can’t Autodetect Firmware

If you flash your ESP8266 board with the newer NodeMCU firmware, the correct BAUD rate to use is 115200 baud. See Figure 5 that shows the ESPlorer IDE with NodeMCU firmware version 1.5 and Figure 6 with NodeMCU firmware version 3.0. Both are using 115200 baud rates.

Screenshot of ESPlorer IDE with the NodeMCU firmware version 1.5 but without Cant Autodetect Firmware
Figure 5. ESPlorer IDE with NodeMCU Firmware Version 1.5
Screenshot of ESPlorer IDE with the NodeMCU firmware version 3.0 but without Cant Autodetect Firmware
Figure 6. ESPlorer IDE with NodeMCU Firmware Version 3

What is ESPlorer?

Screenshot of ESPlorer IDE showing the different IDE panels for the article ESPlorer Can't Autodetect Firmware
Figure 7. ESPlorer IDE Panels

ESPlorer is a multi-platform Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for programming ESP8266 modules. It is primarily used for programming ESP8266 modules with NodeMCU (Lua) and MicroPython. It can also be used to program ESP8266 modules with AT commands. Additionally, it can also program RN2483 LoRa modules.

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ESP-01 with RTC and LCD Display
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References

esp8266 – Developer Community
NodeMCU Documentation

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