Install CircuitPython!
Last updated
Last updated
CircuitPython may already be installed on your Feather Sense nRF52840. However, you may want to update the version of CircuitPython already installed on your board. The steps are the same for installing and updating.
You only have to install CircuitPython ONCE. After that you are free to code all you like without going through this process again until it's time to upgrade!
The first thing you'll want to do is download the most recent version of CircuitPython.
Always back up your code before installing or updating CircuitPython!
ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR CODE BEFORE INSTALLING OR UPDATING CIRCUITPYTHON.
Download the latest CircuitPython for the Feather Sense nRF52854 board.
Next, you'll want to plug in your board using a known-good USB data cable. Make sure the USB cable is a data cable! Some cables work only for charging and can lead to a lot of frustration.
The downloaded bootloader file from the above step should have the extension UF2 (USB Flashing Format) which makes installing and updating CircuitPython a quick and easy process. The bootloader is the mode your board needs to be in for the CircuitPython .uf2 file you downloaded to work.
Find the reset button on your board. It's a small, black button, and on most of the boards, it will be the only button available. It is typically labelled RESET or RST on the board.
Tap this button twice to enter the bootloader. If it doesn't work on the first try, don't be discouraged. The rhythm of the taps needs to be correct and sometimes it takes a few tries.
Once successful, the board's RGB status LED(s) will flash red and stay green. A new drive will show up on your computer.
The drive will be called boardnameBOOT where boardname is a reference to your specific board. For example, Feather will have FEATHERBOOT
Going forward, the bootloader drive will be referred to as the boot drive.
The board is now in bootloader mode! This is what you need to install or update CircuitPython.
Now find the file you downloaded. Drag that file to the boot drive on your computer.
The lights should flash again, boot will disappear and a new drive will show up on your computer called CIRCUITPY.
Congratulations! You've successfully installed or updated CircuitPython!
When you plug a CircuitPython board into your computer, your computer will see the board's flash memory as a USB flash drive where files can be stored. When you have successfully installed CircuitPython, you'll see the CIRCUITPY drive. When you double-tap the reset button on most boards, you'll see the boardnameBOOT drive. You can drag files to the boot drives and CIRCUITPY, but only CIRCUITPY will run your CircuitPython code.
Normally, when you drag a file to a mounted USB drive, the file copies to the drive and then is able to be seen in your file explorer. However, when you drag the CircuitPython UF2 file to the boot drive, it seems to disappear, and the drive disconnects. This is normal! The UF2 is essentially an installer file, and does not simply sit on the drive, but installs CircuitPython if the board is in bootloader mode (i.e. the boot drive).
You will be able to copy other files to the boot drive but they will not run or be accessible to CircuitPython. So make sure that once you're done installing CircuitPython, that you're dragging to and editing files on the CIRCUITPY drive!
This page is an edited version of Installing CircuitPython published by Kattni Rembor in the Welcome to CircuitPython guide on the Adafruit website.
