Bleeding edge (vNext)

vNext firmware is published as prereleases on the svalboard/qmk releases page. The first, vNext1, came out on October 14, 2026.

vNext is an unstable build. Use it only if you are comfortable flashing back to a released version (see Going back) when something breaks.

What changes

• 64-byte reports. Keybard and the board exchange larger messages, so reading and writing your layout is faster. This firmware needs Keybard vLaunch2.3 or later and Keybard Host vLaunch2.3 or later. Older versions can’t talk to it. Both are out: https://keybard.svalboard.com runs vLaunch2.3.
• One firmware per side for every pointing module. There are two files: svalboard_left_sval_<release>.uf2 and svalboard_right_sval_<release>.uf2. Each half finds its pointing module at startup, including the deprecated PMW3360 trackball. After you attach or change a module, unplug the board and plug it back in.
• No blank file. A vNext release has only the two files above.

Installing vNext

1. Export a .svil from Keybard. Flashing resets your layout and settings to the default.
2. Download both files from the vNext release.
3. Flash both halves (see Flashing firmware). Until both halves run the same release, the other half won’t work.
4. Open https://keybard.svalboard.com, connect, and import your .svil.

If you ran a trackball, TrackPoint or touchpad file

The board now uses the same USB product ID as a board with no module: 4044 on the left, 4045 on the right (see USB IDs).

• Keybard: choose Connect Keyboard and select the board again. The browser treats it as a new device.
• Keybard Host: nothing to reselect. It finds the board by its Svalboard interface and remembers it by serial number, and neither changes. Update it to vLaunch2.3 or later.
• Linux: the udev rule already covers the new ID. If you installed an older rule that names one product ID, replace it with that rule.

Boards with no pointing module keep their ID.

Going back

To return to the released firmware:

1. Export a .svil from Keybard.
2. Flash the vLaunch2 .uf2 files for your pointing modules (see Firmware files) on both halves. This resets your settings.
3. Open stable Keybard at https://keybard.svalboard.com and import your .svil.