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Svalboard
Preview. The current manual is at svalboard.com/manual.

Flashing firmware

Both firmwares install the same way: copy a .uf2 file onto the board.

Flashing resets your layout and settings to the firmware’s default layout. Back up first and restore afterward.

  1. Back up your layout. In Keybard, choose Export Layout and save a .svil file. On Vial, save a .vil.
  2. Download the right file for each half: the side (left or right) and, on the current firmware, the pointing module on that half (see Firmware files, or Vial firmware files for Vial).
  3. Plug one half into your computer by its U port.
  4. Press its RESET button twice quickly, within half a second. A drive named RPI-RP2 appears.
  5. Copy that half’s .uf2 onto the drive. The half restarts by itself and the drive disappears. This is normal.
  6. Move the USB cable to the other half and repeat with its file.
  7. Plug in normally. In Keybard, choose Import Layout and pick your .svil.

Both halves must run the same release. Don’t press keys, especially thumb keys, while the board starts.

New microcontrollers, in a kit or as spares, ship with no firmware and are not set to a side. Flash each one with the file for the half it goes in.