Firmware flasher for Betaflight, INAV, ArduPilot and PX4

Features

• Betaflight builds

  Betaflight 4.4 and newer are built on request by the Betaflight cloud build service with the options you choose.

• INAV releases

  INAV firmware for your target, from the official releases.

• ArduPilot and PX4

  Copter, Plane, Rover and Sub from the ArduPilot firmware server, and PX4 releases, through the autopilot's bootloader.

• DFU and UART

  STM32 USB DFU, serial (UART) bootloaders, and the ArduPilot / PX4 USB bootloader.

• Settings backup

  A backup taken before flashing, offered for restore afterwards.

• USB doctor

  Explains what is plugged in, detects bootloaders and helps with permissions and cables.

Flashing without a computer

Desktop configurators are the usual way to flash firmware, and they work well. But a phone is always with you, and a flight controller that needs reflashing at the field does not have to wait until you get home. FlySpark reads the board's target from the running firmware or the bootloader and lists matching firmware first, to reduce the chance of flashing the wrong target.

For ExpressLRS receivers and modules, the ExpressLRS tools cover Wi-Fi updates, and EdgeTX radios have their own flasher in the EdgeTX tools.

Before you flash

Take the propellers off, use a data cable, and make sure the phone has charge. Flashing erases settings on most boards, so keep the backup FlySpark offers or save a CLI dump in the Betaflight configurator first. If the board does not appear, the USB doctor explains whether the phone sees it as a flight controller, a bootloader or nothing at all.

iPhones do not give apps the USB access that flashing needs, so the flasher is Android only.

How to flash Betaflight from an Android phone

1. Install the app. Install FlySpark from Google Play.
2. Connect the board. Plug the flight controller into the phone with a USB OTG cable, propellers off.
3. Choose firmware. Open the Firmware flasher, confirm the detected target, and pick the version and options.
4. Flash and restore. Start the flash. When it finishes, restore your settings from the backup.

Frequently asked questions

Can I flash Betaflight from my phone?

Yes, from an Android phone with USB OTG. The app downloads the firmware and flashes the board over DFU or its bootloader.

Can I flash firmware in the browser?

Not with FlySpark's web version. Use the Android app, or the official desktop configurator.

Does it work on iPhone?

No. Flashing needs USB access that iPhone apps do not have.

Will I lose my settings?

Flashing usually resets them. FlySpark takes a backup before flashing and offers to restore it.

Can I try it first?

Yes. The demo runs a dry-run flash into a simulated bootloader.

Related tools

• Betaflight Configurator in your browser and on your phone

  Set up Betaflight in your browser or on Android: ports, PIDs, rates, OSD, modes, presets and CLI over USB or Bluetooth. Free, with a no-hardware demo.

• INAV Configurator for the browser and your phone

  Configure INAV planes, wings and multirotors in your browser or on Android: mixer, navigation, waypoint missions, programming and OSD. Free demo inside.

• ArduPilot setup and ground station in your browser

  A Mission Planner alternative that runs in Chrome: ArduPilot setup, calibration, parameters, missions and logs over USB, telemetry radio or Bluetooth.

• ESC configurator for BLHeli_S, Bluejay and AM32

  Read and change BLHeli_S, Bluejay and AM32 ESC settings through your flight controller in Chrome or on Android. Flash ESC firmware and edit startup tunes.

• EdgeTX radio tools on your Android phone

  Edit EdgeTX models, back up and restore the radio's SD card, manage Lua scripts and flash EdgeTX firmware from your Android phone over USB.

See every FlySpark tool