I can’t flash the firmware of my Dygma Defy or Dygma Raise 2

Why it happens

The main reason the firmware flashing process fails is a connectivity issue. This issue can come from the operating system, hardware, or software, so it can be tricky to figure out why it’s happening.

The good news is that in a few steps, you fix it in most cases.

How to solve it

Before starting the troubleshooting process, it’s very important you:

1. Use the provided Dygma cables.
2. Make sure the keyboard is connected directly to the computer. Don’t connect it to a KVM, USB HUB, or any other device that acts as an intermediary between the computer and the keyboard.
3. Ensure that both sides of the keyboard are turned off.
4. Ensure that you are connected to the Internet; you must connect to the GitHub repository where the firmware version is stored. Be aware that some antivirus or operating systems may block Bazecor's connection to the Internet.
5. If you use a laptop, ensure it’s connected to a power source.

Troubleshooting steps

Let’s start the troubleshooting steps:

1. Close Bazecor, disconnect, reconnect the keyboard, and reopen Bazecor. The classic “Have you tried turning it on and off again?” solves the problem 50% of the time.
2. Swap the cables from the left to the right side and flip the connectors from the side that’s on the keyboard to the Neuron and vice versa.

These two steps may seem arbitrary, but a connectivity issue can come from software timeouts (how long it takes the computer or software to process information), hardware issues (like a connector misbehaving), or operating systems (not giving enough power to the keyboard).

If nothing above worked or you bricked your keyboard

In the weird scenario that nothing above helped, there are two ways of forcing your Neuron to flash.

Factory flasher tool

This flasher tool is the one we use in the factory to flash all the keyboards.

1. Download and install the app from this link.
2. Open the app.
3. Connect the keyboard wired to your computer with the sides turned off.
4. Disconnect any other Dygma keyboard.
5. Open FlasherTools.
6. Go to Advanced > Enable features in the menu bar
7. Press Skip Step under Serial Number Input
8. Press Flash Neuron and tap the Top-Left Key on your keyboard. The flashing process will start.
9. Once it's finished, press Flash sides and tap the Top-Left Key. If it doesn’t work, tap it again 😅
10. If pressing ESC doesn’t work, activate Force Sides Flash.
11. Wait for the sides to flash.
12. Press Apply layers.
13. Press Pair Sides.
14. Close the flasher tools and Open Bazecor.
15. Restore your backup on the Preferences menu in Bazecor
    
16. The flasher tool will flash the 1.1.0 firmware version. To enjoy all the latest features, you’ll need to flash the latest firmware using Bazecor

If, at some point, the flashing process fails, try again. It takes a few tries in some rare scenarios for it to flash properly. 

If nothing seems to work, try to combine the bootloader method with the flasher tools. 

Bootloader mode

This process restarts the Neuron and returns it to factory settings. It may be a bit tricky, so be patient and careful.

1. Ensure that you have one of the cables connected directly to the computer
2. Find a small hole in the side of the Neuron.
3. Hold the reset button in that hole with a pin AS you connect the cable from the computer to the Neuron.
   
4. Open Bazecor, select the keyboard, and if you’ve properly reset the Neuron, the following message should appear:
   
5. Press the “Update Firmware” button. The process won’t take more than a few minutes.
6. After updating the Neuron’s firmware, connect the sides and update the firmware again. This will update the firmware of your keyboard sides