μCritter Firmware Pupdate!

Step 1: Get Your Critter Ready! (Enter Bootloader Mode)

• Paperclip Poke: Hold down Start + Select + Down. While holding, gently press the reset button (in the little hole above the speaker) with a paperclip. Release the paperclip first, then the buttons.
• Sleepy Wake-up: Is your Critter napping? Press and hold Start + Select + Down at the same time to wake it directly into Bootloader mode!
• Menu Method: From the Critter's menu, go to Power → Sleep. Let it snooze, then use the "Sleepy Wake-up" method above.

Bootloader screen showing? Awesome! Now plug your Critter into your computer/phone with its USB cable. On to Step 2!

Step 2: macOS Pupdate Dance!

Mac pals, just follow the messages next to the Flash button over there 👈. It's a simple connect-refresh-connect routine!

1. Make sure your Critter is plugged in and showing the ~CAT BOOTLOADER MODE~ screen (from Step 1!).
2. Click the big Flash My Critter! button. (The text might change as you go!)
3. A browser pop-up will ask for permission. Select MCUBOOT and click Connect.
   🐾 Seeing CAT PROTOTYPE? Whoops! Your Critter isn't in Bootloader mode. Go back to Step 1 and try again!
4. The status message will tell you when it's time to REFRESH PAGE. Do it! (⌘+R)
5. After refreshing, the page might ask you to click the button again (like "Connect Stage 2"). If the pop-up appears, choose MCUBOOT again.
6. The status will again say REFRESH PAGE AGAIN. You got this! (⌘+R)
7. One last time! After the final refresh, click the button if needed ("Connect to Flash" perhaps?). The Pupdate should start automatically!

Did it work? 🎉 Keep an eye on the progress log. "Pupdate Complete!" means success! Your Critter will restart with its new tricks.

Step 2: Windows Pupdate Prep! (Drivers & Restart Required!)

Howdy, Windows user! Because Windows needs a little extra help recognizing your Critter during the update, we need to use a tool called Zadig to install the right drivers and perform a specific restart sequence. This is a one-time setup per computer. Please follow these steps exactly!

A. Preparation

1. Fetch Zadig: Download the latest version from zadig.akeo.ie. Save it somewhere easy to find.
2. Critter Ready: Make sure your Critter shows the ~CAT BOOTLOADER MODE~ screen (Step 1!) and is plugged into your PC's USB port.

B. Zadig - Part 1 (Stage 1 Driver)

3. Run Zadig as Admin: Right-click the Zadig file and choose "Run as administrator".
4. Show All Devices: In Zadig's menu, click Options -> check ✅ List All Devices.
5. Find DFU Interface (Interface 2): Select MCUBOOT from the dropdown list (it should have USB ID 2FE3 0100).

   Interface Check: Zadig usually shows multiple "Interfaces" for MCUBOOT in this first stage (e.g., Interface 0, Interface 2). You need to select the one used for firmware updates, which is Interface 2. Make sure the entry you select in the dropdown specifically mentions Interface 2.

   Do NOT change the driver for Interface 0 (the Serial/CDC interface).

   🐾 Seeing CAT PROTOTYPE instead of MCUBOOT? Whoops! Wrong mode. Go back to Step 1, get the right screen, then re-open Zadig.

6. Select WinUSB: Ensure the box next to the big green arrow shows WinUSB for the selected Interface 2.
7. Install Driver: Click the large "Replace Driver" or "Install Driver" button. Click "Yes" to prompts. This installs WinUSB specifically for Interface 2.
8. Close Zadig (for now).

C. Web App - Part 1 (Trigger Stage 2)

9. Back to this Web Page: Click the big Flash My Critter! button over there 👈.
10. Browser Pop-up: Your browser will ask for permission. Select the device named MCUBOOT and click the Connect button in the pop-up.
11. Wait for Switch: The status message here should soon say something like "Switching device mode...". The Critter is now entering Stage 2.
12. IMPORTANT: You can ignore any "REFRESH PAGE" message for now. Leave the Critter plugged in!

D. Zadig - Part 2 (Stage 2 Driver)

13. Run Zadig as Admin AGAIN: Open Zadig again (Right-click -> "Run as administrator").
14. Show All Devices AGAIN: Go to Options -> check ✅ List All Devices again.
15. Find Stage 2 Device: Select MCUBOOT again from the dropdown.
    In this second stage, Zadig should show only one MCUBOOT device (the USB ID might be 2FE3 FFFF or stay 2FE3 0100). Select this single entry.
16. Select WinUSB AGAIN: Make sure WinUSB is selected next to the green arrow.
17. Install Driver AGAIN: Click "Replace Driver" / "Install Driver".
18. Close Zadig. Driver setup is complete!

E. The Big Restart (The Windows Driver Shuffle!)

19. Physically unplug the μCritter's USB cable from your PC.
20. Completely CLOSE your web browser (all windows and tabs).
21. Re-open the browser and navigate back to this Pupdate page.
22. Plug the μCritter back in (it should still be showing the ~CAT BOOTLOADER MODE~ screen!).

F. Web App - Start Fresh & Pupdate!

23. Click the big Flash My Critter! button 👈 one more time.
24. Follow the Prompts: Now, simply follow all the status messages next to the button. It should guide you through the connect-refresh-connect sequence without needing Zadig again:
    • Select MCUBOOT in the browser pop-up when asked. The app will automatically figure out if it's Stage 1 or Stage 2 this time.
    • Click REFRESH PAGE (Ctrl+R) when the status tells you to.
    • Click the button again ("Connect Stage 2"?) after the first refresh if needed (select MCUBOOT if asked).
    • Click REFRESH PAGE AGAIN when the status tells you to.
    • Click the button one last time ("Connect to Flash"?) after the second refresh if needed (select MCUBOOT if asked).
25. Pupdate Time! The firmware flashing should begin automatically after the final connection!

Watch the progress log. "Pupdate Complete!" = Success! 🎉 Your Critter will restart automatically.

Step 2: Linux Pupdate Prep! (Permissions Time!)

Hey Linux friend! We need to give your browser permission to chat with the Critter. This is usually a quick, one-time setup per computer using a udev rule.

A. Create udev Rule (Choose One Method)

You only need to do this once per computer.

Method 1: Manual Steps

1. Open your Terminal.
2. Create/Edit the Rules File: Type or paste:
   sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/51-mcuboot.rules
3. Paste These Lines: Copy the two lines below exactly and paste them into the nano editor:

   SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2fe3", ATTR{idProduct}=="0100", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
   SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2fe3", ATTR{idProduct}=="ffff", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"

4. Save & Exit Nano: Press Ctrl+X, then press Y, then press Enter.
5. Check Group Membership: In the terminal, type groups and press Enter. Check if plugdev is listed.
6. Add to Group (if needed): If plugdev was NOT listed, run:
   sudo usermod -aG plugdev $USER
   (This adds your current user to the group).
7. Reload Rules: Run:
   sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger
8. ‼️ LOG OUT / LOG IN (CRITICAL if group was added): If you had to add yourself to the plugdev group in step 6, you MUST log out completely from your Linux session and log back in for the group change to take effect! Restarting the browser is not enough.

Method 2: Bash One-Liner

This single command does the same thing as the manual steps (creates file, adds user, reloads rules). Copy/paste into your terminal:

echo -e 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2fe3", ATTR{idProduct}=="0100", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"\nSUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2fe3", ATTR{idProduct}=="ffff", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/51-mcuboot.rules > /dev/null && sudo usermod -aG plugdev $USER && sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger && echo "Rule created/updated. Log out/in if you weren't in plugdev group before running this."

B. Linux Pupdate Dance! (After Setup & Login)

9. Re-plug Your Critter: After setting up rules (and logging back in if needed!), unplug/replug the Critter (make sure it shows the ~CAT BOOTLOADER MODE~ screen!).
10. Click the big Flash My Critter! button.
11. If a browser pop-up asks, choose MCUBOOT and click Connect.
    🐾 Seeing CAT PROTOTYPE? Whoops! Bootloader mode needed (Step 1).
12. Follow the status prompts: Click REFRESH PAGE when asked (Ctrl+R).
13. Click the button again ("Connect Stage 2"?) and select MCUBOOT if prompted.
14. Click REFRESH PAGE AGAIN when asked.
15. Click the button ("Connect to Flash"?) and select MCUBOOT if prompted. Flashing starts!

Watch the progress log. "Pupdate Complete!" = Success! 🎉 Your Critter will reboot.

Step 2: Android Pupdate Prep!

Hey Android adventurer! Let's get your phone ready to give your Critter its Pupdate.

A. Get Connected & Check OTG

1. Make sure your Critter is showing the ~CAT BOOTLOADER MODE~ screen (from Step 1!).
2. Plug Critter into Phone: You'll need either:
   • A USB-C to USB-C cable.
   • OR a USB OTG adapter (USB-C for your phone, USB-A for the Critter's cable) + the Critter's normal USB cable.
3. Enable OTG (If Necessary):
   • Many phones turn OTG on automatically!
   • If the Critter isn't detected later, check your phone's Settings for "OTG" (sometimes under "Connected Devices" or similar) and flip the switch ON.
   • Not sure if your phone supports OTG? Search the Play Store for a "USB OTG Checker" app to find out.

B. Android Pupdate Dance!

Ready? Using Chrome, follow the messages next to the Flash button over there 👈:

4. Click the big Flash My Critter! button.
5. Chrome will pop up asking for permission. Choose MCUBOOT and tap Connect.
   🐾 Seeing CAT PROTOTYPE? Whoops! Your Critter isn't in Bootloader mode. Go back to Step 1 and try again!
6. The status message will say REFRESH PAGE. In Chrome on Android, you can usually do this by pulling down from the top of the screen until you see the refresh icon 🔄.
7. After refreshing, tap the button again if needed ("Connect Stage 2"?). Select MCUBOOT if the pop-up appears.
8. Status asks to REFRESH PAGE AGAIN? You know the drill! (Pull down to refresh!)
9. One last time! Tap the button if needed ("Connect to Flash"?). The Pupdate should start automatically!

Did it work? 🎉 Keep an eye on the progress log. "Pupdate Complete!" means your Critter is ready to reboot and show off!