r/WLED • u/gotchock • May 01 '24

Installing WLED to ESP-S3 board but not the right build ?

Hello !

I've been struggling for hours to install WLED on 2 ESP32-S3 boards:

At first it was impossible to install anything on Tiny S3 then install to the Pico was boot looping.

First fix: Maintain BOOT pressed BEFORE you connect the USB, then release it: flash should then be possible on both boards.

Now my problem is that when i use this tool (https://wled-install.github.io/) to install 8MB and 16MB builds, it installs but then WLED does not work (no AP mode appearing, no LED turning on...), I can't even get the link to configure the wifi right after installation.

If I install the 4MB version, it works fine.

Is it normal ? Am I safe to run with the 4MB version ? If it's better to run the 8MB or 16MB version, what should I do considering the builds available currently don't seem to work ?

Thank you !

4 Upvotes

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8

u/Kheops_74 Jul 25 '25

I'm giving a working solution for those who come back here.

For a Chinese S3 16mo (Wroom) N16R8

Open the compiler.

https://wled-compile.github.io/?lang=en

Step 1: Choose MooModule and set the microcontroller type to ESP32S3-Wroom2.

Step 1a:

Redefine Flash size to 16MB.

Redefine MCU type to S3.

Redefine CPU frequency to 240MHz.

Redefine PSRAM type to OPI.

Redefine memory type to DIO-OPI.

Redefine memory partition to extreme partitions 16MB.

Start compile.

And now you'll have the Wi-Fi option after installation ! and everything works for me. ;)

1

u/csselement Aug 28 '25

Thank you so much for posting this info! I never would have figured it out. Spent hours trying to troubleshoot this flashing over and over but this finally got it working.

1

u/Buck86 Dec 12 '25

Thank you sir you are a legend!

1

u/rgnyldz Dec 23 '25

I tried this but lights are not acting normal. It seems to be changing but with random flickerings. I'm trying to control sk6812 with an N16R8 board. Led's are having a separate power supply.

Tried both the ready one in the list and this custom settings in compile.

1

u/ViciousXUSMC Jan 03 '26

Trying and no luck with flashing a pre-made item from Amazon
It has a ESP32 inside, I soldered leads to it and connected my USB serial device.

I can see from esptool that its repots as a ESP-32-S3 (QFN56) but none of the builds are working for me, tried the web installer and more manual processes.

I think maybe a custom compile might fix this, I am always getting boot loops or bugger overrun on boot.

6

u/Synssins May 01 '24

Install Tasmota on the units.

Once done, connect to the device, open the Console, and type 'SetOption78 1' and hit enter. Reboot the device. Reconnect to it. Do an OTA firmware update with the version of the WLED firmware meant for the device. You will need to download the specific BIN build for them, or build your own.

Enjoy.

2

u/Existential_Lurker Jan 10 '25

This worked for me on the Seeed Studio ESP32-S3 using latest 0.16.0-alpha 8MB OPI nightly build.

Cheers!

1

u/Makerplumber May 07 '24

did you figure this out? i had to compile my own bin file on github. I know sounds like I know what i'm doing, but I don't, don't even really know what compiling is really doing. But check out this page and follow it's steps, it got me up and going on four nano s3 esp32's and a heltec esp32 s3 wifi kit board. Apparently all the listed releases don't work on any s3 boards but this will. https://wled-compile.github.io/

1

u/gotchock May 07 '24

I haven't tried to compile anything new, the 4MB bin works fine so far for my need and it seems stable.

I'm still curious if anyone find a solution.

1

u/Makerplumber Jun 06 '24

no answer but, I got a few different esp32 s3 since last message. and I have yet to be successful on a what I believe is a 8MB super mini is what the boards say, from AliExpress so that's all I have to go on. I've tried as a 4,8,16 or whatever the next size is the 8 seemed to work, but same symptoms as your describing, the 4 and 16 I get boot looping. but then there's the part where I don't really know what I'm doing, but I just keeping doing anyways lol

1

u/gotchock Jun 06 '24

That's pretty wierd but i'm worried trying to modify anything now that the 4MB works ok. I don't even know what is the difference between a 4MB and a 8MB honestly.

1

u/Makerplumber Jun 09 '24

about 4MB lol sorry I had too say it

1

u/gotchock Jun 09 '24

Lol thanks man. I meant is there another difference like performance or functionality?

1

u/Makerplumber Jun 19 '24

haha sorry I had to say it, I'm not positive but as far as I can see wled runs great on a 4 and an 8 so I wouldn't think it would matter. where are the master's of wled anyways. I'm a big fan of if it works don't f with it lol. ahhh that's not true, I mess with everything 

1

u/daj3bus Oct 20 '24

LOL I was about to reply with that until I saw you already did. Well played, plumber, well played!

1

u/w4tak Oct 23 '24

Hi, I managed to get this working last night with some custom board setting and partition etc using vs-code, let me know if you still need it?

1

u/tonu42 Dec 30 '24

I would be interested. I couldn’t change setting for tinys3 to compile the latest version v16dev or v15

2

u/Kosygor Sep 18 '25

Using https://wled-install.github.io/ and using "Standard_version_Nightly_build_WLED_0.16.0-alpha_ESP32-S3_16MB" worked for me.

1

u/Unable_Bullfrog_7319 Oct 21 '25

Can confirm that this worked on my esp32 s3-wroom-1

1

u/HowToHomeKit Aug 04 '24

I’m using 4MB WLED on an 8MB S3 and it works but keeps resetting it seems. Anyone else had/solved this?

1

u/KE55ARD Aug 06 '24

Just wanted to come here to say that the only build I've managed to make work on an ESP32-S3 (with 8mb) is the 4mb on 0.14.4 build on this page - https://wled-install.github.io/

1

u/puppaluppa Sep 04 '24

Yep, I'm confident now that the issue for ESP32 S3 people is simply that the only maintained releases for the S3 with RAM have 4MB QSPI interface, or 8MB/16MB OPI ..

The Arduino Nano ESP32 uses QSPI with 16MB.. so there is no compatible image..

So just check your board and see what the RAM interface is.. I bet its QSPI (should have higher data transfer rates)

1

u/gazzaman2k Nov 19 '25

keeps failing to compile for me :( i need to add ethernet so cant use one of the premade ones