Why is my BitFirmware.hex file not showing up on my micro:bit?

A “.hex” file is the only file type that a micro:bit will read. Whether you are downloading your .hex file directly from an online language like MakeCode, or you are downloading a custom .hex file (like the BitFirmware.hex required for bluetooth connection) from our website, confirming that the .hex file is correctly downloading onto your micro:bit is important. 

Note: While micro:bit may appear in your File Explorer (Windows/Chromebooks) or on your Desktop (Mac) as a drive, micro:bits do not behave like drives. When a .hex file is “copied” onto the micro:bit, that file will begin to automatically run as a program. The .hex file will not show up in the micro:bit as it would in a drive. 

1. Does your micro:bit show up as a drive in your file explorer (Windows/Chromebook) or on your desktop (Mac)? If not, then you will want to see our article titled, “Why is my micro:bit not showing up on my computer?”
2. Do you know where your BitFirmware.hex file is being downloaded to? It is possible that the .hex file is downloading, but it is not going somewhere other than the micro:bit. See the video below for more information.
3. When you copy or download the BitFimware.hex file onto the micro:bit, is the yellow light on the back of the micro:bit flashing? If not, your micro:bit firmware may need to be updated. Check out our article titled, “How do I update my micro:bit firmware?”