How do I connect the micro:bit to my computer?

What you need

• BBC micro:bit (v1 or v2)
• Micro-USB cable (included with most micro:bit kits)
• Computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook)

The micro:bit doesn't require any software installation to get started—it appears as a USB drive when connected, making it incredibly simple to use.

Connect via USB

1. Plug in the micro-USB cable

1. Connect the micro-USB end of the cable to the micro:bit's USB port (located at the top of the board between the buttons).
2. Connect the other end (USB-A) to your computer's USB port.

2. Check the connection

When connected properly:

• The yellow LED on the back of the micro:bit will light up.
• The micro:bit will power on and run whatever program is currently loaded (or show a scrolling message if it's brand new).
• Your computer will recognize the micro:bit as a USB drive called MICROBIT.

3. Open the MICROBIT drive

On Windows: Open File Explorer and look for "MICROBIT" under "This PC" or "Devices and drives."

On macOS: The MICROBIT drive will appear on your desktop or in Finder's sidebar.

On Linux: The drive will auto-mount and appear in your file manager.

You'll see a few files inside including DETAILS.TXT (shows your micro:bit's version and firmware info) and MICROBIT.HTM (a link to the micro:bit website).

Troubleshooting connection issues

micro:bit doesn't appear as a drive

• Try a different USB cable. Some cables are power-only and don't support data transfer. Use the cable that came with your micro:bit or a known data cable.
• Try a different USB port. Some USB ports (especially on hubs) may not provide enough power.
• Check for driver issues (Windows only). Windows should automatically install drivers. If not, download drivers from the micro:bit website.
• Restart your computer. Sometimes a reboot is needed for the device to be recognized.

Yellow LED doesn't light up

• The cable may be power-only. Try a different cable.
• The USB port may be faulty. Try a different port.
• If the micro:bit still doesn't power on, it may need a firmware update or be defective.

Programs won't upload

• Make sure you're dragging the .hex file directly onto the MICROBIT drive (not into a subfolder).
• The yellow LED will flicker rapidly during upload. Don't unplug until it stops flickering.
• If upload fails repeatedly, try updating the micro:bit firmware: firmware update guide.

Upload your first program

Let's create a simple program to display a heart on the LED matrix.

1. Go to the MakeCode editor

1. Open your web browser and go to makecode.microbit.org.
2. Click New Project and give it a name (e.g., "My First Program").

2. Build your program

1. In the block editor, find the Basic category.
2. Drag a "show icon" block into the "on start" block.
3. Choose the heart icon from the dropdown.

3. Download the program

1. Click the Download button (bottom-left).
2. A .hex file will download to your computer (e.g., microbit-My-First-Program.hex).

4. Upload to micro:bit

1. Find the downloaded .hex file in your Downloads folder.
2. Drag and drop it onto the MICROBIT drive.
3. The yellow LED will flicker for a few seconds as the program uploads.
4. Once it stops flickering, the heart icon will appear on the micro:bit's LED screen!

Wireless connection (advanced)

The micro:bit v2 supports Bluetooth, allowing wireless programming and data transfer.

WebUSB (easier wireless alternative)

With WebUSB, you can upload programs wirelessly from supported browsers (Chrome, Edge):

1. In MakeCode, click the 3-dot menu → Pair device.
2. Follow the on-screen pairing instructions.
3. Once paired, programs upload wirelessly without downloading .hex files.

Bluetooth (requires app)

For advanced users, the micro:bit can communicate with phones or computers via Bluetooth using the micro:bit app (iOS/Android) or custom Python scripts.