Flash and Authorize

After the firmware development is completed, you need to flash the firmware and authorization code to the device before connecting to the Tuya IoT Development Platform. Tuya provides a variety of flashing and authorization methods for you to choose from according to different development stages.

Authorization and flashing solution

According to different development stages, chip types, and production methods, Tuya provides three flashing and authorization solutions. For more information, see the following:

An integrated solution for flashing and authorization

It is suitable for you if you are using Tuya standard modules. The firmware needs to be maintained on the Tuya IoT Development Platform (select Tuya’s existing module firmware or upload self-developed module firmware to the platform). Based on the production difference, two approaches are available.

• Delegate Tuya to flash and authorize

  The module you receive from Tuya is flashed and authorized that you can use directly.

• Flash and authorize by yourself

  Tuya provides a set of documentation including flashing tool, authorization code, flashing instructions, and flashing tooling production instructions. You can authorize and flash the module in reference to the documentation that Tuya provided.

Separated solutions for flashing and authorization

Suitable for debugging stage and non-Tuya standard module solution. You can flash the firmware with the chip flashing tool, and the Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform is for authorization only.

• Debugging stage

  After flashing the firmware and authorization code with the chip flashing tool for the first time, for the subsequent code updates. you need only to re-flash the user area firmware without erasing the authorization code information, which is convenient for debugging.

• Non-Tuya standard module solution

  The Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform tool does not support non-Tuya standard chip firmware flashing. You can only use the original tool to flash the firmware, and then use the Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform tool for authorization.

Connection solution for production test SDK

It is suitable for you if you have a complete flashing production system. Without using the Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform tool, you can flash the firmware and authorization code through the connection between the Tuya production test SDK and your own production flashing system. For more information, see Cases of Production Test Connection.

Procedure

The following process applies to the solutions for flashing and authorization or authorization only through the Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform tool.

Prepare flashing software

1. Open Smart PMS. Register an account and log in to the system.

2. From the left navigation pane, choose Knowledge Base Management > Software Download.

3. Search for Cloud Module Burning Authorization Platform and download it.

   

Build hardware flashing environment

Build the hardware environment according to the chip and module flashing method. The chip flashing methods falls into the following three categories based on different protocols.

• Wi-Fi module flashing

  Usually, you flash and authorize with the serial port method, and connect the hardware pins correspondingly as follows.

  Flashing tool	Module pin	Flashing tool pin
  USB-to-TTL converter	3V3	3V3
  	TX	RX
  	RX	TX
  	GND	GND

• Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) module flashing

  Usually, you flash the firmware with the chip flashing tool and flash the authorization code with the serial port, and connect the hardware pins correspondingly as follows.

  Flashing tool	Module pin	Flashing tool pin
  Telink Burning and Debugging Tool (BDT)	3V3	3V3
  	SWS	SWM
  	GND	GND
  USB-to-TTL converter	TX	RX
  	RX	TX
  	GND	GND

• Zigbee module flashing

  Usually, you flash the firmware with J-link and flash the authorization code with the serial port, and connect the hardware pins correspondingly as follows.

  Flashing tool	Module pin	Flashing tool pin
  J-link flashing tool	RST	RESET
  	SWDIO	SWDIO
  	SWCLK	SWCLK
  	3V3	VCC
  USB-to-TTL converter	TX	RX
  	RX	TX
  	GND	GND

Description of flashing and authorization process

1. Connect the hardware to the PC and install related drivers.

   

2. Choose whether to use the chip flashing tool according to the flashing and authorization solution, and configure the host.

   • Separated solutions for flashing and authorization

     • Open the software.

     • Choose File > Set Up.

       

     • Enable Only Auth and click OK.

       

   • An integrated solution for flashing and authorization

     Disable Only Auth and click OK.

3. Select the serial port information, enter the authorization code, and click RUN.

   

4. The host displays the flashing progress and result. If the operation is successful, your screen will look like this.

   

5. (Optional) If an error occurs, you can click the Error Details below to check the cause, and follow the prompts to flash again after rectification.