**ESPixelStick Firmware Version**
4.0-Experimental Mar 3 2026:19:55:28
and
4.0-ci21800999036 Feb 8 2026:15:56:18
**Hardware Version**
XIAO ESP32-S3
**Binary release or compiled yourself?**
Web flasher
**Operating System (and version)**
MacOS 15.7.4
**Web Browser (and version)**
Google Chrome 146.0.7680.81 (Official Build) (arm64)
**Access Point**
not applicable
**Describe the bug**
When trying to use the web flasher (as only there seems to be the latest two versions above which offer compatibility for my hardware), when clicking on "Flash Device", and selecting the correct port (which portraits itself as "USB JTAG/serial debug unit (cu.usbmodem213401) - Paired"), and then on "Install ESPixelStick" and "Install", it reports straight away:
"Installation failed
Your ESP32-S3 is not supported."
I tried with normal and boot loader mode, same result.
Seeing that the web flasher tool itself is experimental, could that be the issue? What would be appropriate steps to install either of these builds from the downloaded .efu files via command line? Or is there something else I might be doing wrong in the web flasher?
Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Freddy
@forkineye , @MartinMueller2003
I have now tested various boards (XIAO esp32-C3, XIAO esp32-S3, T_Energy V1.0), both on the web flasher and the 4.0-beta5 java executable; all have the same error messages, on the java tool it is a bit more explicit but still not really pointing me to the right direction;
I tried all boards successfully with Arduino IDE and the latest esp32 board manager, with the same cable, at an even higher speed (921600) with no issues.
I am pretty desperate to get any fast esp32 with good wifi to work with ESPixelStick for an upcoming project, and I appreciate that I might be doing something very simple, fundamental wrong, so I would really appreciate your help in the matter;
Happy to try and buy a different hardware, but seeing that at least the XIAO-S3 is "officially" supported in the latest two builds, I thought it was a safe bet - happy to go with a "rock-solid" recommendation in terms of supported ESP32 boards?
I have attached the Terminal output from various attempts (some with me manually putting the devices into boot mode for good measure), not sure if any of these issues make sense to you...
Really appreciate if you can point a relative newb/surface level Arduino coder into what I am doing wrong, please.
Best,
Freddy
[Terminal Output 405beta.txt](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26230946/Terminal.Output.405beta.txt)
Support for S3 devices is relatively recent and may have some tool issues. I have held off with S3 support because the CPU has been crippled and can only support 4 RMT channels. Try one of the straight up ESP32 platforms.
@MartinMueller2003 , danke sehr! That worked, used a DevkitC, and it's now all running smooth; would be amazing (despite limited channels) if a board with 5G Wifi could be supported, like ESP32-C5 - is this likely to happen? I read that the RMT channels seem to be related to PWM, is that correct? would it limit driving "normal" SPI pixel products like WS281x?
Alles klar - thank you @forkineye and @MartinMueller2003 so much for developing this awesome thing further, it's stunning how much more responsive it is vs vanilla artnetWifi to FastLed... perfect platform, and easy to scale with the web interface.