BK7231 GUI Flash Tool

BK7231 GUI Flash Tool is a simple Windows application that allows you to back up and flash OpenBK/OpenBeken and related Open* firmware projects to supported IoT chips without extensive programming knowledge. The tool originally focused on Beken BK7231T/BK7231N devices, but the current version supports a wider set of chip and platform modes.

Supported GUI-selectable chip/platform modes:

• Beken UART:
  • BK7231M
  • BK7231N (T2, T34, BL2028N)
  • BK7231T
  • BK7231U
  • BK7236 (T3)
  • BK7238 (T1)
  • BK7252
  • BK7252N (T4)
  • BK7258 (T5)
• Beken SPI CH341
• Bouffalo Lab:
  • BL602
  • BL616/BL618
  • BL702
• Espressif:
  • ESP32
  • ESP32-C2/C3/C5/C6/C61/S2/S3
  • ESP8285/ESP8266
• ESWIN/Transa Semi:
  • ECR6600
  • TR6260
• GigaDevice:
  • GD32VW553
• Generic SPI CH341
• Lightning Semi:
  • LN882H
  • LN8825
• RDA Micro:
  • RDA5981
• Realtek:
  • RTL8710B (AmebaZ)
  • RTL8720DN (AmebaD)
  • RTL87X0C (AmebaZ2)
  • RTL8721DA (AmebaDp)
  • RTL8720E (AmebaLite)
• WinnerMicro:
  • W600 (write only)
  • W800/W803
• XRadio:
  • XR806
  • XR809
  • XR872 (XF16)

Furthermore, it can automatically create an original firmware backup before flashing, attempt Tuya GPIO/config extraction from backups, and read/write OBK configuration where the selected platform supports it.

Other built-in tools include:

• Tuya config extraction from a binary dump
• OBK config and flash-dump download from an OBK device on LAN
• LAN scanner and mass OBK CFG backup
• OTA tool for OBK devices
• BK7231N decryption/encryption helpers

❗ NOTE: The flash dump may contain your SSID and password if the device was paired at the time of the backup.

See also Russian guide for this tool and BK7231N.

Youtube Tutorial for example usage - CB2S flashing

See also the secondary example: WB3S flashing.

Per device flashing guides (NOTE: they may use obsolete flash tools, so always prefer to use the new tool from this repo):

• BK7231T/WB3S flashing guide - 2g Tuya wall switch - with SOIC8 chip desoldering - Home Assistant
• Tuya Relay CB2S/BK7231N control without Local Tuya - 100% free from cloud with Home Assistant guide
• How to add IR receiver and extra buttons to any Tuya BK7231T/BK7231N LED strip controller, 100% DIY
• RGBCW Tuya bulb flashing guide - BK7231N (WB2L_M1) - Tasmota/ESPHome multiplatform replacement
• TreatLife Intertek teardown & programming tutorial - WB3S/BK7231 - 100% local Home Assistant control
• Firmware change process for RGB+CCT Tuya ceiling lamp, OpenBeken, WiFi module desoldering, BK7231N

See also our youtube channel and forum

Compiling and Running on Linux

It should be possible to compile and run this tool on Linux by using Mono. Mono is an open-source implementation of the .NET Framework which is also sponsored by Microsoft.

Once it's installed, you can compile this software by executing msbuild on the project directory. To execute the program, you can simply execute the following command:

mono BK7231Flasher/bin/debug/BK7231Flasher.exe

Alternatively, you can use prebuilt release binary.

Brief usage instructions (BK72xx)

1. Connect UART to USB converter to Beken TXD1/RXD1
2. Start flasher tool
3. Select N or T platform
4. Click "Download latest from web" to get firmware binary
5. Click "Do backup and flash new"
6. Reset/repower Beken
7. Tool will do both read and flash in one go.
8. Done!

No command line and no strange arguments required.

Detailed usage instructions (BK72xx)

1. Download and unpack executable from Releases tab on the right

2. Prepare flashing circuit for BK72xx

   • Get a USB to UART bridge with 3.3V voltage signals
   • Connect the Bridge RX to Module TXD1, and Bridge TX to Module RXD1
   • If necessary, solder a wire to the CEN pad (if you want to RESET through shorting CEN to ground)
   • Power the device from either the bridge or an external power source. All Beken based modules require 3.3v.
     ⚠️ NEVER try hacking devices while connected to mains power!

3. Open our flasher:

4. Select proper platform - BK7231T, BK7231N, BK7236, BK7238, BK7252N, etc.
5. Select your COM port of USB to UART converter
6. Click "Download latest from Web" to get proper binary file, or place a matching firmware file manually in the firmwares directory
7. Wait for download to finish

8. Close download window

9. Click "Backup and flash new"

10. When the log window is waiting for "Getting bus", do a device reboot/reset. You can do this in two ways, choose one:

    • Option A: short CEN to GND for 0.25s (it is tricky to get this right, requires precise timing)
    • Option B: power off and on device (of course, it should not be connected to mains, use your own safe 3.3V power supply that can supply enough current)

11. It will begin reading (it does first backup, then write)

12. After reading, it will start the new firmware erase

13. And then, automatically, write:

14. Done:

15. Firmware access point should appear now. Connect to it and enter 192.168.4.1 configuration page.
16. Remember that saved firmware backup is in the "backups" dir

CRC Mismatch?

CRC/key checks are chip-type dependent. If you get a CRC mismatch, you are most likely selecting a wrong chip type or trying to use firmware intended for another platform.

OBK Configuration via UART

See this tutorial: https://www.elektroda.com/rtvforum/viewtopic.php?p=20733610#20733610

Can't auto download firmware?

Firmware download will not work on systems without newer TLS version required by GitHub. You can always manually download release from here: https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T_App and put the matching file into the firmwares dir, then restart flasher.

Automatic reboot on read/write (so you don't have to power cycle manually)

This tool supports automatic reboot command, just like bkWriter 1.60, but you have to enable UART command line in OBK for it first: With this option enabled, OBK will receive the "reboot" string sent by flasher on UART before any read/write operation is started and will automatically get bus.

Other problems?

You can also try changing the baudrate for flashing. Remember - sometimes higher baud rate might work better than lower one!

If you still need help, you can ask on our forums: https://www.elektroda.com/