Transferring from Chrome for Windows

While you’re writing and testing your programs, you’ll mostly be running them in the simulator, but once you’ve finished your program you can compile it and run it on your micro:bit.

Transfer using a WebUSB connection

With Chrome (version 79 and newer), you can transfer your program to the micro:bit with a single click. If your browser supports WebUSB, you can use the one-click download feature to send your programs to the micro:bit. See the WebUSB page to learn how to pair your micro:bit with a computer and transfer your programs with a single click.

Downloading your program as file

The basic steps are:

1. Connect your micro:bit to your computer with a USB cable (use an A-Male to Micro USB cable)
2. Click Download and download the .hex file
3. Copy the .hex file from your computer onto the micro:bit drive

Step 1: Connect your micro:bit to your computer

First, connect the micro:bit:

1. Connect the small end of the USB cable to the micro USB port on your micro:bit.

2. Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB port on your computer.

Your computer should recognise your micro:bit as a new drive. On computers running Windows, MICROBIT appears as a drive under Devices and drives. On a Mac it appears as a new drive under Devices.

Step 2 (optional): Configure Chrome to ask where to save the file

You only need to do this once.

1. Open the Settings for Chrome.
2. Click Advanced at the bottom of the page.
3. Find the Downloads settings.
4. Enable the setting Ask where to save each file before downloading.

Step 3: Download your program

1. Open your project on https://makecode.microbit.org/
2. Click Download
3. If you did Step 2 above, Chrome will ask where to save the .hex file, so save it into the MICROBIT drive. Otherwise, continue with one of the options in Step 4 below.

Step 4: Transfer the file to your micro:bit

If the file was saved onto your computer, you will need to transfer it to the micro:bit.

Manual transfer

Your .hex file (created in Step 3 above) appears as a download at the bottom of the browser. Click on the arrow next to the name of the file and then click Show in folder.

In File Explorer, drag and drop the .hex file from the download folder onto the MICROBIT drive.

Alternatively, right-click on the hex file, choose Send to, and then MICROBIT.

Step 5: After transferring the file

• The LED on the back of your micro:bit flashes during the transfer (which should only take a few seconds).
• Once transferred, the code will run automatically on your micro:bit. To rerun your program, press the reset button on the back of your micro:bit. The reset button automatically runs the newest file on the micro:bit.
• By copying the script onto the MICROBIT drive, you have programmed it into the flash memory on the micro:bit, which means even after you unplug the micro:bit, your program will still run if the micro:bit is powered by battery.