How to Upgrade or Reset Pixelcade LED Firmware
Pixelcade LED V2 Boards
Current Firmware Release: V22
This firmware only for Pixelcade V2 boards (purple color). See below for Pixelcade V1 and BitPixel boards (black color).
Pixelcade V2 Board (Purple)
Step 1: Download respective firmware. Note that the vendor specific firmware releases are exactly the same with the exception of the default startup logo.
| Firmware | P2.5 LED Panel Size |
| Pixelcade Generic | Pixelcade Generic P2.5 |
| American Gear Company | |
| N2Fun | |
| Buy Stuff | Buy Stuff DMD |
| ACUSTOMARCADE | |
| North Coast Custom Arcades | |
| Ourcades | |
| Montes Designs (PiCade Max) |
Step 2: USB connect your Pixelcade V2 board to a PC or Mac.
Step 3: Hold down the BOOT button and then press the RESET button on the board.
Step 4: You will see a “RPI-RP2” drive show up on your PC or Mac and then just copy the firmware .uf2 file to this drive.
The “RPI-RP2” drive will then disappear and your Pixelcade V2 board is now flashed.
Pixelcade LED V1 Boards including BitPixel (Black colored board)
Pixelcade V1 Board (Black)
If your Pixelcade LED V1 or BitPixel has a black screen when initially powered on and when disconnected from your Arcade front end, then most likely Pixelcade’s microSD card must be reset. Other than this issue, there have been no updates to Pixelcade V1 firmware so there is no need to update.
Follow these steps to reset Pixelcade’s microSD card:
Step 1: Remove the microSD card on the back of the Pixelcade board. Using the included SD card adapter, insert into your PC or Mac.
Step 2: Format the microSD card in your PC or Mac using this specific SD card formatting utility.
Step 3: Unzip one of the firmware images below and copy all 5 files to the root of the Pixelcade microSD card
Firmware | Description |
| Pixelcade Arcade | The default and most common Pixelcade firmware. Use this unless you have a Pixelcade LED marquee as described below. Note this firmware will display an arcade marquee slideshow starting with the game “005” |
| Pixelcade Arcade using SATA Power Cable | Only use if using the Pixelcade SATA Power Cable Note this firmware will display an arcade marquee slideshow starting with the game “88 Games” |
| Pixelcade P2.5 LED Panel Size | Only use if using the P2.5 size LED panel size which has the dimension of 12.5″ x 3.1″ and is typically used as a Pinball DMD. Note a separate firmware is required for P2.5 panels as the colors are swapped. |
Your microSD card should look like this. Note that the 5 files must in the root.
Step 5: Insert microSD card back into Pixelcade and power cycle.