Mixtile Blade 3 (hereinafter referred to as Blade 3) comes with Ubuntu pre-installed and the system firmware can be upgraded via either an USB cable or a MicroSD card. It is recommended that you upgrade firmware using a USB cable.
When using a USB cable to upgrade the firmware, you can choose to upgrade in Loader mode or MaskROM mode of Blade 3.
This document describes how to upgrade firmware in Loader and MaskROM modes on Windows, macOS, and Linux using a USB cable.
Important:
Back up data before a firmware upgrade, because all user data is deleted after the firmware upgrade.
Note:
Blade 3 has three boot modes: Normal, Loader, and MaskROM. Loader and MaskROM modes are for firmware upgrade.
Preparations
- The latest Debian firmware image file: image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img
- The latest Ubuntu firmware image file: image-release-rockchip-format-blade3-ubuntu-desktop-240327.img.xz
- A firmware upgrade tool based on your OS:
- Windows: RKDevTool_Release_v3.19.zip
- macOS: upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip
- Linux: Linux_Upgrade_Tool.zip
- A Blade 3 board
- A USB-C cable
- A power adapter which supports power delivery 2.0/3.0
Upgrade firmware in Loader mode (recommended)
On Windows
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool
2.1 Click RKDevTool_Release_v3.19.zip to download the upgrade tool. Unzip the package and run RKDevTool with administrator access.
2.2 Click RK DriverAssistant.zip to download the RK driver. Unzip and run the DriverInstall.exe.
Note: To use the latest driver version, uninstall the current driver before installing the latest driver.
Step 3. Enable Blade 3 to enter Loader mode
On RKDevTool interface, choose the Upgrade Firmware tab and click Switch, as shown in the following figure. Then Blade 3 is switched to Loader mode.
Alternatively, you can input adb reboot loader through the serial terminal or ADB terminal after Blade 3 is running.
Step 4. Upgrade firmware
4.1 Choose the Upgrade Firmware tab of RKDevTool.
4.2 Click Firmware to select firmware location.
4.3 Click Upgrade to upgrade firmware to Blade 3.
On macOS
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Enable Blade 3 to enter Loader mode
After the system is running, input adb reboot loader through the serial terminal or ADB terminal.
Step 3. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
3.1 Click upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip to download the upgrade tool.
3.2 Go to the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool command.
3.3 Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow this file to run on your computer.
Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, you can check whether Blade 3 enters Loader mode by running the sudo ./upgrade_tool command.
mia@MiadeMacBook-Pro upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac % sudo ./upgrade_tool
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=444 Mode=Loader SerialNo=74ab0581f35bb37c
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:Step 4. Upgrade firmware to Blade 3
Run sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /(your path)/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img to upgrade the firmware of Blade 3. The following is an example.
mia@MiadeMacBook-Pro upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac % sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Users/mia/Downloads/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
ftruncate: Invalid argument
Loading firmware...
Support Type:RK3588 FW Ver:1.0.00 FW Time:2023-05-06 01:20:35
Loader ver:1.0b Loader Time:2023-05-05 18:48:04
Download Image Total(3372432K),Current(607712K)Wait until Upgrade firmware ok is displayed.
On Ubuntu
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Enable Blade 3 to enter Loader mode
After the system is running, input adb reboot loader through the serial terminal or ADB terminal.
Step 3. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
3.1 Click Linux_Upgrade_Tool.zip to download the upgrade tool.
3.2 Go to the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65 after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the chmod u+x upgrade_tool command.
Under the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65, you can check whether Blade 3 enters Loader mode by running the sudo ./upgrade_tool command.
sudo ./upgrade_tool
[sudo] password for parallels:
Program Data in /media/psf/Home/Downloads/Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=29 Mode=Loader
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:
Step 4. Upgrade firmware
- To upgrade the entire firmware, run the command
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf (your path)/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img, as shown below:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /home/parallels/Documents/upgrade firmware for blade 3/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img- To upgrade a specific partition, run the command
sudo ./upgrade_tool di parameter partition name, as shown below:
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -b /path/to/boot.img # Upgrade the boot partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -r /path/to/recovery.img # Upgrade the recovery partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -m /path/to/misc.img # Upgrade the misc partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -u /path/to/uboot.img # Upgrade the uboot partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -dtbo /path/to/dtbo.img # Upgrade the dtbo partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -p paramater # Burn the parameter command.
sudo ./upgrade_tool ul bootloader.bin # Burn the bootloader.If the upgrade is abnormal or fails, you can low-level format or erase the firmware and then upgrade.
sudo ./upgrade_tool lf update.img # Low-level format the firmware.
sudo ./upgrade_tool ef update.img # Erase firmware.Upgrade firmware in MaskROM mode
On Windows
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool
2.1 Click RKDevTool_Release_v3.19.zip to download the upgrade tool. Unzip the package and run RKDevTool with administrator access.
2.2 Click RK DriverAssistant.zip to download the RK driver. Unzip and run the DriverInstall.exe.
Note: To use the latest driver version, uninstall the current driver before installing the latest driver.
Step 3. Enable Blade 3 to enter MaskROM mode
Turn the position 4 of the SPST four-position dip switch to ON. Then Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode for firmware development.
Open RKDevTool with administrator access. You can see that Blade 3 is recognized as a MaskROM device.
Step 4. Upgrade firmware
4.1 Choose the Upgrade Firmware tab of RKDevTool.
4.2 Click Firmware to select the firmware location.
4.3 Click Upgrade to upgrade firmware to Blade 3
On macOS
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Enable Blade 3 to enter MaskROM mode
Turn the position 4 of the SPST four-position dip switch to ON. Then Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode for firmware development.
Step 3. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
3.1 Click upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip to download the upgrade tool.
3.2 Go to the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac after unzipping the package. Grant permission to upgrade_tool by running the command sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool.
3.3 Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow this tool to run on your computer.
Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, you can check whether Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode by running the command sudo ./upgrade_tool.
mia@MiadeMacBook-Pro upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac % sudo ./upgrade_tool
Password:
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=444 Mode=Maskrom
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:Step 4. Upgrade firmware for Blade 3
Run sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /(your path)/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img to upgrade the firmware of Blade 3. The following is an example:
mia@MiadeMacBook-Pro upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac % sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Users/mia/Downloads/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
ftruncate: Invalid argument
Loading firmware...
Support Type:RK3588 FW Ver:1.0.00 FW Time:2023-05-06 01:20:35
Loader ver:1.0b Loader Time:2023-05-05 18:48:04
Download Image Total(3372432K),Current(1012192K)Wait until Upgrade firmware ok is displayed.
On Ubuntu
Step 1. Connect hardware
1.1 Set up connections of Blade 3.
1.2 Connect Blade 3 Type-C port (near the HDMI port) to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Step 2. Enable Blade 3 to enter MaskROM mode
Turn the position 4 of the SPST four-position dip switch to ON. Then Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode for firmware development.
Step 3. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
3.1 Click Linux_Upgrade_Tool.zip to download the upgrade tool.
3.2 Go to the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65 after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool command.
Under the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65, you can check whether Blade 3 enters MaskROM mode by running the sudo ./upgrade_tool command. The following is an example:
sudo ./upgrade_tool
[sudo] password for parallels:
Program Data in /media/psf/Home/Downloads/Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=29 Mode=Maskrom
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:q
Step 4. Upgrade firmware
- Upgrade the entire firmware by running the command
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /(your path)/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img, as shown below:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /home/parallels/Documents/upgrade firmware for blade 3/image-release-blade3-debian11-20230505.img- Upgrade a specific partition:
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -b /path/to/boot.img # Upgrade the boot partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -r /path/to/recovery.img # Upgrade the recovery partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -m /path/to/misc.img # Upgrade the misc partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -u /path/to/uboot.img # Upgrade the uboot partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -dtbo /path/to/dtbo.img # Upgrade the dtbo partition only.
sudo ./upgrade_tool di -p paramater # Burn the parameter command.
sudo ./upgrade_tool ul bootloader.bin # Burn the bootloader.If the upgrade is abnormal or fails, you can low-level format or erase the firmware and then upgrade again.
sudo ./upgrade_tool lf update.img # Low-level format the firmware.
sudo ./upgrade_tool ef update.img # Erase firmware.