If you wish to try Offline Mode and have a device running WipperSnapper, you must download the WipperSnapper Offline Mode beta firmware and install it on your device. This will replace the existing WipperSnapper (online) firmware on your board.
WipperSnapper (offline) is not permanently installed on your board, you can switch back to WipperSnapper (online) at any time.
Installing WipperSnapper Offline will completely erase the Arduino sketch that is currently running on your board. Before installing WipperSnapper Offline, ensure your computer has a backup of the sketch running on the Arduino.
WipperSnapper is not permanently installed on your board, you can switch back to Arduino at any time.
WipperSnapper is a different application from CircuitPython. Because of this, installing WipperSnapper will completely erase the CircuitPython installation and all files on your board. WipperSnapper is not permanently installed on your board, you can switch back to CircuitPython at any time.
Before installing WipperSnapper, verify and back up your CircuitPython Installation by following the instructions below:
When you plug a CircuitPython board into your computer, your computer will see the board's flash memory as a USB flash drive where files can be stored. When the board is running CircuitPython, you'll see the CIRCUITPY drive.
If you see the CIRCUITPY drive appear as a USB flash drive:
- Copy all files to a safe location on your computer, like your desktop. code.py is the most important file on this drive as it contains your CircuitPython code.
If you do not see the CIRCUITPY drive and instead see a drive named boardnameBOOT (or similar such as one of these drive names):
- Locate the reset button on your board. It's a small, black button, and on most of the boards, it will be the only button available. It is typically labeled RESET or RST on the board.
- Tap this button once
- If the drive changes from boardnameBOOT to CIRCUITPY, follow the instructions above to back up its contents
- If it stays as boardnameBOOT, the board does not have CircuitPython installed. You may proceed to the next step.
Once you've backed up your CIRCUITPY drive, proceed to the next steps to download and install the WipperSnapper firmware.
WipperSnapper will ultimately be released as a single firmware file that supports online and offline modes. But, for now, WipperSnapper is split into two different files/firmware:
- WipperSnapper (Online) - Downloadable from io.adafruit.com/devices/new
- WipperSnapper (Offline) - Only downloadable from the WipperSnapper Arduino GitHub repository
To download WipperSnapper with Offline Mode, navigate to the releases page for the WipperSnapper Arduino project.
From the releases page, click the release for the latest version of the offline firmware. The offline firmware will have "offline" in the title.
Under Assets, select the UF2 file for the Adafruit RP2040 FeatherWing. It should look something like wippersnapper.feather_rp2040_adalogger_tinyusb.1.0.0-offline-beta.x.uf2.
Save the file to your computer's desktop.
To enter the bootloader, hold down the BOOT/BOOTSEL button (highlighted in red above), and while continuing to hold it (don't let go!), press and release the reset button (highlighted in red or blue above). Continue to hold the BOOT/BOOTSEL button until the RPI-RP2 drive appears!
If the drive does not appear, release all the buttons, and then repeat the process above.
You can also start with your board unplugged from USB, press and hold the BOOTSEL button (highlighted in red above), continue to hold it while plugging it into USB, and wait for the drive to appear before releasing the button.
A lot of people end up using charge-only USB cables and it is very frustrating! Make sure you have a USB cable you know is good for data sync.
You will see a new disk drive appear called RPI-RP2.
Drag the wippersnapper.feather_rp2040_adalogger_tinyusb.1.0.0-offline-beta.1.uf2 file to RPI-RP2.
The RPI-RP2 drive will disappear and a new disk drive called WIPPER will appear.
That's it, you're done! :)
Flash Resetting UF2
If your board ever gets into a really weird state and the WIPPER doesn't show up as a disk drive after installing WipperSnapper, try loading this 'nuke' UF2 to RPI-RP2. which will do a 'deep clean' on your Flash Memory. You will lose all the files on the board, but at least you'll be able to revive it!
After loading this UF2, follow the steps above to re-install WipperSnapper.
Page last edited March 04, 2025
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