Updating Firmware

IBIS firmware updates ship occasionally with bug fixes and new features. Updates are optional — your hardware works fine on whatever firmware it shipped with. Update when you want a specific new feature or when the VYRO VR Discord flags an important fix.

Caution

Do not use the Update firmware button inside the SlimeVR Server window. That flow is for ESP/Wi-Fi-based SlimeVR trackers and does not apply to IBIS trackers or their receiver, which are nRF-based. Use the nRF Connect for Desktop workflow on this page instead.

When to update

• VYRO VR posts a known-good firmware release with fixes
• You’re troubleshooting an issue that’s known to be fixed in newer firmware
• A new SlimeVR Server feature requires updated firmware (rare; the server announces this)

If everything is working, don’t update for the sake of it. Stable firmware in production is good firmware.

Tool: nRF Connect for Desktop

Both trackers and the receiver are flashed with nRF Connect for Desktop — Nordic Semiconductor’s free toolset. You’ll use two apps from inside it:

• Programmer — flashes new firmware over USB
• Serial Terminal — talks to the receiver over its serial port to confirm version and status after a flash

Install nRF Connect for Desktop for your OS, launch it, and install the Programmer and Serial Terminal apps from the in-app library.

Updating a tracker

1. Download the latest tracker firmware image VYRO VR points you at (usually a .hex or .zip file).
2. Put the tracker into DFU mode — press the button 4–5 times in quick succession. The LED switches to a slow flutter pattern. See DFU Mode.
3. Plug the tracker into your PC over USB-C.
4. Open Programmer, select the tracker from the device dropdown, drag in the firmware file, and click Write.
5. Wait for the flash to finish. Do not unplug or power-cycle the tracker mid-flash.
6. Once the Programmer reports success, power-cycle the tracker (hold to off, single-press to on). It should reconnect to the receiver — pairing is preserved across firmware updates.

If the tracker doesn’t reconnect after a power-cycle, re-pair it: Pairing.

Updating the receiver

1. Download the latest receiver firmware image VYRO VR points you at.
2. Plug the receiver into your PC over USB.
3. Open Programmer, select the receiver from the device dropdown, drag in the firmware file, and click Write. Wait for the flash to finish.
4. Open Serial Terminal, connect to the receiver’s serial port, and confirm the firmware version reported matches what you flashed.
5. Re-launch the SlimeVR Server and confirm trackers reconnect.

If an update fails mid-flash

A tracker that interrupts mid-flash stays in DFU mode (slow LED flutter) — re-run the tracker steps above with the previous known-good firmware. See DFU Mode for recovery details.

A receiver that interrupts mid-flash usually stays visible to nRF Connect for Desktop’s Programmer — re-flash with the previous known-good image from the same workflow above.