T-Deck MAX Quick Start

Required Libraries

Library	Version	Source
GxEPD2	Latest	GitHub
RadioLib	Latest	GitHub
SensorLib	Latest	GitHub
TinyGPSPlus	Latest	GitHub
TinyGSM	Latest	GitHub
LVGL	8.x	GitHub
XPowersLib	Latest	GitHub
Adafruit TCA8418	Latest	GitHub
ESP32-audioI2S	Latest	GitHub

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Flash Firmware

Before flashing, enter download mode:

1. Hold the BOOT button
2. Press and release the RST button on the back
3. Release BOOT

Using LILYGO Spark (Recommended)

Download LILYGO Spark, search for T-Deck Max, and flash directly.

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Arduino

PlatformIO (Recommended)

1. Install VS Code and the PlatformIO IDE extension
2. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Deck-MAX.git

3. Open platformio.ini and select the target example
4. Click ✓ to build, connect via USB-C, click → to upload

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Arduino IDE

1. Install ESP32 Board Support

1. Open Arduino IDE → File → Preferences
2. Add to "Additional Board Manager URLs":

   https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

3. Go to Tools → Board → Boards Manager, search esp32, install esp32 by Espressif Systems

2. Board Settings

Setting	Value
Board	ESP32S3 Dev Module
Upload Speed	921600
USB CDC On Boot	Enabled
CPU Frequency	240 MHz (WiFi)
Flash Mode	QIO 80 MHz
Flash Size	16 MB (128Mb)
Partition Scheme	16M Flash (3MB APP/9.9MB FATFS)
PSRAM	OPI PSRAM

3. Upload

Click Upload. If upload fails: hold BOOT, press and release RST, then release BOOT.

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Examples

Example	Description
WireScan	I2C device scan — verify all modules
test_wifi	Wi-Fi connection test
test_BHI260AP	BHI260AP IMU/gyroscope test
test_GPS	MIA-M10Q GPS test
keypad	Mechanical keyboard input test
Elink_paper/display	E-paper display example
Elink_paper/test_lvgl	LVGL graphics on e-paper

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Peripheral Examples

E-Paper Display (GxEPD2)

#include <GxEPD2_BW.h>

// T-Deck MAX e-paper pins — check schematic for CS/DC/RST/BUSY
GxEPD2_BW<GxEPD2_154_D67, GxEPD2_154_D67::HEIGHT> display(
  GxEPD2_154_D67(/*CS=*/5, /*DC=*/17, /*RST=*/16, /*BUSY=*/4));

void setup() {
  display.init(115200);
  display.setRotation(1);
  display.setFullWindow();
  display.firstPage();
  do {
    display.fillScreen(GxEPD_WHITE);
    display.setTextColor(GxEPD_BLACK);
    display.setTextSize(2);
    display.setCursor(20, 60);
    display.print("T-Deck MAX");
  } while (display.nextPage());
}

void loop() {}

LoRa (SX1262)

#include <RadioLib.h>

// SX1262: CS=9, IRQ=40, RST=17, BUSY=13 (T-Deck shared pinout)
SX1262 radio = new Module(9, 40, 17, 13);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  int state = radio.begin(915.0);
  if (state != RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
    Serial.print("Radio init failed: "); Serial.println(state);
    while (true);
  }
  Serial.println("SX1262 ready");
}

void loop() {
  int state = radio.transmit("Hello T-Deck MAX");
  if (state == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) Serial.println("Sent OK");
  delay(2000);
}

GPS (MIA-M10Q)

#include <TinyGPSPlus.h>

TinyGPSPlus gps;
HardwareSerial gpsSerial(1);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  gpsSerial.begin(38400, SERIAL_8N1, 21, 48);
}

void loop() {
  while (gpsSerial.available()) gps.encode(gpsSerial.read());
  if (gps.location.isUpdated()) {
    Serial.printf("Lat: %.6f Lng: %.6f\n",
      gps.location.lat(), gps.location.lng());
  }
}

Keyboard (TCA8418)

#include <Adafruit_TCA8418.h>

Adafruit_TCA8418 keypad;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Wire.begin();
  keypad.begin(TCA8418_DEFAULT_ADDR, &Wire);
  keypad.matrix(3, 10); // T-Deck MAX key matrix rows x cols
  keypad.flush();
}

void loop() {
  if (keypad.available() > 0) {
    int k = keypad.getEvent();
    bool pressed = k & 0x80;
    k &= 0x7F;
    Serial.printf("Key %d %s\n", k, pressed ? "pressed" : "released");
  }
}

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FAQ

Q: How to enter download mode?
A: Hold BOOT, press and release RST, then release BOOT.

Q: No sound from speaker?
A: Check XL9555 IO12 level — HIGH = A7682E audio, LOW = ES8311 audio. Set IO06 HIGH to enable the power amplifier.

Q: LoRa not working with external antenna?
A: Set XL9555 IO04 LOW to switch to the external antenna (default is internal, HIGH).

Q: Ghosting on the e-paper display?
A: After 5 consecutive fast/partial refreshes, perform a full refresh to clear ghosting.