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T-Display P4 Quick Start ​

Overview ​

T-Display P4 is based on the Espressif ESP32-P4 high-performance application processor. Development uses the ESP-IDF SDK.

Firmware Download and Flashing Notes ​

When using LILYGO Spark, you do not need to download .bin files manually from GitHub. Use the built-in Firmware Download tool to search for T-Display P4, download the required firmware, and flash it directly. Download firmware from T-Display-P4 GitHub Releases only when flashing manually with another tool.

T-Display P4 has an ESP32-P4 main processor and an ESP32-C6 wireless coprocessor. Confirm the target chip before flashing to avoid writing firmware to the wrong chip.

USB-C port note: For ESP32-P4 main firmware flashing, serial terminal access, or data transfer, connect the right-side USB-C port labeled P4.U. The left-side USB-C port is for charging / power only and is not used for firmware flashing or data transfer. Disable RTS / hardware flow control in serial terminal software; the RTS line may reset the P4 and cause the device to hang.

Flash ESP32-P4 Main Firmware ​

If you only need to restore the factory firmware, run official examples, or flash main applications such as LilygoBox, you usually only need to flash the ESP32-P4:

  1. Open LILYGO Spark, then go to the Firmware Download tool.
  2. Search for and select T-Display P4, then download the required ESP32-P4 firmware in Spark. There is no need to download it manually from GitHub.
  3. Connect T-Display P4 through the right-side P4.U USB-C port, then select the device's ESP32-P4 port.
  4. Start flashing. After flashing completes, press RST or power-cycle the board.

If the board cannot enter download mode, hold BOOT, press and release RST, then release BOOT and start flashing again.

Flash ESP32-C6 Coprocessor Firmware ​

ESP32-C6 is used for wireless functions such as Wi-Fi / Bluetooth. The coprocessor firmware cannot be flashed as ESP32-P4 main firmware. The following steps use the LILYGO Spark Firmware Download tool, in this order: P4 preparation firmware → C6 coprocessor firmware → P4 factory firmware:

  1. In Spark's Firmware Download tool, select the T-Display P4 firmware series, find [T-Display-P4][coprocessor_download_mode], and click download. After it is downloaded, select the device's ESP32-P4 port and flash it. This prepares the ESP32-C6 for download mode.

    Select the T-Display P4 coprocessor download mode firmware

  2. After coprocessor_download_mode is flashed, click delete on the downloaded firmware, then download the next firmware.

    Delete the downloaded coprocessor download mode firmware

  3. In Spark's Firmware Download tool, select lilygobox-t-display-p4-device-v1.0-esp32c6-rev0.0-v2.12.3-merged.bin as the ESP32-C6 coprocessor firmware.

    Select the ESP32-C6 coprocessor firmware

    Connect the 3.3V USB-TTL serial downloader to the device's C6 UART connector. The connector pin order is RX-TX-3.3V-GND. Wire board RX to USB-TTL TX, board TX to USB-TTL RX, and GND to GND.

    T-Display P4 ESP32-C6 UART download connector

  4. In the flashing dialog, select the USB-TTL serial downloader port that corresponds to the device's ESP32-C6, then start flashing.

    Select the ESP32-C6 port and start flashing

  5. After the ESP32-C6 firmware is flashed, click delete on the downloaded C6 firmware, then download the next firmware.

    Delete the downloaded ESP32-C6 firmware

  6. In Spark's Firmware Download tool, select lilygobox-t-display-p4-device-v1.0-esp32p4-rev1.0-v1.0.4-merged.bin as the ESP32-P4 factory firmware.

    Select the ESP32-P4 factory firmware

  7. In the flashing dialog, select the USB port that corresponds to the device's ESP32-P4, then start flashing.

    Select the ESP32-P4 port and start flashing

Note: ESP32-P4 main firmware and ESP32-C6 coprocessor firmware are not interchangeable. Select ESP32-P4 for main firmware, and ESP32-C6 for coprocessor firmware. It is recommended to finish flashing the ESP32-C6 coprocessor firmware first, then flash the ESP32-P4 main processor back to the factory firmware or normal application firmware.

ESP-IDF Setup ​

  1. Install ESP-IDF for ESP32-P4
  2. Clone the repository:
    bash
    git clone https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-Display-P4.git
  3. Navigate to the example directory and build:
    bash
    idf.py set-target esp32p4
idf.py build flash monitor

Arduino ​

Arduino IDE (Experimental) ​

Arduino ESP32 support for ESP32-P4 is experimental. Check Arduino ESP32 releases for the latest P4 support status.

Development Platforms ​

FAQ ​

Q: Can I use Arduino IDE?
A: Arduino support for ESP32-P4 is still experimental. ESP-IDF is the recommended development platform.

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

Q: The device resets or hangs after opening a serial terminal?
A: Make sure you are connected to the right-side P4.U data port, and disable RTS / hardware flow control in the serial terminal program.