T-Dongle Quick Start

Arduino

PlatformIO (Recommended)

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

   git clone https://github.com/LilyGO/T-Dongle.git

3. Open the project and select the environment in platformio.ini
4. Click ✓ to build, plug into a USB Type-A port, then click → to upload

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Arduino IDE

Board Settings

Setting	Value
Board	ESP32 Dev Module
Upload Speed	921600
Flash Mode	QIO
Flash Size	4MB (32Mb)
Partition Scheme	Default 4MB with spiffs
PSRAM	Disabled

Steps

1. Install Arduino IDE and add ESP32 board support: https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json
2. Clone the T-Dongle repo and open an example sketch
3. Select ESP32 Dev Module and the settings above, then click Upload

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Notes

• Form factor: USB Type-A plug — plugs directly into any USB-A port; no cable needed
• Display: 0.96-inch ST7735 TFT, 80×160 px (SPI)
• RGB LED: WS2812 addressable LED
• TF card: Hidden inside the USB-A housing; remove the dongle to access the card slot
• No PSRAM: Standard ESP32 module with 4 MB Flash only

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Peripheral Examples

Display (ST7735)

#include <TFT_eSPI.h>

TFT_eSPI tft;

void setup() {
  tft.begin();
  tft.setRotation(1);
  tft.fillScreen(TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE, TFT_BLACK);
  tft.setTextSize(1);
  tft.drawString("T-Dongle", 15, 75);
}

void loop() {}

RGB LED (WS2812)

#include <FastLED.h>

// WS2812 data pin — check T-Dongle schematic
#define LED_PIN  4
#define NUM_LEDS 1

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, LED_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
  FastLED.setBrightness(50);
}

void loop() {
  leds[0] = CRGB::Red;   FastLED.show(); delay(500);
  leds[0] = CRGB::Green; FastLED.show(); delay(500);
  leds[0] = CRGB::Blue;  FastLED.show(); delay(500);
}

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LVGL

This board uses a small ST7735 TFT and can run LVGL (recommended 8.3.x) using the TFT_eSPI or Arduino_GFX backend. Place lv_conf.h next to the lvgl/ folder in your Arduino libraries/ directory and set LV_HOR_RES_MAX / LV_VER_RES_MAX to the panel size (80×160).

lv_conf.h

#define LV_COLOR_DEPTH    16    // Color TFT
#define LV_HOR_RES_MAX    80
#define LV_VER_RES_MAX   160
#define LV_TICK_CUSTOM      1
#define LV_TICK_CUSTOM_INCLUDE "Arduino.h"
#define LV_TICK_CUSTOM_SYS_TIME_EXPR (millis())
#define LV_MEM_SIZE (48 * 1024)

Hello World

#include <TFT_eSPI.h>
#include <lvgl.h>

TFT_eSPI tft;

static lv_disp_draw_buf_t draw_buf;
static lv_color_t buf[80 * 20];

void disp_flush(lv_disp_drv_t *disp, const lv_area_t *area, lv_color_t *color_p) {
    uint32_t w = area->x2 - area->x1 + 1;
    uint32_t h = area->y2 - area->y1 + 1;
    tft.startWrite();
    tft.setAddrWindow(area->x1, area->y1, w, h);
    tft.pushColors((uint16_t *)&color_p->full, w * h, true);
    tft.endWrite();
    lv_disp_flush_ready(disp);
}

void setup() {
    tft.begin();
    tft.setRotation(1);
    
    lv_init();
    lv_disp_draw_buf_init(&draw_buf, buf, NULL, 80 * 20);
    
    static lv_disp_drv_t disp_drv;
    lv_disp_drv_init(&disp_drv);
    disp_drv.hor_res = 80;
    disp_drv.ver_res = 160;
    disp_drv.flush_cb = disp_flush;
    disp_drv.draw_buf = &draw_buf;
    lv_disp_drv_register(&disp_drv);
    
    lv_obj_t *label = lv_label_create(lv_scr_act());
    lv_label_set_text(label, "T-Dongle\nLVGL");
    lv_obj_align(label, LV_ALIGN_CENTER, 0, 0);
}

void loop() {
    lv_timer_handler();
    delay(5);
}

FAQ

Q: Display not initializing? A: Verify ST7735 SPI pin assignments match the T-Dongle schematic — the compact form factor uses non-standard SPI pins.

Q: TF card not detected? A: The card slot is physically inside the USB housing. Fully remove the dongle from the USB port to insert or remove the card.