This command reads the Secure ID of the device. If it returns a long hex string, your connection is successful. sunxi-fel.exe spl Use code with caution. Boot a Kernel directly via USB: sunxi-fel.exe uboot Use code with caution. Flash a complete image (e.g., to MMC): sunxi-fel.exe -p spiflash write 0 Use code with caution. Troubleshooting
: To use sunxi-fel via WSL, you must install usbipd-win on your Windows host to forward the Allwinner USB device from Windows into the WSL Linux kernel. Configuring the Windows USB Driver for FEL Mode
: Utilities to compile and decompile .fex configuration files (Allwinner's proprietary hardware configuration format) into binary .bin files (sys_config.bin).
: Displays information from sunxi boot headers. Options for Windows Users 1. Use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) sunxi-tools windows
Crucial for editing .fex configuration files that define GPIO pins and hardware features. sunxi-bootinfo: Useful for inspecting bootloader headers. 4. Pro-Tip: Pre-compiled Binaries
git clone https://github.com cd sunxi-tools make sudo make install Use code with caution.
Windows permissions are blocking the application, or another process has exclusively locked the USB device. This command reads the Secure ID of the device
| Tool | Best for | Pros | Cons | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Beginners, standard firmware updates, and users who want a graphical interface. | Easy to use, GUI-based, officially supported by Allwinner, integrates USB drivers. | Limited flexibility, not suitable for low-level debugging, can be picky with USB cables and drivers. | | Sunxi-tools | Developers, advanced users, scripting, low-level debugging, and custom bootloader work. | Highly flexible, scriptable, offers granular control, open-source, direct hardware access. | Command-line only, requires manual driver setup, steeper learning curve. | | XFEL | Developers seeking a modern, cross-platform FEL tool, often with better support for newer Allwinner chips. | Cross-platform, modern codebase, actively maintained. | Less documentation and community support compared to the older sunxi-tools . |
Once your tools and drivers are set up, you can verify the connection and begin issuing commands.
Download the zipped windows binaries from a trusted community repo. Boot a Kernel directly via USB: sunxi-fel
This installs essential tools like make , git , a MinGW-w64 compiler suite, and the libusb library, which is crucial for USB communication.
The suite is an essential set of command-line utilities for developers and hobbyists working with Allwinner SoC (System on Chip) based ARM devices, such as the Orange Pi, NanoPi, and Pine64. While these tools are natively developed for Linux, they are fully functional on Windows with the right environment, allowing users to flash firmware, manipulate hardware configurations (FEX files), and interact with devices in FEL mode . Core Utilities in sunxi-tools
The compiled binary is dynamically linked and cannot find its supporting libraries.
Some community developers distribute pre-compiled Windows binaries of sunxi-tools.