Flash Marauder on the ESP32-C5-WROOM
Install ESP32 Marauder on the dual-band ESP32-C5-WROOM directly from this page — nothing to download or install. The ESP32-C5 is a RISC-V chip with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, so Marauder gets 5 GHz recon on the built-in radio. You need Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer and a USB-C data cable.
Hold BOOT to connect
Connecting straight to the chip's native USB, you need to hold the BOOT button to enter download mode: hold BOOT, plug in the USB-C cable while holding it, release BOOT, then click Connect. A failed flash is always recoverable by reflashing.
How do I flash it?
- Hold BOOT on the board.
- While holding BOOT, plug in the USB-C cable (or tap RESET if it's already connected).
- Release BOOT.
- Click Connect, choose the serial port, then Flash.
Why do I have to hold BOOT?
The ESP32-C5's native USB doesn't yet support automatic download-mode entry in the browser flasher, so it needs the manual BOOT press. A board that adds a USB-UART bridge (CP2102 / CH340) with an auto-reset circuit would flash without touching any button — that's how the auto-download CYD/M5 boards work.
Which browsers can flash the ESP32-C5?
| Browser | Supported |
|---|---|
| Chrome / Edge (desktop) | ✅ Yes |
| Chrome (Android) | ✅ Yes |
| Safari (macOS / iOS) | ❌ No |
| Firefox | ❌ No |
Browser flashing relies on the Web Serial API, which ships only in Chromium-based browsers.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| No port in the picker | Use a USB data cable (not charge-only). |
| "Failed to connect" / can't read chip | Hold BOOT, plug USB in while holding it, release BOOT, then Connect. |
| Black screen / no response after flash | Re-flash and let it complete; the C5 ROM download mode is always recoverable. |
What is ESP32 Marauder?
ESP32 Marauder is an open-source Wi-Fi/Bluetooth analysis suite, published at github.com/justcallmekoko/ESP32Marauder under the MIT license. On the ESP32-C5 it can work across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Frequently asked questions
Which board does this flash?
The 8 MB ESP32-C5-WROOM. The ESP32-C5 is a dual-band RISC-V chip, so Marauder gets 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi on the built-in radio.
What Marauder version is this?
The latest stable ESP32 Marauder build for the ESP32-C5, flashed as three files at the C5 offsets (bootloader 0x2000, partition table 0x8000, app 0x10000).
Do I have to hold BOOT to flash it?
Yes, when you connect straight to the chip's native USB. Hold BOOT, plug in the USB-C cable while holding it, release BOOT, then click Connect — the ESP32-C5 doesn't yet support automatic download-mode entry over its native USB in the browser flasher. (A board with a USB-UART bridge and an auto-reset circuit wouldn't need the button.)
Which browsers can flash the ESP32-C5?
Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer (and Chrome on Android). Browser flashing uses the Web Serial API, which Safari and Firefox do not support.
WARNING
For educational and lawful network-research purposes only. Comply with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction.