DIY · FREE

Build your own pocket server

The firmware is free and flashes onto any ESP8266 or ESP32-S3 board you already own. Flashing works in Chrome-based browsers only.

01

Flash the firmware

Plug your board in over USB, hit connect, and pick it from the list — it flashes right from the browser. No installs.

02

Reboot and head to Get started

Once it's flashed, your board works just like a purchased one — follow the setup steps there to connect and upload your first app.

Which board should I use?

ESP32-S3

More memory and better Wi‑Fi range. This is what the Pocket Server PCB is built around.

ESP8266

Cheaper and just as easy to flash, with a bit less headroom.

Heads up on storage: a raw board caps out around 3MB of onboard flash — fine for a page or two, tight for anything with photos or a lot of files. Wire up your own SD card reader if you want more room, or skip the soldering and grab a Pocket Server board with one already built in. Either way the card has to be formatted FAT32 — cards over 32GB ship as exFAT, which the board can’t read, and it will quietly fall back to onboard flash instead of telling you.