Flashing an OS Image

Core 3588E runs its operating system from the eMMC on the module. To install or replace the system, you put the module into MaskROM mode, connect the carrier board to a computer over USB, and write an image to the eMMC with Rockchip Flash Tool.

The steps use the Leetop A206 carrier board. On another carrier board, the USB port is in a different place; see its documentation.

warning

Flashing replaces everything on the eMMC. Back up anything you want to keep.

What you need

• Core 3588E seated on its carrier board, see Quick Start
• A computer running Windows 10 or 11, macOS 13 or later, or 64-bit x86 Linux
• A micro-USB data cable, to connect the carrier board to the computer
• Metal tweezers, to short the two MaskROM pads on the module
• The carrier board's power adapter, see Power Supply
• An OS image for Core 3588E

Step 1. Get an OS image

Download the image for the system you want to run. Mixtile OS is the officially supported system; its images are available from Downloads.

If the image is compressed, for example as .xz or .zip, extract it first. On Windows, use an archive tool such as 7-Zip; on macOS and Linux, run xz -d <file>.img.xz for an .xz image.

Step 2. Install Rockchip Flash Tool

Follow the steps for your computer's operating system. The download links always point to the latest release.

Windows

1. Download Rockchip-Flash-Tool-windows-x64.zip and extract it.
2. Start the tool. On the first run it asks Install driver now? for the Rockchip USB driver. Click Yes, and allow the installer administrator rights. The status bar shows Rockchip driver ready. when it is done.

macOS

1. Download Rockchip-Flash-Tool-macOS-universal.dmg, open it and drag the app to Applications. It runs on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
2. If macOS blocks the app, right-click it in Finder, choose Open, then click Open again.
3. If it is still blocked, open System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.

If it still does not start, clear the quarantine attribute:

Host PC (macOS)

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Rockchip Flash Tool.app"

Linux

1. Download Rockchip-Flash-Tool-linux-x86_64.AppImage and make it executable:

   Host PC (Linux)

   chmod +x Rockchip-Flash-Tool-linux-x86_64.AppImage

2. Install FUSE2, which the AppImage needs:

   Distribution	Command
   Ubuntu 24.04 and later	sudo apt install libfuse2t64
   Ubuntu 22.04 and earlier, Debian	sudo apt install libfuse2
   Fedora	sudo dnf install fuse-libs
   Arch Linux	sudo pacman -S fuse2
   openSUSE	sudo zypper install libfuse2

   If you cannot install FUSE2, start the AppImage in extract mode instead:

   Host PC (Linux)

   APPIMAGE_EXTRACT_AND_RUN=1 ./Rockchip-Flash-Tool-linux-x86_64.AppImage

Step 3. Enter MaskROM mode

In MaskROM mode, the module runs nothing from the eMMC and waits for the computer to write to it. This works whatever is on the eMMC, including a module that no longer boots.

You enter it by shorting two round test pads on the module while the board powers up. The pads sit between the RK3588 and the gold edge connector.

Figure 1. The MaskROM pads on Core 3588E

1. Disconnect the power adapter if the carrier board is on.
2. Connect the carrier board's micro-USB port, J5, to the computer with a micro-USB data cable. The port is on the rear edge, next to Ethernet, see Hardware Information.
3. Touch both pads at the same time with the tweezers, so that they are shorted.
4. Keep them shorted while you connect the power adapter to the DC power jack, then release them.

warning

Touch only the two pads. Shorting anything else on the powered module can damage it.

Step 4. Check that the tool sees the board

Start Rockchip Flash Tool. The Device area shows the board as Connected, with the chip RK3588 and the mode Maskrom. If it shows No device connected, click Refresh.

Figure 2. The board detected as RK3588 in Maskrom mode

Step 5. Flash the image

1. Under Firmware, click Browse and select the extracted image file. The tool shows its format and size.
2. Click Start Flash. The status bar shows the progress.

Expected result: a Success dialog reports Flash completed.

tip

With several boards connected, the Device area lists them all. Select the board you want to flash and do not change the USB connection during flashing.

Step 6. Boot the new system

1. Disconnect the power adapter and the micro-USB cable.
2. Connect a monitor and keyboard as in Quick Start, or a serial console.
3. Connect the power adapter. Do not touch the MaskROM pads this time.

Expected result: the system you flashed starts successfully. What you see after booting and how you log in depend on the operating system. For Mixtile OS, see Connect to Core 3588E.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to do
The Device area shows No device connected	Check that the cable is in the micro-USB port and that it is a data cable, not a charge-only one. Disconnect the power adapter and enter MaskROM mode again, keeping both pads shorted until the power adapter is connected. Click Refresh. On Windows, make sure the USB driver is installed.
On Windows, Driver Not Detected appears after the driver is installed	Close the tool, then start it again with Run as administrator.
No partition table found; writing as a raw image.	You selected an archive or an unrelated file. Select the extracted image file.
More than one device matches	Move one board to a different USB port, then click Refresh.
A Flash Failed dialog reports Flashing failed.	Disconnect the power adapter, enter MaskROM mode again, and flash again.
Device reset did not confirm; power-cycle the board.	Disconnect and reconnect the power adapter.
After flashing, nothing appears on the monitor	Check the monitor cable, then connect the serial console to see whether the system is starting.