Flashing an OS Image

Edge 2 runs its operating system from the on-board eMMC. To install or replace the system, you put the board into MaskROM mode, connect it to a computer over USB, and write an image to the eMMC with Rockchip Flash Tool.

This page describes how to use Rockchip Flash Tool to write a system image to Edge 2.

warning

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

What you need

• An Edge 2 board
• A computer running Windows 10 or 11, macOS 13 or later, or 64-bit x86 Linux
• A USB-A to USB-C data cable, to connect the board to a USB-A port on the computer
• A 12 V DC adapter, see Power Supply
• An OS image for Edge 2

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 .gz, 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. Find the MASKROM button

In MaskROM mode the board does not start any system. Instead, it waits for a computer to write to its eMMC over USB. This works whatever is on the eMMC, including a board that no longer boots.

The MASKROM button is on the top side of the board, near the buzzer and the coin-cell holder.

Disconnect all power from the board before you continue. If the board is in the Edge 2 Kit enclosure, open its top cover first, see Edge 2 Kit Enclosure.

Figure 1. The MASKROM button

Step 4. Connect the board in MaskROM mode

Flashing uses the POWER USB-C port for data, and the DC 12V jack for power. The USB cable can also power the board as soon as it is connected, so press and hold MASKROM before you connect either cable.

Figure 2. The connections for flashing

1. Make sure that neither the USB cable nor the 12 V adapter is connected to the board.
2. Press and hold the MASKROM button.
3. While you hold the button, connect POWER, the USB-C port at the corner of the board, to a USB-A port on the computer with the USB-A to USB-C cable.
4. Still holding the button, connect the 12 V adapter to DC 12V.
5. Keep holding the button for about two seconds, then release it.

Step 5. Check that the tool sees the board

Start Rockchip Flash Tool. The Device area shows the board as Connected, with the chip RK3568 and the mode Maskrom. If it shows No device connected, click Refresh.

Figure 3. Edge 2 detected as RK3568 in Maskrom mode.

Step 6. 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 Edge 2 board you want to flash and do not change the USB connection during flashing.

Step 7. Boot the new system

1. Disconnect the 12 V adapter and the USB-A to USB-C cable.
2. Connect a monitor, keyboard and power as in Quick Start, or a serial console.

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 Edge 2.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to do
The Device area shows No device connected	Check that the USB-A to USB-C cable is a data cable, not a charge-only one, and that its USB-C end is in the POWER port. Disconnect both the USB cable and the 12 V adapter, then repeat step 4. 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.
The mode shows Loader instead of Maskrom	The board is in Loader mode, which the tool also accepts. You can flash as normal.
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 both the USB cable and the 12 V adapter, repeat step 4, and flash again.
Device reset did not confirm; power-cycle the board.	Disconnect both the USB cable and the 12 V adapter, then reconnect them.