Help & Support

If you are struggling to connect your micro:bit to micro:bit CreateAI, try these steps.

Throughout this article, the micro:bit worn by the user is referred to as the 'data collection micro:bit'.

Which connection approach are you using? 

micro:bit CreateAI is available using a Chrome or Edge web browser on a computer (desktop, laptop or Chromebook) or an Android tablet. There is also a micro:bit CreateAI Android app for Android tablets and a micro:bit CreateAI iOS app for iPads.

In a tablet app, you can connect to the micro:bit using Bluetooth (you do not need a USB cable). You will need Bluetooth enabled on the tablet and a micro:bit.

In a browser, micro:bit CreateAI offers 2 ways to connect to your micro:bit:

• Bluetooth - using 1 micro:bit: if you are using one micro:bit worn on the user's wrist then the micro:bit communicates directly with the web browser using Web Bluetooth. This is the default approach.
• Radio - using 2 micro:bits: if Web Bluetooth isn't supported, you can use 2 micro:bits. One is connected to the computer (the radio link micro:bit) and the other is worn on the user's wrist (the data collection micro:bit). With this approach, the micro:bits communicate with each other using bespoke radio communication.

micro:bit CreateAI in a browser uses Bluetooth by default. If Bluetooth does not work you can switch to the radio approach. Choose "Connect using micro:bit radio instead" in the bottom left of the connection dialog.
 

To troubleshoot your issue it is worth noting which connection approach you are using. 

Check your web browser and device

If you are using micro:bit CreateAI in a browser, you need to use a Chrome or Edge web browser with micro:bit CreateAI (other browsers, such as Safari or Firefox, often do not allow WebUSB which is essential for this tool).

If you have an iPad or Android tablet, you can install the micro:bit CreateAI Android app or micro:bit CreateAI iOS app. It is not available for iPhones and Android phones.

Proximity

Whether you are using radio or Bluetooth to connect, there is a limit to how far apart the micro:bit and computer can be. If you are experiencing connection issues, bringing the data collection micro:bit close to the computer is a good first step. 

Batteries and power

When battery power is low, Bluetooth and radio can fail even when the micro:bit appears to have power. 

1. Try replacing the batteries on the data collection micro:bit with brand new ones and check the data collection micro:bit has power (the red light on the back is on). 
2. If you are using the radio connection approach, check that on the back of the micro:bit connected to the computer, the red light (power) is on and the orange light is either on or blinking. The orange light indicates that the USB is connected to the computer. Also ensure you are using the USB cable that came with your micro:bit (or if you are using a different cable it must send both power and data, some USB cables only send power).

micro:bit is not displaying a Bluetooth pattern (app only)

If you are using the micro:bit CreateAI app and cannot enter Bluetooth mode on the micro:bit, try pressing the reset button on the micro:bit three times quickly. 

If it works, you should see a micro:bit animation of the LED lights filling the screen, followed by the Bluetooth symbol, then a LED pattern on the micro:bit. Ensure you enter the Bluetooth pattern correctly.

If that doesn’t work, try holding down the A and B button on the micro:bit, then press and release the reset button the micro:bit on the back of the micro:bit.

If that doesn’t work, disconnect and reconnect the battery pack (and any USB cable), then try entering Bluetooth mode again.

If all fails, try using a computer to transfer a fresh MakeCode HEX file onto your micro:bit before trying again. This resets the micro:bit in case the current program on the micro:bit is causing a problem. Forget previous Bluetooth pairings on your device to ensure a fresh retry. 

• You can use the simple heart program suggested in Reset your micro:bit or write your own in MakeCode.
• This can be necessary if your micro:bit has an error or previously had a project on it that was not written in MakeCode (for example, a Python project).

Forget previous Bluetooth pairings (app only)

If you are using the micro:bit CreateAI app and are experiencing connection issues, you can try to 'forget' the previous pairings on your device.

In an Android tablet: 

1. Open the Settings app. 
2. Go to ‘Connections’, then ‘Bluetooth’. 
3. Tap on the cog symbol next to your micro:bit device name.
4. Choose  'Forget' or ‘Unpair’ and confirm that you want to forget the device.

In an iPad:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to ‘Bluetooth’.
3. Tap on the info icon next to your micro:bit device name.
4. Choose ‘Forget this device’.

Start the connection process again

If problems occur, try starting the connection process from the beginning, going through the steps to put the hex files onto each micro:bit (or just the one if using Bluetooth). Allow the app permissions if you are using the app. Speak to your IT specialist to check that WebUSB, Web Bluetooth, and Bluetooth are enabled on your device. 

If you struggle to send code to your micro:bit, try using a computer to transfer a fresh MakeCode HEX file onto your micro:bit before trying again with your iPad. This resets the micro:bit in case the current program on the micro:bit is causing a problem.

• You can use the simple heart program suggested in Reset your micro:bit or write your own in MakeCode.
• This can be necessary if your micro:bit has an error or previously had a project on it that was not written in MakeCode (for example, a Python project).

If you are using CreateAI in a browser, you will see windows like the one below during the process. Be sure to select the micro:bit (in this case 'BBC micro:bit CMSIS-DAP - Paired' but it might have a different name for you) then choose the Connect button for each of these windows. 

Try the alternative connection approach (browser only)

If you have tried to connect using Bluetooth in a browser, try the micro:bit radio method instead or vice versa. This can be particularly helpful if there is interference from other devices in the area you are in (which may particularly affect the radio connection approach).

Note that the Bluetooth method will require you to have Bluetooth enabled on your computer and Web Bluetooth enabled on your Chrome or Edge web browser. 

To choose the micro:bit radio approach, select 'Connect using micro:bit radio instead' in the first connection window titled 'What you need to connect using Web Bluetooth'. 

Enable Bluetooth, WebUSB and Web Bluetooth

Note the Bluetooth settings below are only required for the Bluetooth connection approach. Only WebUSB is required for the radio connection approach.

Some computers do not have Bluetooth and so must use the radio approach instead. Please check your computer does have Bluetooth and that it is turned on before trying the Bluetooth approach.

Turn on Bluetooth (if using Bluetooth approach)

In Windows:

1. Go to Start  > Settings > Bluetooth & other devices.
2. Switch Bluetooth on.

In MacOS:

1. Click the Bluetooth status icon in the menu bar.
2. Choose Turn Bluetooth On.

Enable Bluetooth and allow permissions the app

In an iPad, enable Bluetooth:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Bluetooth.
3. Toggle Bluetooth to enable it.

In an iPad, allow CreateAI to access Bluetooth:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Search and select the CreateAI app.
4. Toggle Bluetooth to allow CreateAI access.

In an Android tablet:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Connections.
3. Toggle Bluetooth to enable it.

In an Android tablet, allow CreateAI to access nearby devices:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Apps.
3. Search and select the CreateAI app.
4. Select Nearby devices and allow it.

Enable WebUSB and Web Bluetooth in a browser (if using Bluetooth approach)

Please use Chrome or Edge web browsers with the micro:bit CreateAI. Please ensure these are set up to allow the user to grant access to WebUSB or Web Bluetooth devices. (For school or enterprise systems, browsers can be set up in a way that will automatically deny requests to access Web Bluetooth or WebUSB - please speak to your IT specialist if you think this might be the case). 

If you have control over your Chrome or Edge settings yourself then check your WebUSB device setting. 

For example, if you have control of Chrome settings, to enable you to connect to WebUSB devices: 

• Go to 'Chrome settings' using the 3 vertical dots menu on the top right of the browser
• Select 'Privacy & security', then site settings
• Under 'Permissions' choose, 'Additional permissions'
• Then choose 'USB devices' and ensure 'Sites can ask to connect to USB devices' is selected

There is no equivalent setting for Web Bluetooth for individual users in Chrome, it is typically enabled by default. However, on school or enterprise systems, both WebUSB and Web Bluetooth are controlled centrally by an IT specialist. IT specialists using enterprise additions of Chrome or Edge should look up browser policies relating to the control of Web Bluetooth API  and WebUSB API (e.g. DefaultWebBluetoothGuardSetting and DefaultWebUsbGuardSetting) to ensure users can connected to USB and Bluetooth devices.

What are the LEDs telling you? 

The LEDs on the front of the micro:bit may help you to understand the status of your connection:

Radio connection (2 micro:bits)

Shown on LEDs	When?
	The data collection micro:bit will show a dot very briefly on the display on startup until it starts to broadcast radio data. This may be too quick to notice.
happy face on the data collection micro:bit	The data collection micro:bit will show a smiley face when it is broadcasting data.
dot (not flashing) on micro:bit connected to the computer	The radio link micro:bit connected to the computer will show a dot very briefly on the display on startup until it starts to stream data to the web browser. This may be too quick to notice.
	The radio link micro:bit connected to the computer will show a diamond while it is streaming the data it is receiving from the data collection micro:bit to the computer's web browser.
	The radio link micro:bit connected to the computer will show a flashing dot if it stops receiving data from the data collection micro:bit.

Bluetooth connection (1 micro:bit)

Shown on LEDs	When?
happy face on the data collection micro:bit	The data collection micro:bit will show a happy face briefly on the display on startup.
pattern to identify the data collection micro:bit (exact pattern is specific to your micro:bit)	The data collection micro:bit will show a pattern until the Bluetooth is connected. This pattern will be specific to your micro:bit and will probably look different to the pattern in this example image.
happy face on the data collection micro:bit	While Bluetooth is connected, the data collection micro:bit will show a smiley face.
	If the Bluetooth connection is lost, the data collection micro:bit will show a sad face for about 2 seconds.
pattern to identify the micro:bit (exact pattern is specific to your micro:bit)	If the Bluetooth connection is lost, after 2 seconds, the data collection micro:bit will show the pairing pattern again. This pattern will be specific to your micro:bit and will probably look different to the pattern in this example image.

micro:bit disconnected during recording 

You may see a "micro:bit disconnected during recording" message while trying to record a data sample.

This message is shown the following scenarios:

If using Web Bluetooth:

• The data collection micro:bit has become disconnected as a result of the micro:bit losing power (e.g. the battery pack was disconnected) or being too far away from the computer.
• The connection quality is low and the computer isn't receiving data from the data collection micro:bit at a sufficient rate. This can happen when the distance between the data collection micro:bit and the computer is too great, or there is interference from other Bluetooth devices.

If using micro:bit radio:

• The data collection micro:bit has become disconnected as a result of the micro:bit losing power (e.g. the battery pack was disconnected) or being too far away from the radio link micro:bit.
• The radio link micro:bit has become disconnected from the computer (e.g. the USB cable has been unplugged).
• The connection quality is low and the computer isn't receiving data from the radio link micro:bit at a sufficient rate. This can happen when the distance between the data collection micro:bit and the radio link micro:bit is too great, or there is interference from other radio sources.

You may also see this message if your computer cannot receive and process the accelerometer data at the rate the micro:bit sends it. Try closing other open applications and websites.

App asked for a PIN when Bluetooth pairing (app only)

When using the CreateAI app and Bluetooth pairing, you may be asked for a pin by your iPad or Android tablet. If asked for a pin, press button A on the micro:bit to reveal the 6 digit pin to enter. This can happen if the MakeCode program on your micro:bit requires passkey pairing. Learn more in the What are the different pairing modes in MakeCode support article.