This puts the game system onto your handheld — the base layer the candyandfrank Maker game engine runs on.
You only do this once per device, or whenever a handheld gets weird. It takes about 5 minutes.
After this, the 📲 Send to Handheld button at the Build Station does everything else.
Step 1. Use Chrome or Edge on this HTTPS page (Safari/Firefox won't work).
Plug the handheld in with a USB-C data cable (some cables only charge — try another if nothing shows up).
Close any other program or browser tab that talks to the handheld — only one thing can use the USB port at a time.
Step 2. Click the button below → pick the USB Serial device (on Windows it looks like COM3) → Install →
when asked, tick Erase device. Erase wipes everything currently on the handheld (any old game or program) — that's expected,
your games live at the Build Station and can be sent again. Then wait — the progress bar takes a few minutes.
This browser can't do it — use Chrome or Edge.Open this page over HTTPS: https://candyandfrank-maker.fly.dev/flash
Step 3. When it says Installation complete, close the install window, then unplug and replug the handheld.
The handheld restarts. It may show a start-up screen or stay dark — both are fine.
Step 4. Go back to the Build Station and click 📲 Send to Handheld.
It installs the candyandfrank Maker game engine and your game together, then reboots the handheld into the game menu.
From then on, every update is one click.
Nothing shows in the device list? Your computer needs a one-time USB serial driver.
Windows: it usually installs itself when you plug the handheld in with internet on — if not, get it from
the driver download page
(look for the CH9102 driver), install it with a grown-up, then replug.
Mac: recent macOS has it built in.
Install failed halfway / "Failed to initialize"? Unplug, hold the handheld's power button for 6 seconds
(true power-off), plug back in and try again. If the handheld has a joystick hat, take the hat off during the install.
Rescue page too: if a handheld ever gets weird, run this install again and it's factory-fresh.
