Support

Need help with your new Byte 90? Find user instructions, downloads and frequently asked questions here. Aside from its fun interactive features, Byte 90 has several key functions you should know about.

My BYTE 90 is not powering on or experiencing random restarts

First-Time Setup (Series 2)

Your BYTE 90 ships powered off to ensure safety and preserve battery health during transportation. To start using your device, open the back cover and flip the power switch to turn it on.

Important: Charge Before First Use

BYTE 90 arrives with minimal battery charge and requires 1-2 hours of charging before first use. If your device experiences random restarts or unexpected behavior, this indicates low battery. Simply charge your device fully before continuing.

Once charged, you're ready to enjoy your new companion!

Powering down BYTE 90

Option 1: Deep Sleep (Recommended) Press and hold the button at the bottom for 2 seconds. This puts the device into an extremely low-power state—essentially off—and a simple tap or knock will wake it up. BYTE 90 also enters deep sleep automatically after about an hour of inactivity.

Option 2: Complete Power Off Open the back cover and use the included switch tool (the yellow tool in the accessories bag) to slide the power switch off by sliding it towards you.

Note: For Series 1 owners you can only enter deep sleep, for a complete power off you would need to disconnect the battery.

BYTE 90 Menu Navigation

Use the following controls to navigate the BYTE 90 menu:

  • Single click to open the menu
  • Single click to navigate between menu options
  • Double click to enter a submenu or activate a setting
  • Long press to exit the menu

Note: The menu will automatically close after a period of inactivity.

BYTE 90 now supports serial configuration

Simply connect your BYTE 90 using the provided USB-C cable, put it in Update Mode via the menu settings, and visit the Web Configuration Portal.

Important Notes:

You must put your BYTE 90 into Update Mode before connecting it in the Web Configuration Portal

Use this portal to configure and set up your WiFi connection if you want to connect BYTE 90 to your network

Themes and Effects

BYTE 90 comes preloaded with multiple themes and effects. You can activate a theme of your choice, and it will be saved to memory.

Effects can also be applied to themes. Unlike themes, effects can be stacked, allowing you to combine multiple effects to create a personalized style for your BYTE 90.

Sounds and Haptic Feedback

BYTE 90 Series 2 has audio and haptic feedback enabled by default, providing tactile and auditory responses during interactions. You can disable either feature in the Menu Settings if desired.

Clock Mode

Enabling WiFi for Clock Mode

Ensure WiFi is enabled and your credentials are saved to BYTE 90 through the Web Configuration Portal. Select your desired timezone—the default is Eastern Time Zone.

Activating Clock Mode

Once WiFi is enabled, access Clock Mode through the Clock Mode menu by double-clicking the button. Clock Mode will automatically sync to your local time. To exit Clock Mode, single-click the button.

BYTE 90 Pairing mode

Activating Pairing Mode

Double-click in the menu to enable BYTE 90 Pairing Mode. You'll know it's active when the connection icon appears in the top right corner of the screen. To disable this mode, simply single-click.

How Pairing Works

Once Pairing Mode is active, your BYTE 90 automatically searches for another nearby BYTE 90 device. When a connection is established, both devices enter conversation mode and will interact with each other until manually disconnected.

Deep Sleep

To conserve battery, BYTE 90 automatically enters deep sleep when no movement is detected for an extended period. You can also manually activate sleep mode by long-pressing the button.

During deep sleep, BYTE 90 is non-functional. To wake it, gently tap BYTE 90 on the side.

Update / Configuration Mode

Access Update / Configuration Mode through the WiFi settings menu by double-clicking on Update Mode.

In this mode, you can connect to BYTE 90 via the Web Configuration Portal to set up WiFi or update the firmware through serial connection. Ensure BYTE 90 is connected to your computer using the provided USB-C cable.

Note: The Web Configuration Portal is only supported on desktop or laptop computers using the latest version of Chrome.

Connecting to WiFi

Access Update / Configuration Mode through the WiFi settings menu by double-clicking on Update Mode.

In this mode, you can connect to BYTE 90 via the Web Configuration Portal to set up WiFi by scanning for available networks and connecting to your selected WiFi network. This will save your connection to the device and remember your WiFi network. The Web Configuration Portal is only required for the initial connection or if you choose to forget WiFi Network on BYTE 90.

Note: WiFi is only used for Clock Mode currently.

OTA Updates

Access Update / Configuration Mode through the WiFi settings menu by double-clicking on Update Mode.

In this mode, you can connect to BYTE 90's access point "Byte90_Setup" using the provided default password. From this portal, you can connect BYTE 90 to your WiFi network and perform OTA (over-the-air) updates by selecting the firmware file.

Important: It's recommended to use the new Web Configuration Portal instead, as there is a known issue with Windows 11's access point connection management for ESP32 devices and IP address assignments.

Firmware 2.0 release

Byte OS 2.0 is our biggest update yet, introducing new customizations and retro effects for your Byte 90. This update is backwards compatible with both Series 1 and 2.

Our GitHub repository contains the open-source firmware and details for DIY builds. 3D printing files and animations are not provided. This firmware is optimized for Series 2 hardware—consider purchasing our dev kit if you wish to experiment with custom firmware.

GitHub

Trouble shooting & Questions

What type of battery does Byte 90 use?

Byte 90 is powered by a 1200mAh 3.7V lithium battery (size 103040) with a PH 2.0 connector. The included mount accommodates only these dimensions. For alternative battery sizes, custom 3D-printed mounts are required, noting the housing's 45mm space limitation.

Please ensure you follow these checks before you plug in a battery to avoid any damages to Byte 90

Critical Safety Checks:

  • Verify the battery is 3.7V not 3.9V
  • Check polarity alignment - some batteries have reversed positive/negative positions on the connector
  • Test that your battery functional and charged
  • Handle the battery connect with extra care don't tug on it roughly
  • Inspect the battery connector for damage - ensure it's still properly soldered

How long is the battery life?

Byte 90 can run for up to 2 days on a full charge. It automatically manages battery life by entering deep sleep when not in use.

How do I charge Byte 90?

Byte 90 charges via the provided USB-C cable and requires 1-2 hours for a full charge. A red flashing light indicates charging is in progress, while a solid red light indicates charging is complete.

What's the password for BYTE 90 Access point?

When Byte 90 enters setup mode, you can establish a local connection between your device and the unit. You'll be prompted to enter a password - the default password is 00000000

How do I check the battery percentage?

This is a current hardware limitation and there is no way to check battery percentage. This feature is in development for future releases.

How do I know turn off Byte 90?

There is no power switch on Byte 90. The device enters deep sleep when inactive and only turns off completely when the battery is depleted. If you need to power down Byte 90 entirely, you can disconnect the battery.

For Series 2 owners:

Option 1: Deep Sleep (Recommended) Press and hold the button at the bottom for 2 seconds. This puts the device into an extremely low-power state—essentially off—and a simple tap or knock will wake it up. BYTE 90 also enters deep sleep automatically after about an hour of inactivity.

Option 2: Complete Power Off Open the back cover and use the included switch tool (the yellow tool in the accessories bag) to slide the power switch off by sliding it towards you.

My Byte 90 is not turning on

When you first receive your Byte 90, ensure it's fully charged. If the device doesn't turn on after connecting the battery, try powering it via the USB-C connection. If it still doesn't activate, please contact us for support.

Can I use Byte 90 without the battery?

Yes, you can power Byte 90 directly using the included USB-C cable without a battery. Please note that international orders do not include batteries due to shipping restrictions.

My Byte 90 froze, what can I do?

If your Byte 90 freezes and becomes unresponsive, you may need to perform a manual reset. Locate the two tiny buttons on the Byte 90 board labeled "Boot" and "Reset." Press the Reset button to restart the device. If this doesn't resolve the issue, contact us for support as you may need to reflash the firmware.

For more details on the Xiao ESP32 S3 controller visit this link.

My Byte 90 randomly restarts itself, what can I do?

If you're experiencing random restarts, this indicates your Byte 90 has very low battery and cannot maintain power. To resolve this, connect the USB-C cable and charge for 1-2 hours.

Can I add custom animations?

Yes, but you'll need programming knowledge to implement new animations. While Byte 90 is developer-friendly, it requires coding skills rather than a no-code approach. The device maintains proprietary animations to ensure brand consistency.

Can I develop custom firmware?

Yes, with programming knowledge you can develop custom firmware for Byte 90. The device runs on an ESP32 S3 microcontroller with Arduino framework. You're free to modify the open source firmware if you have the technical expertise. Contact us if you need to restore the original firmware.

Can you release the 3D files and animations?

The 3D files and animations are not open source. They remain proprietary for brand consistency and maintain brand authenticity. As a product designer, it's essential to protect original designs and creations to support ongoing development and future iterations of the product.

How do I assemble Byte 90?

If you purchased the unassembled version of Byte 90, soldering and electronics knowledge is required. While the assembly is straightforward, we don't provide technical support in this area. Consider watching tutorials on soldering and ESP32 microcontroller interfaces before proceeding.