Portenta X8 completely not detected over USB, uuu flashing not possible

Official Hardware Portenta Family Portenta X8
1

Hi everyone,

I am using a Portenta X8 with the Portenta Breakout board, and I think my board might be bricked. I was trying to reflash the image using the uuu flashing tool on Windows, following the official “How to update your Portenta X8” documentation.

This is what I did:

  • Downloaded image-latest.tar.gz from the Arduino download page and extracted it.
  • Extracted mfgtool-files-portenta-x8.tar.gz and lmp-factory-image-portenta-x8.wic.gz so that I have the mfgtool-files-portenta-x8 directory and the .wic file in the same folder.
  • Downloaded uuu.exe and put it into the mfgtool-files-portenta-x8 folder.
  • On the Portenta Breakout, I set both BT_SEL and BOOT DIP switches to ON (flashing mode).
  • Connected the Portenta X8 + Breakout to my PC using a USB‑C to USB‑A data cable.
  • Opened an elevated PowerShell and ran:
.\uuu .\full_image.uuu
  • uuu starts correctly and prints:
uuu (Universal Update Utility) for nxp imx chips -- libuuu_1.5.109-0-g6c3190c
Wait for Known USB Device Appear...

The problem is that nothing else ever happens:

  • When I unplug and re‑plug the USB cable, there is no new log line in uuu.
  • Windows Device Manager shows no new device at all when I plug in the board (no COM port, no unknown device, nothing).
  • I tried multiple data cables and multiple USB ports.
  • I also tested on another PC, and it behaves the same (no USB device appears).

Board LEDs:

  • On the Portenta X8, a red LED and a white LED stay on continuously.
  • On the Ethernet port, the LEDs stay on as well.

So the board clearly has power, but it never shows up as a USB device on any computer, and uuu keeps waiting forever for a USB device.

I also tried removing and reseating the Portenta X8 on the Breakout, double‑checking that BT_SEL and BOOT are both ON, and power‑cycling the board several times. It still does not get detected.

At this point, is there any other recovery method I can try, or does this indicate that the board is permanently bricked and needs to be replaced (RMA)?

Any help or official guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

2

Hi @jeayonglee , I don't have the X8, so this is a bit of a shot-in-the-dark, but have you tried double-clicking the reset button to put it in bootloader mode? Works on my GIGA (same MCU) when I have a code issue that locks it up.

3

first thank you for answer, i tried double clicking but didn't solved the problem. same white and red led still on, not changing.

4

Found this, maybe it will help Portenta X8 not working after update

5

I faced the same issue today. But then it worked for me. I had to restructure the files in the folder properly according to the user manual.

Did the Arduino Linux Wizard detect your Portenta X8?

I am facing issues in connecting Portenta X8 with the Linux Wizard. Check my other post on this.

6

can i get a link? your profile is locked

7

but my portenta is not detected by linux.

8
9

thank you for your response. but my device is not detected on any environment or program. maybe my device became bricked