Guides
Short answers to the questions people ask most about flashing cheap boards.
How to flash a Cheap Yellow Display
Flash an ESP32-2432S028 from the browser: pick the variant by its USB ports, connect a data cable, press Flash. What to do if it does not connect.
CYD with one USB and with two: the difference
Both boards are labelled ESP32-2432S028. The two-port one has micro-USB and USB-C and a screen that needs its own firmware build. A table of differences and what to flash.
ESP32-CAM Failed to connect: what to do
Why ESP32-CAM says Failed to connect or Timed out waiting for packet header: GPIO0, TX and RX, 5 V power, cable, driver. Causes in the order to check them.
Which ESP32 to buy
Pick an ESP32 board by what you want to build: screen, camera, keyboard or your own wiring. A table of chips and live project counts for each board.
CH340 driver: when you need it and where to get it
CH340 is the USB chip on many cheap boards. How to check that the computer sees it, where to get the driver for Windows and macOS, and what to do on Linux.