Docs / MagWLED-1 / LED Strips & Effects

Wrong colors after firmware update (updated wrong binary)

After updating WLED firmware via OTA (over-the-air), some users see incorrect colors — for example, a pattern of 4 repeating colors instead of the expected solid color, or colors shifted (red showing as green, etc.).

Most likely cause: wrong firmware binary

If you downloaded a .bin file directly from the WLED project (e.g. WLED_0.15.1_ESP32-C3.bin) and flashed it via OTA, you may be running a build that doesn’t match the MagWLED-1’s hardware configuration. The generic ESP32-C3 WLED build uses different default pin assignments.

Fix: Always use the firmware from install.magwled.com, which is built specifically for the MagWLED-1’s pin layout.

How to fix it now

  1. Go to install.magwled.com
  2. Connect via USB-C and reflash with the correct MagWLED firmware
  3. If the device isn’t accessible (bootloop/no WiFi), hold the power button while plugging in USB to enter flash mode

Why does the wrong binary cause color issues?

The ESP32-C3’s RMT peripheral maps specific GPIO pins to LED data output. If the wrong pin is configured as the data output, the signal may be inverted, swapped, or driving a different physical pin than expected — causing incorrect color ordering or rendering artifacts.