A fatal error occurred: This chip is ESP8266 not ESP32. Wrong --chip argument? *** [upload] Error 2

I can’t get it to install a simple code on my ESP32
using Visual Studio code and PlatformIO.
After the upload is started, the following error message appears:

** A fatal error occurred: This chip is ESP8266 not ESP32. Wrong --chip argument? *** [upload] Error 2**

Platformio.ini
[env:esp32dev]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32dev
framework = arduino
monitor_speed = 115200

Processing esp32dev (platform: espressif32; board: esp32dev; framework: arduino)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Verbose mode can be enabled via -v, --verbose option
CONFIGURATION: Redirecting...
PLATFORM: Espressif 32 (2.0.4) > Espressif ESP32 Dev Module
HARDWARE: ESP32 240MHz, 320KB RAM, 4MB Flash
DEBUG: Current (cmsis-dap) External (cmsis-dap, esp-bridge, esp-prog, iot-bus-jtag, jlink, minimodule, olimex-arm-usb-ocd, olimex-arm-usb-ocd-h, olimex-arm-usb-tiny-h, olimex-jtag-tiny, tumpa)
PACKAGES:

  • framework-arduinoespressif32 @ 2.0.4
  • tool-esptoolpy @ 1.30301.220515 (3.3.1)
  • tool-mkfatfs @ 2.0.1
  • tool-mklittlefs @ 1.203.210628 (2.3)
  • tool-mkspiffs @ 2.230.0 (2.30)
  • toolchain-xtensa-esp32 @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch3
    LDF: Library Dependency Finder → Library Dependency Finder (LDF) — PlatformIO latest documentation
    LDF Modes: Finder ~ chain, Compatibility ~ soft
    Found 32 compatible libraries
    Scanning dependencies…
    No dependencies
    Building in release mode
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\src\main.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\Esp.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\FirmwareMSC.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\FunctionalInterrupt.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\HWCDC.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\HardwareSerial.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\IPAddress.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\IPv6Address.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\MD5Builder.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\Print.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\Stream.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\StreamString.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\Tone.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\USB.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\USBCDC.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\USBMSC.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\WMath.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\WString.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\base64.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\cbuf.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-adc.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-bt.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-cpu.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-dac.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-gpio.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-i2c-slave.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-i2c.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-ledc.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-matrix.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-misc.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-psram.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-rgb-led.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-rmt.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-sigmadelta.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-spi.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-time.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-timer.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-tinyusb.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-touch.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\esp32-hal-uart.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\firmware_msc_fat.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\libb64\cdecode.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\libb64\cencode.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\main.cpp.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\stdlib_noniso.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\wiring_pulse.c.o
    Compiling .pio\build\esp32dev\FrameworkArduino\wiring_shift.c.o
    Archiving .pio\build\esp32dev\libFrameworkArduino.a
    Linking .pio\build\esp32dev\firmware.elf
    Retrieving maximum program size .pio\build\esp32dev\firmware.elf
    Checking size .pio\build\esp32dev\firmware.elf
    Advanced Memory Usage is available via “PlatformIO Home > Project Inspect”
    RAM: [ ] 4.3% (used 13944 bytes from 327680 bytes)
    Flash: [= ] 10.8% (used 141221 bytes from 1310720 bytes)
    Building .pio\build\esp32dev\firmware.bin
    esptool.py v3.3.1
    Creating esp32 image…
    Merged 2 ELF sections
    Successfully created esp32 image.
    Configuring upload protocol…
    AVAILABLE: cmsis-dap, esp-bridge, esp-prog, espota, esptool, iot-bus-jtag, jlink, minimodule, olimex-arm-usb-ocd, olimex-arm-usb-ocd-h, olimex-arm-usb-tiny-h, olimex-jtag-tiny, tumpa
    CURRENT: upload_protocol = esptool
    Looking for upload port…
    Auto-detected: COM6
    Uploading .pio\build\esp32dev\firmware.bin
    esptool.py v3.3.1
    Serial port COM6
    Connecting…

Preformatted textA fatal error occurred: This chip is ESP8266 not ESP32. Wrong --chip argument?
Preformatted text*** [upload] Error 2
====================================================================================== [FAILED] Took 22.78 seconds ======================================================================================`

My system:

Windows10
Visual Studio Code
PlatformIO
ESP32S

When I select ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 in a new project at Board Espressif I get the following error message:

PIO Core Call Error: “The following files/directories have been created in C:\Users\PAPA\Documents\PlatformIO\Projects\05\r\ninclude - Put project header files here\r\nlib - Put project specific (private) libraries here\r\nsrc - Put project source files here\r\nplatformio.ini - Project Configuration File\r\nResolving esp32-s2-saola-1 dependencies…\r\nTool Manager: Installing espressif/toolchain-riscv32-esp @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch3\r\n\n\nUnknownPackageError: Could not find the package with ‘espressif/toolchain-riscv32-esp @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch3’ requirements for your system ‘windows_amd64’”

I have no idea, I’m a beginner, help me please!

Then the first thing to do is a platform update. E.g., via CLIpio pkg update -g -p espressif32.

BUT, the S3 Devkit is not the board you want to select. An ESP-WROOM-32 module has a regular ESP32 chip inside (XTensa). You should update the platform, but keep board = esp32dev.

Do you maybe have multiple COM ports / boards attached and it selects the wrong one? See Device Manager → COM ports to see them. Use upload_port = COMx in the platformio.ini if needed.

1 Like

Ohhh, crap, that’s the solution! I have since two years an ESP8266 at the USB for the power supply hang. I haven’t thought about that part anymore, how stupid!
Thanks for the quick help and helpful tips.
After I updated the drivers CP210x it works now.
Thanks a lot
:slight_smile: