LilyGO T-Dongle S3 (ESP32-S3) not showing as COM port + PlatformIO upload fails (COM port doesn't exist)

[AlexCoding1009]

LilyGO T-Dongle S3 (ESP32-S3) not showing as COM port (only in “Other devices” when pressing button) + PlatformIO upload fails (COM port doesn't exist)

Description

Hi, I need help. I’m really stuck and can’t upload anything anymore.

I’m using a LilyGO ESP32 T-Dongle S3 with display on Windows with PlatformIO (Arduino framework).

What happens

• When I plug in the dongle normally, it does not show up under Ports (COM & LPT).
• Only when I press the button on the back (boot button) it appears in Device Manager, but under “Other devices” / USB devices, not as a COM port.
• PlatformIO tries to auto-detect a port, picks COM3, but upload fails with: “the port doesn’t exist”.

Expected

• Device should appear as USB Serial Device (COMx) and upload should work.

PlatformIO upload log

*  Executing task in folder Blue exp: C:\Users\flueg\.platformio\penv\Scripts\platformio.exe run --target upload --environment tdongle_s3

Processing tdongle_s3 (platform: espressif32; board: esp32-s3-devkitm-1; framework: arduino)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verbose mode can be enabled via `-v, --verbose` option
CONFIGURATION: https://docs.platformio.org/page/boards/espressif32/esp32-s3-devkitm-1.html
PLATFORM: Espressif 32 (6.11.0+sha.5e0a22e) > Espressif ESP32-S3-DevKitM-1
HARDWARE: ESP32S3 240MHz, 320KB RAM, 8MB Flash
DEBUG: Current (esp-builtin) On-board (esp-builtin) 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 @ 3.20017.241212+sha.dcc1105b
 - tool-esptoolpy @ 1.40501.0 (4.5.1)
 - tool-mkfatfs @ 2.0.1
 - tool-mklittlefs @ 1.203.210628 (2.3)
 - tool-mkspiffs @ 2.230.0 (2.30)
 - toolchain-riscv32-esp @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch5
 - toolchain-xtensa-esp32s3 @ 8.4.0+2021r2-patch5
LDF: Library Dependency Finder -> https://bit.ly/configure-pio-ldf
LDF Modes: Finder ~ chain, Compatibility ~ soft
Found 33 compatible libraries
Scanning dependencies...
No dependencies
Building in release mode
...
Configuring upload protocol...
AVAILABLE: cmsis-dap, esp-bridge, esp-builtin, 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: COM3
Uploading .pio\build\tdongle_s3\firmware.bin
esptool.py v4.5.1
Serial port COM3

A fatal error occurred: Could not open COM3, the port doesn't exist
*** [upload] Error 2
========================================================================== [FAILED] Took 9.16 seconds ==========================================================================

platformio.ini

[env:tdongle_s3]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32-s3-devkitm-1
framework = arduino

build_flags =
    -D ARDUINO_USB_MODE=1
    -D ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1

upload_speed = 115200
monitor_speed = 115200

Thanks a lot, I’m really desperate because upload doesn’t work at all. :(

[lewisxhe]

Press and hold the BOOT button on the dongle while plugging it into the USB port. The computer should then recognize it as a serial device.

If you plug it in while holding down the BOOT button and it doesn't display as a serial device, then there is a problem with the device.