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All firmware

Minimal reader

Microreader

2.0-dev · GPL-2.0

Deliberately minimal, EPUB-only

X3 not supported X4 supported Risk: Medium

Best for: Minimalists who want a fast, focused EPUB reader and are comfortable with PlatformIO.

Open the flasher GitHub repo & releases

What Microreader adds

  • Drop EPUBs anywhere on the SD card — it scans recursively from the root, no folder structure needed.
  • Liang hyphenation across 9 languages; custom TTF/OTF fonts via a command-line font script.
  • No apps, sync, games, or BLE: purely a book reader, kept tight to fit the ESP32-C3’s RAM.
  • Desktop SDL2 emulator for tinkering without hardware.

How to install Microreader

via web flasher or esptool

Microreader runs on the Xteink X4 only. The install is 3 steps via web flasher or esptool, start to finish:

  1. 1

    Download the latest microreader firmware.bin from the Releases page.

  2. 2

    Connect an unlocked X4 by USB-C and wake it. In Chrome/Edge, flash the .bin with the CrossPoint web flash tool.

  3. 3

    Or use esptool: esptool.py --chip esp32c3 --port <PORT> write_flash 0x0 microreader.bin. That is a full image at 0x0 (unlike CrossPoint forks, which write the app to 0x10000). PlatformIO is only needed to build from source.

First flash? The mechanics are the same across every fork. Compare the five flashing methods on the directory, or follow the step-by-step flash CrossPoint without panicking guide.

Microreader safety: locked units & reverting

Microreader is a medium-risk flash. Settle two things before you touch the flasher: whether your Xteink shipped locked, and how you'd get back.

Locked devices & Microreader

Unlocked X4 only. Flash the released firmware.bin over USB with the CrossPoint web flash tool or esptool: Microreader ships no OTA and no SD update.bin, so a locked unit can’t run it and would have no way back.

Not sure if your unit is locked? Read the locked-device safety brief, or the full locked vs unlocked buying guide.

How to revert Microreader

For Microreader: Flash stock or another firmware over USB to revert (requires an unlocked device).

On an unlocked Xteink you have three ways back:

  1. 1Re-flash stock. The same web flasher offers official Xteink firmware.
  2. 2Restore a backup. “Write full flash from file” brings back the exact prior state, if you saved one first.
  3. 3Swap boot partition. A quick rollback at xteink.dve.al/debug.

On a locked unit there is no USB safety net. That is why locked devices stick to CrossPoint/CrossInk.

The one caveat: X4 only and dev-tagged (2.0-dev), not a polished stable build. No OTA and no SD update path — keep a stock build handy and flash on unlocked devices only.

Other Xteink firmware

Full directory →

Not sure Microreader is the right pick? Take the 30-second firmware chooser.

CrossPoint Reader

The main community firmware

The default: best all-round reader

Full guide

CrossInk

Typography + reading stats fork

Reading stats, Bionic Reading, glyph fixes

Full guide

Papyrix

More formats, one binary for both devices

FB2 / Markdown / HTML, multi-script

Full guide

CrossPet

Gamified reading + Vietnamese

Vietnamese UI + gamified virtual pet & games

Full guide

AvesO3

For AO3 fanfiction readers

AO3 fanfiction workflow

Full guide

SUMI

Offline apps, dictionary & Lua plugins

Offline apps, dictionary, Lua plugins, emulator

Full guide

Microreader details verified August 11, 2026 against its GitHub repo, README and releases. PocketInk is independent and not affiliated with Xteink. Firmware names and versions change quickly — check the repo for the latest.