Bitaxe Home Miner Setup Guide: Connection & Mining Method

Introduction

If you want to use a Bitcoin home miner like the Bitaxe to start mining, the most critical step is mastering the correct connection and configuration process. For beginners, every step—from hardware wiring and network setup to mining pool selection—directly affects your mining efficiency and device safety. This guide will walk you through the specific operation process to help you get your miner up and running quickly and reliably.

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

Unbox and Power Up

Carefully remove your Bitaxe miner from the packaging. Plug the power supply into a reliable power source. The device will power on automatically.

What you’ll need:

Bitaxe device
Power supply unit
Your home WiFi SSID (must be 2.4G network band)
Your WiFi password (must be 2.4G network band)
Mobile phone and/or computer
BTC wallet address

Check Your Home WiFi Network Band

Click the WiFi icon on your Windows desktop or phone to view your current network band. Make sure your device is connected to 2.4G. If it is connected to 5G WiFi, manually switch to the 2.4G network.

Tip: Bitaxe only supports 2.4GHz WiFi.

Set Up Bitaxe’s WiFi Network and Wallet

Your Bitaxe will start emitting a new WiFi network with a name similar to Bitaxe_XXXX. The correct network name will be displayed on the Bitaxe screen.

Use your phone or laptop to access the Bitaxe WiFi network (note: not your home WiFi network). Locate and select the Bitaxe WiFi network name shown on the display.

Once connected to the Bitaxe WiFi, the settings page will open automatically. If not, enter the default IP address 192.168.4.1 in your browser. If the page still does not open, disconnect your phone from any 4G or 5G cellular network, connect only to the Bitaxe WiFi, and try again.

3.1 Click “Network” to Set Up WiFi

Set a hostname for your Bitaxe or keep the default.
Set WiFi SSIDto the exact name of your home WiFi network (not the Bitaxe WiFi network).
Enter the password of your home WiFi. Don’t make typos; pay attention to uppercase and lowercase letters.

3.2 Click “Settings” to Set Up the Wallet

Select Settings. You can configure two mining pools and two wallet addresses on this page. You can use the same wallet address if you only have one. Typically, set frequency to 525, voltage to 1150, and leave the subsequent options checked by default. After making your selections, click Save. Once saving is completed, click Restart. The miner will automatically synchronize and restart.

Example pool configuration:

Stratum Host: ckpool.org(do not include ‘stratum+tcp://’ or port)
Stratum Port: 3333
User: (your BTC wallet address)
Password: (can be left as default)

Accessing the User Interface (AxeOS)

After reboot, find the device’s IP address on your Bitaxe screen. Open your web browser on your phone or computer and enter the IP address. No password is required to access the web interface.

In the browser, enter the IP address shown on the Bitaxe device and wait for the mining information interface to appear.

What you’ll see on the dashboard:

Top: real-time hash rate, operating efficiency, number of submitted shares, mining difficulty
Middle: hash rate curve graph
Bottom: operating power consumption, temperature, mining pool information, wallet address

The Bitaxe screen also displays the current hash rate, temperature, and other information.

Once completed, your Bitaxe Gamma 601 miner has been successfully configured and started running.

FAQ & Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Reason	Solution
WiFi router blocks mining / Stratum not connected	Some routers (e.g., ASUS, TP-Link) block mining	Disable AiProtection and IoT in router settings
No internet connection	IP not assigned	Restart router or assign static IP
Fan too loud	Dust buildup or high temperature	Clean fan blades, improve ventilation
Hashrate fluctuation	Overheating or unstable power	Reduce clock rate, use stable PSU
Screen keeps flashing	Firmware version mismatch	Re-download firmware and refresh
PSU Error Guru Meditation #00000015	Loose screen/power connection, overheating, or firmware issue	Reinstall screen; check power adapter/cables/voltage; lower frequency or upgrade thermal paste; reflash firmware
Miner not powering on	Loose power adapter connection	Unplug and replug the power adapter
Miner consumes too much power	Frequency too high or chip overheating	Lower ASIC chip clock rate; ensure good ventilation
How to reset to factory settings	N/A	Use web flasher, uncheck “keep configuration”, and update firmware

If you have any questions, please refer to the official documentation or contact technical support.

This is an operation video about bitaxe gamma. You can refer to it.

https://youtu.be/dhTyvT1Flo0?si=VSkuldcNxCGadO6Y

Bitaxe Firmware Upgrade

Why Upgrade (Core Value)

Performance improvement: By optimizing ASIC tuning algorithms and voltage/frequency management, some models can achieve a 10%-15% increase in hashrate.

New features & bug fixes: Adds TLS encrypted pool connection and real-time hashrate chart functions; fixes device crashes and network connectivity failures.

Hardware compatibility: Provides official firmware support for the latest Bitaxe hardware models (Hex, GT and more).

Key Preparation Before Upgrading

2.1 Firmware & Hardware Matching Rule

Different hardware revision models (e.g., Supra 401, Gamma 601) require exclusive matched firmware .bin files. Flashing mismatched firmware will directly cause device boot failure. The accurate hardware version can be checked on the device PCB or in the web dashboard system page.

2.2 Firmware File Classification

esp-miner.bin: Dedicated file for OTA online upgrade
esp-miner-factory-XXX.bin: Factory full image for USB flashing and device brick recovery

2.3 Backup & Version Verification

Setting retention difference: OTA upgrade retains all configurations (WiFi, mining pool, overclocking, fan settings); USB factory flashing will erase all data and restore factory state. It is recommended to take full screenshots of the settings page for backup before operation.
Version selection: Check the current firmware version via the device IP dashboard, and compare it with the latest release on GitHub. Ordinary users are advised to choose stable releases instead of beta pre-releases.

Two Main Upgrade Methods Compared

Feature	OTA Web Upgrade (Recommended)	Web Flasher Tool (USB)
Applicable Scenarios	Daily routine upgrade for normally online devices	Device boot failure, bricked recovery, or first-time flashing of bare boards
Required Tools	Computer/phone browser (under the same WiFi network as the miner)	Data-transmission USB cable, Chrome/Edge browser only
Operation Difficulty & Duration	Very easy, about 5 minutes	Moderate, about 15–30 minutes
Setting Retention	Yes, all mining configurations are retained	No, all settings will be erased and need reconfiguration
Core Operation Steps	Access AxeOS Dashboard → Enter Settings → Upload esp-miner.bin to complete upgrade	Connect device and computer via USB → Open official Web Flasher → Select matched model firmware → Flash

Critical Notes (Avoid Common Mistakes)

Power & Network Stability: Do not disconnect power, interrupt network connection, or close the browser tab during the flashing process. The Bitaxe USB-C port is only for data transmission and flashing; mining operation requires a dedicated external power supply.
Built-in Safety Mechanism: Equipped with ESP32-S3 dual-partition protection. If the upgrade fails due to power outage or abnormal interruption, the system will automatically roll back to the previous available firmware, with extremely low brick risk.
Operation Limitations: USB flashing only supports Chrome and Edge browsers (Firefox and Safari are incompatible). Ensure the used USB cable supports data transmission, not just charging function.

Method 1: OTA Update via AxeOS Web Interface (Recommended)

This is the simplest and safest method. It takes about five minutes, requires no cables or tools, and preserves all your mining settings. If your Bitaxe is already running AxeOS and connected to your WiFi network, this is the method you should use.

Step 1 — Open the AxeOS Dashboard

On a computer or phone connected to the same WiFi network as your Bitaxe, open a web browser and type the Bitaxe’s IP address into the address bar. This is the IP address shown on the device’s OLED display. It will look something like 192.168.1.42. The AxeOS dashboard should load, showing your miner’s current hashrate, temperature, and status.

Step 2 — Navigate to Settings

Click the Settings tab (gear icon) in the AxeOS navigation. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page. You will find the firmware management section, which shows your current firmware version and provides options to check for updates and upload firmware files.

Step 3 — Check for Latest Release

AxeOS can check GitHub directly for the latest available firmware. Click the “Check” button next to “Latest Releases.” AxeOS will query the ESP-Miner GitHub repository and compare the latest release against your installed version. If a newer version exists, it will indicate that an update is available and provide a download link.

Alternatively, you can manually download the firmware file:

Visit https://github.com/bitaxeorg/ESP-Miner/releases

Find the latest stable release (not a beta/pre-release, unless you want to test bleeding-edge features)

Download the file named esp-miner.bin — this is the OTA update binary

Stable vs. Beta Releases

On the GitHub releases page, you will see both stable releases (e.g., v2.12.2) and beta releases (e.g., v2.13.0b8). Stable releases are tested and recommended for most users. Beta releases contain the newest features — like TLS support and improved hashrate graphing — but may have undiscovered bugs. If you want to live on the edge, flash the beta. If your miner is earning sats and you want it to stay that way, stick with stable. This is open-source mining — your device, your choice.

Step 4 — Upload the Firmware

In the AxeOS Settings page, locate the “Update Firmware” section. Click the “Browse” button and select the esp-miner.bin file you downloaded. AxeOS will begin uploading the firmware to your Bitaxe over your local network. This process typically takes 30 to 60 seconds depending on your network speed.

Method 2: Bitaxe Web Flasher (Recovery & First-Time Flash)

The Bitaxe Web Flasher is a browser-based tool that connects directly to your Bitaxe’s ESP32-S3 chip over USB serial. It is the go-to method when your Bitaxe is not connecting to WiFi (so OTA is not possible), when the AxeOS web interface is corrupted or inaccessible, when you are setting up a brand-new bare board for the first time, or when you need to recover a bricked device.

The Web Flasher uses the Web Serial API, which is supported in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Firefox and Safari do not support Web Serial — use Chrome or Edge for this method.

Requirements

USB-C data cable — Must be a cable capable of data transfer, not a charge-only cable. If your cable only charges your phone, it will not work here. Look for USB cables labeled “data” or “sync.”

Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge — The Web Flasher requires the Web Serial API.

Power supply for your Bitaxe — The device needs external power; USB alone is not sufficient for operation. Standard models use a 5V barrel jack (5.5×2.1mm), while the Hex, SupraHex, and GT use 12V XT30 connectors.

How to tell which chip your board uses: Plug the Bitaxe into your computer via USB-C. On Windows, open Device Manager and look under “Ports (COM & LPT)” — you will see either “Silicon Labs CP210x” or “USB-SERIAL CH340.” On macOS, open Terminal and run ls /dev/tty.usb* — you should see a device listed. On Linux, run dmesg | tail after plugging in to see which driver loaded.

Step-by-Step: Flashing with the Web Flasher

1.Power on your Bitaxe using its normal power supply (5V barrel jack or 12V XT30, depending on your model). The device needs power to be flashed — USB alone does not provide enough.

2.Open the Web Flasher in Chrome or Edge: bitaxeorg.github.io/bitaxe-web-flasher/

3.Enter bootloader mode on your Bitaxe:

Locate the Boot button on the left side of the device (near the fan/heatsink)
Press and hold the Boot button
While still holding Boot, press and release the Reset button (located above the Boot button)
Release the Boot button
The device is now in download mode, ready to accept a flash

4.Connect the USB-C cable from your Bitaxe to your computer

5.In the Web Flasher, click “Connect” — a popup will show available serial ports. Select your Bitaxe (it will appear as a COM port on Windows, or a /dev/ttyUSB device on Linux/macOS)

6.Select your model type and board version from the dropdown menus in the Web Flasher. Match these exactly to your hardware revision number.

7.Select the firmware version you want to flash. The Web Flasher pulls releases directly from GitHub.

8.Click “Start Flashing” and wait. Do not disconnect the USB cable, do not close the browser, do not unplug power. The flash process takes 1-3 minutes.

9.When you see a “Flash Complete” or “Done” message, the flash is finished. Disconnect the USB-C cable.

10.Press the Reset button on your Bitaxe (or power-cycle it) to boot with the new firmware.