What the firmware does
The firmware runs on the pad’s nRF52840 controller. It drives the keys, dial, underglow, Bluetooth radio, and USB connection, and it provides the channel a configurator uses to read and write your keymap. The firmware is calledminimalpad_with_studio. It includes ZMK Studio, the layer both configurators talk to. Firmware without it can’t be configured from a computer at all.
What you can change without firmware
Everything in day-to-day use:
Changes are written to the pad’s own memory, so they survive power cycles — and firmware updates.
Firmware versions
The pad reports its firmware version to both configurators; Studio for Mac shows it in the sidebar footer. Newer versions add things Studio for Mac can do with the pad:
Every update keeps your keys, layers, profiles, lights, and Bluetooth pairings as you left them. On a Mac, Studio for Mac installs the firmware it carries — version 0.3.0 carries 0.6.0. On any computer, flash it by hand.
Next
Update the firmware
Flash the latest release onto your pad.
Build your own
Fork the repo and let GitHub Actions compile it.
Advanced customization
Edit the keymap source for dial rotation and macros.
Recovery
Restore an unresponsive pad.