proxmark3/doc/md/PM5_Start_Here/Getting_Started_With_PM5.md

Getting Started with the Proxmark5

Contents

• Assumptions
• Makefile Changes
• Build
• Flashing
• Flash the Bootrom
• Flash the Fullimage
• Flash FPGA
• I Have A BWM Now What?
• DFU Install
• Build Extras
• Standalone Modes
• The Danger Zone
• Further Reading

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Assumptions

• If the BWM is connected, disconnect it for the first full flashing. (Bootrom and Fullimage)
• You have compiled the source before and your PM3 is or was working on the target machine previously. (If not, start here for your OS of choice.)

Makefile Changes

Your Makefile.platform needs to specify PM5 as your PLATFORM along with any PLATFORM_EXTRAS that are appropriate for your configuration.

Example:

PLATFORM=PM5
PLATFORM_EXTRAS=BWM

Build

Clone/pull the latest master from this repo then

make clean
make -j

For more options, look here

Flashing

Flashing Considerations

• The same client can handle both Proxmark3 and Proxmark5, there is no need to compile separate clients if you own both pieces of hardware.
• Don't forget to disable ModemManager
• There can be only one proxmark plugged into your PC. Do not plug in both a pm3 and pm5 during flashing.

Flash the Bootrom

• DO NOT use the USB Port on the side.
• DO use the USB Port on the same side as the button (Yellow)
• Put your Proxmark5 into Boot Mode. Plug in your Proxmark5 while holding the button for about 4 seconds until you see 2 LEDs (B and D) illuminated. You are now in Boot Mode.
• If you see 2 lights (B & D) go on and then OFF, you're in DFU mode. Unplug, and try the previous step again.
• Run ./pm3-flash-bootrom
  • If you see "🚨 The elf file is not applicable to the currently connected device.", you probably forgot to add PLATFORM=PM5 in your Makefile.platform
• If the above hangs or thows and error, try this: DFU Install
• Unplug.

Flash the FullImage

• Put your Proxmark5 into Boot Mode. (See above)
• Run ./pm3-flash-fullimage

Did you Proxmark5 come with a battery pre-installed? Do this next:

• IF AND ONLY IF your Proxmark5 came with a battery pre-installed.
• Reinstall the BWM now
• Let it charge for a while (about an hour should do)
• Shut the Proxmark5 off and remove the BWM.

Flash the FPGA

• If you followed the steps above...
• You don't need to enter manually the boot mode by pressing the button anymore and future flashing will be as smooth as on the Proxmark3.
• Get the latest FPGA image, it's not yet in the repo.

wget https://github.com/user-attachments/files/31105593/PM5_FPGA_fix_loedge_bug.zip
unzip PM5_FPGA_fix_loedge_bug.zip

• Plug in the Proxmark5
• Update the FPGA, and then make sure the radio is off.

./pm3
hw fpga config -f PM5_FPGA_fix_loedge_bug.bin
hf 14a read --drop

I Have A BWM Now What

Install the BWM

• You acknowledge that the BWM is not yet fully supported, it's better not to plug it for now. (If you insist... continue.)
• Physically install the BWM and (if applicable) Battery

Do this exactly once.

• The very first time for a new battery: hw bwm setcap --cap 500
• Your PM5 will learn about the battery through usage.

Flash the BWM

• Make sure your BWM has enough charge in the battery hw status 50%+ should work.
• Get the latest firmware:
  • Go here:
  • Click on the latest workflow run (As of this writing that's "Merge pull request #3 from nieldk/master")
  • Scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll see Artifacts
  • Click on "proxmark5_bwm_master" which will start a download for proxmark5_bwm_master.zip
  • Unzip this file somehwere, remember that location
  • The upgrade command is: hw bwm upgrade -f </path/to/unzipped/contents/>proxmark5_ble_wifi_module.bin
  • This will take some time, you'll see the Progress in % displayed on the screen until the process is done.
  • Once you see "BWM Rebooting into the new image" you know the upgrade finished.
  • Wait a few seconds (under 10) and unplug and replug the Proxmark5 back into the usb port.
  • Once reconnected, you can run hw status and you'll see:
    • BWM fw version...... 1 where 1 is the current fw version. As of 2026-09-10, the most current version is 1.
  • You have finished flashing the BWM.

Operation

• Power on: Briefly pressing the button will wake the Proxmark5.
  • The RGB will turn green.
• Power off: Press and hold the button.
  • The LEDs will start running.
  • Releasing the button will power off the Proxmark5.

DFU Install

Prepare for DFU

• Install dfu-util

sudo apt-get install dfu-util

DFU Mode

• Press and hold the button while plugging in the Proxmark5 to the USB port on the same side as the button. You will know that you are in DFU Mode when the lights go off. Continue to hold the button down the entire time you are running dfu-util commands.

You're here because your Proxmark5 failed to flash or is unresponsive/won't enter Boot Mode.

• The Proxmark5 does not require J-Link or similar tools for unbricking.
• Put your Proxmark5 into DFU Mode
• Backup the existing firmware ( technically optional )

sudo dfu-util -d 2e3c:df11 -a 0 -s 0x08000000:1048576 -U pm5-full-flash-backup.bin

• Flash All to recovery version

sudo dfu-util -d 2e3c:df11 -a 0 -s 0x08000000:leave -D recovery/recovery.bin

• Unplug
• If this is your first time through this document Go back where you were in the process and continue from there.

Windows Options

On Windows, you can try the following:

• Download and extract the AT32 ISP Programmer
• Install the USB driver present in Artery_DFU_DriverInstall/
• Enter DFU mode as explained above
• Open the Artery ISP Programmer , select HEX file to flash, and use the Bootrom & Fullimage is required.
• When flash done, disconnect usb and reconnect for restart device to exit ISP mode.
• Open the proxmark client to try to connect to verify your device is re-working.

Build Extras

The Proxmark5 platform must be specified when compiling the firmware. You have several options:

• Update your Makefile.platform with PLATFORM=PM5 then make -j
• Specify it on-the-fly with make -j PLATFORM=PM5
• If you have both Proxmark3 and Proxmark5, you can maintain a separate file like Makefile.pm5.platform and specify it when compiling, with make -j PLATFORM_FILE=Makefile.pm5.platform.
• ⚠️ Make sure to not have any conflicting PLATFORM_EXTRAS such as BTADDON or FPC_USART_DEV which are specific to the RDV4.

Standalone Modes

Standalone modes are disabled for now, to ease debugging.

Specific commands

Do not use them unless you fully understand what you're doing.

• hw fpga config: to upload the FPGA firmware
• hw fpga pwrpwm: to adjust the antenna's drive voltage TODO: acceptable ranges?
• hw ant_pm5 -m --set <8bit data> command can be used to modify the frequency and Q value. Note: High Q is only allowed at 125kHz/134kHz to prevent excessive resonant voltage from damaging the device.

  8bit map: 125 134 250 375 500 HFLED LFLED Q (lsb)

• hw qc_pm5: factory quality check command, will activate the RBG, the buzzer and the antenna LEDs. Press the button to report success. Use -t/--timeout <s> to change how long the test sequence runs before it fails (default 20 seconds).
• hw factorydata: read/write the factory data (originality signature etc)

Links to Further Reading

• BWM Usage Document
• PM5 ANT Controller
• PM5 Button Controller
• PM5 RGB Controller
• PM5 BWM Install