# "particle flash -- serial" usually fails on Electron

**URL:** <https://community.particle.io/t/particle-flash-serial-usually-fails-on-electron/23449>\
**Category:** Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [June 4, 2016, 10:48am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-flash-serial-usually-fails-on-electron/23449 "2016-06-04T10:48:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![jerrytron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/jerrytron/32/3240_2.png) [@jerrytron](https://community.particle.io/u/jerrytron)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/particle-flash-serial-usually-fails-on-electron/23449/2 "2016-06-05T17:56:58Z")

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Hey @RobMeades,

We’ll do our best to figure out what’s going on. First, can you confirm that you are building the firmware for the Electron? Make sure in the Web IDE that you’ve selected it from the **Devices** section.

If you are running in MANUAL mode, are you making sure to run updates

Another option is to write to the Electron directly over USB, instead of OTA. You’d instead put the Electron into DFU mode (yellow blinking) and flash with this command: `particle flash --usb firmware.bin`

You can also check out **[this thread](http://community.particle.io/t/solved-can-upgrade-electron-ota-but-not-from-cli/20209)** that has more info on some of the advice above, but definitely let us know where you are at, and what you’ve tried! 🙂

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