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While you're writing and testing your programs, you'll mostly be running them in the simulator, but once you've finished your program you can compile it and run it on your micro:bit.

The basic steps are:

Connect your micro:bit to your computer via USB
Click Download and download the .hex file
Copy the .hex file from your computer onto the micro:bit drive

Requirements

You need the following things to transfer and run a script on your micro:bit:

A-Male to Micro USB cable to connect your computer to your micro:bit. This is the same cable that is commonly used to connect a smart phone to a computer.
A PC running Windows 7 or later, or a Mac running OS X 10.6 or later

Step 1: Connect your micro:bit to your computer

First, connect the micro:bit:

Connect the small end of the USB cable to the micro USB port on your micro:bit.
Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB port on your computer.

Your computer should recognise your micro:bit as a new drive. On computers running Windows, MICROBIT appears as a drive under Devices and drives. On a Mac it appears as a new drive under Devices.

Step 2: Download your program

Open your project on codethemicrobit.com
Click Download
When prompted, choose to save the compiled file onto your computer. The prompt will be different depending on which browser you are using, or whether you are using a Windows computer or a Mac

A dialogue box will appear, asking whether you would like to open or save your hex file. Select Save file and click OK and the file will then appear in your downloads in the top right of your browser. Right click on the file and click on Show in Finder and the file will appear in your downloads folder. Select the file and drag and drop it onto your MICROBIT drive.

Step 3: Transfer the file to your micro:bit

Once you've found the folder containing your .hex file, drag and drop it onto your MICROBIT drive
The LED on the back of your micro:bit flashes during the transfer (which should only take a few seconds).
Once transferred, the code will run automatically on your micro:bit. To rerun your program, press the reset button on the back of your micro:bit. The reset button automatically runs the newest file on the micro:bit.

By copying the script onto the MICROBIT drive, you have programmed it into the flash memory on the micro:bit, which means even after you unplug the micro:bit, your program will still run if the micro:bit is powered by battery.

~hint

Transfer not working? See some troubleshooting tips.

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