Unable to load TEZI on Apalis iMX8

Technical Support
1

I am unable to load TEZI on my Apalis iMX8QM 4GB IT V1.1D module on the Ixora carrier. When I received the board I successfully booted into TEZI and loaded the image with Acontis etherCAT support. However, because I was having some trouble establishing a debug connection to this, I decided to revert to one of the other images that had a UI. I put the board into recovery mode with the OTG USB port connected and ran the recovery script. This is the output:

PS C:\Users\andre\Downloads\Apalis-iMX8_ToradexEasyInstaller_7.2.0+build.5\Apalis-iMX8_ToradexEasyInstaller_7.2.0+build.5> .\recovery-windows.bat
Downloading Toradex Easy Installer...
uuu (Universal Update Utility) for nxp imx chips -- libuuu_1.5.165-0-g7347a80
 
Success 0    Failure 0
 
 
1:2      1/ 1 [=================100%=================] SDPS: boot -f ../imx-boot-recoverytezi

Unfortunately it hangs at this point and never completes.

I’m out of ideas, so any help would be much appreciated!

2

Hi, I’m the Toradex AI Assistant.

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Hello! Thank you for sharing these details about your issue with loading Toradex Easy Installer (TEZI) on your Apalis iMX8 module using the Ixora carrier board.

Based on your description and the provided logs, here are some things to check and try:

1. USB Host and Port Issues

The Apalis iMX8 can sometimes have issues with certain USB host controllers or ports—this is a known issue. Please try the following:

  • Change to another USB port on your computer or use a different computer, if available.
  • Ensure you are using the USB OTG port on the Ixora carrier board (X9 micro-USB).

A different host or USB port often resolves hanging issues during recovery mode.
Apalis iMX8 Hardware Docs

2. Recovery Mode Timing

It’s important to hold the recovery button:

  • Hold the RECOVERY button for 6–10 seconds after powering on the carrier board and before running the recovery script.
  • Confirm you’re pressing the correct button on the Ixora carrier board.

Recovery Mode Procedure

3. USB Enumeration Delay

Sometimes, the host PC may take time to enumerate the USB device properly, resulting in apparent hangs:

  • Wait for several minutes after the script seems to hang; occasionally, this process takes longer than expected.
  • Disconnect any unnecessary USB devices from your PC to avoid conflicts.

4. Remove SD Cards and Verify Connections

  • Do not insert an SD card during recovery mode; having a bootable SD card can interfere with the process.
  • Double-check that the USB cable is firmly connected to both the carrier board and the PC.

Extra Advice on Recovery Issues

5. Power Cycle between Attempts

After an unsuccessful recovery attempt:

  • Completely remove power from the carrier board
  • Wait a few seconds
  • Reconnect power and repeat the recovery steps

If none of these steps resolve the issue, let me know—there are alternative recovery approaches, such as using a different operating system for recovery or running the process in a virtual machine.

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.

3

@ToradexAI Just confirming that I have tried waiting for a few minutes and have also power cycled. I’m fairly sure that I’m correctly in recovery mode because the OTG interface doesn’t enumerate on the image I have installed, so I must have entered a recovery mode (or at least a different mode) in order for that behaviour to change.
I’ve also edited the original post with the exact module version ( Apalis iMX8QM 4GB IT V1.1D)

4

Hi @andyh!

I’ve tested it, and it worked properly for me. Could you please try with TEZI version 6.7.0?

Besides that, can you see any output on the module’s serial? After the TEZI is loaded, you should see it booting in the module’s terminal.

Best regards.

5

Lucas Fernandes Azeituno, Jul 1, 2025, 13:16

Request #36704 “Unable to load TEZI on Apalis iMX8” was closed and merged into this request. Last comment in request #36704:

Dear Andrew Hazell,

I’ll continue the support on the community thread.

Best regards.

Lucas Fernandes Azeituno
Toradex

6

I’m separately having problems with the serial connection, so I can’t tell what is being produced on the debug port.
Through a fluke set of actions, I seem to have just managed to make reprogramming work. This is what I had to do:

  • Start with power disconnected and recovery jumper shorted
  • Connect a USB C to USB A cable from my laptop to lower port of X8
  • Power on button
  • Wait 6 seconds
  • Remove recovery short
  • Start recovery script
  • Remove USB A cable from X8
  • Connect usb micro OTG
  • Loading now completes successfully

I initially assumed the connection to the lower port of X8 was a red herring, but if I repeat the sequence without this step it doesn’t work. Also if I follow the precise instructions on Loading Toradex Easy Installer | Toradex Developer Center then it doesn’t work either. I’d love to understand which are the important parts of this sequence so that I can reliably reprogramme the device in the future! Thanks.

7

Hi @andyh!

You were right, I tried using the recovery jumper on the Ixora and it didn’t load.

Could you please try the method described using the Evaluation board? There are two pads on the Apalis module that you can short-circuit to enter the recovery mode.

Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions or issues.

Best regards.

8

Thanks for the follow up. I’ll give that a go to help get the bottom of the issue, but in general it’s not an ideal solution as those pads are hidden under a heatsink which I will need to remove.

9

Hi @andyh!

Yes, I know. I only want to be sure that this is a general issue, not something particular to my setup. Once we define this, I can talk to the responsible teams about this issue and they will try to solve it.

Best regards.

10

Hi @lucas_az.tx, I have tried using the instructions for the dev board as you suggest, and I can confirm that it works first time without any problems.

11

Hi @andyh!

Is it possible to test with another module/carrier board? I’ve tried with another Apalis and Ixora, and it worked as expected. I short-circuited the pads on Ixora, ran the script, and it installed the TEZI.

Best regards.

12

I’m afraid I don’t have any other boards available to try.

13

Hi @andyh!

Sorry for the delayed response.

How are you short-circuiting the pins? We recommend using a clamp.

Besides, please be sure you are shorting the right pads. It is the square one and the middle one in the recovery header of Ixora.

Were you able to connect to the debug port? It would be good to see what is happening when you try to put the module in recovery mode.

Best regards.

14

I’m not sure what has changed, but after I did the recovery once from the pads on the module (following the eval board instructions as suggested) I am now able to consistently enter recovery mode even using the pins on the IXORA. The cause of the change is a mystery – but at least I have something that works now!

15

Hi @andyh!

It is strange, but I’m glad it is solved now.

Best regards.