ESP8266 Community Forum

The bootloader flash doesn't work Arduino 1.6.9.
I'm unsure if it is loaded by default if not present by the Arduino programmer when it flashes a sketch.
Scenario is the flash chip is upgraded to a higher capacity flash chip. The new chip is obviously at the factory setting and doesn't have a arduino esp8266 bootloader installed.
I'm having issues with the new flash chip...I have upgraded in the past but I don't remember if I used the Arduino to flash a boot loader.

Bootloader is in ESP ROM, so even with an empty flash, you should be able to upload sketches.
Maybe your upgraded flash isn't properly soldered.
Use esptool.py and try to read flash ID using "flash_id" command.
If this doesn't work, your soldering are bad or the chip defective.

martinayotte thank you so much for the quick and clear reply.
I couldn't recall in the past if I installed the bootloader or not.
As you made clear obviously I did not since it is in rom of the esp8266 chip. The upload the bootloader in the IDE menu doesn't apply for the esp8266 Arduino IDE.
Now I know it is the new chip install at fault I'll redo it....it is on a sonsoff pcb and the traces aren't really sturdy I'm hoping I didn't mess up a trace.