Using hid‑forwarder on a Pico W with Playability (Bluetooth Mode)

This guide explains how to flash and configure the hid‑forwarder firmware on a Raspberry Pi Pico W so that it can forward Bluetooth HID events. The Pico W will then pair with the Playability interface (or Playability.gg client) to receive and process these HID events.

1) Requirements

- Raspberry Pi Pico W
(Note: This guide assumes you are using the Pico W, which supports wireless connectivity.)
- USB-C Cable
(For connecting the Pico W to your computer.)
- hid‑forwarder Firmware (Bluetooth‑enabled)
(Download the latest UF2 file from the hid‑forwarder GitHub repository.)
- Playability Interface
(Installed on your PC or device to connect via Bluetooth.)

2) Flashing the hid‑forwarder Firmware onto the Pico W

Download the Firmware UF2 File

- Ensure you download the version of the firmware that is configured (or can be configured) for Bluetooth HID forwarding.
Enter Bootloader Mode on the Pico W:

- Press and hold the BOOTSEL button.
- While holding the button, connect the Pico W to your computer using the USB‑C cable.
- The Pico W will appear as a mass storage device (named RPI-RP2).
Copy the UF2 File:

- Drag and drop the UF2 file onto the RPI-RP2 drive.
- The Pico W will automatically reboot into the hid‑forwarder firmware.

3) Activating Bluetooth Pairing

Activate Pairing Mode on the Pico W:

- If not automatic, press the designated button (or use the configured method) on the Pico W to enable Bluetooth pairing.
- The device should advertise itself as a Bluetooth HID device.
From the Playability Interface:

- Open the Playability or Playability.gg client on your PC or smartphone.
- Use the Bluetooth scan/search function to look for nearby devices.
- Select the Pico W (it may appear with a name set in the configuration) and pair with it.
Confirm Pairing:

- Once paired, the Pico W’s status (or its onboard LED) should indicate a successful connection.

4) Enable serial output and connect with PlayAbility

Connect
- If the Pico W is set up to capture events from an external HID device, ensure it is connected via the appropriate interface (this may involve a USB host adapter if the device is not Bluetooth).

Use a PlayAbility profile with gamepad output

5) Troubleshooting

Bluetooth Pairing Issues

- Device Not Discoverable?
- Ensure the Pico W is in pairing mode.
- Reboot the Pico W and try again.
- Playability Doesn’t Detect the Device:
- Verify that the Pico W’s Bluetooth is enabled in the firmware configuration.
- Check for any interference or other active Bluetooth connections.

HID Data Not Forwarding

- Confirm that your HID device is correctly connected and that the Pico W firmware is configured to read its events.
- If using a configuration file, double-check that all parameters (such as report descriptors) are correct.
- Use the serial console (if available) to view debug logs from the Pico W.

Re-Flashing or Reverting

- To update or revert the firmware, simply repeat the flashing process described in Section 2 with the appropriate UF2 file.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can

Updated on: 16/02/2025