Skip to content

Quick Start

Jump to bottom
github-actions[bot] edited this page May 22, 2026 · 6 revisions

Quick Start

This is the path for a new Pico user starting from a release zip.

Requirements

  • Windows 10/11 PC.
  • Parsec installed and working.
  • One of these Pico boards:
    • Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W (RP2350 + Wi-Fi) -- the default target.
    • Raspberry Pi Pico W or Pico WH (RP2040 + Wi-Fi) -- equivalent, often easier to find in retail (e.g. Micro Center stocks the Pico WH at ~$6).
  • Micro-USB data cable. Charge-only cables will fail.
  • 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi name and password. Both Pico variants use the CYW43439 radio, which is 2.4 GHz only -- 5 GHz-only networks won't work.
  • USB4MAPLE or another USB-to-console adapter that accepts a wired Xbox 360 controller.

Install

  1. Download the latest ParsecCouchLink-v*.zip from Releases.

  2. Extract the full zip to a normal folder. Avoid Program Files.

  3. Open PowerShell in that folder.

  4. Run:

    powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\setup.ps1

First Run

The script explains each step before it starts. In short:

  1. Press and hold the BOOTSEL button on the Pico.
  2. With BOOTSEL still held, plug the Pico into the PC using a micro-USB data cable (charge-only cables will not work).
  3. Release BOOTSEL as soon as Windows shows a removable drive named RPI-RP2 (Pico W or Pico WH) or RP2350 (Pico 2 W). The Pico stays in flash mode after you let go -- you do not need to keep the button held while the firmware copies.
  4. Setup detects which Pico is in BOOTSEL and copies the matching firmware (couchlink-pico2w.uf2 for the RP2350 board, couchlink-picow.uf2 for the RP2040 board).
  5. The Pico reboots into our firmware. Do not press BOOTSEL during the reboot -- the firmware reads BOOTSEL during its first three seconds of run time as a "wipe saved Wi-Fi" signal, and a stray press will erase the credentials you are about to enter.
  6. The Pico comes back as a USB serial setup device.
  7. Enter the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi credentials when prompted.
  8. Setup waits for the Pico to join Wi-Fi and answer discovery.
  9. Press a button on the Parsec gamepad or a local Xbox controller for the smoke test.
  10. Accept the Startup shortcut if you want the bridge to run at every logon.

What Success Looks Like

Setup ends with:

Setup is complete. From now on, couchlink runs at logon.

Then plug the Pico into the USB-to-console adapter. Start the console, have the remote player join through Parsec, and leave couchlink.exe running on the Windows host.

Daily Use

If the Startup shortcut was added, Windows starts the bridge at logon. If not, run:

.\couchlink.exe

Each subcommand also has a one-shot PowerShell wrapper in the release folder. Right-click and "Run with PowerShell", or call from an existing PowerShell prompt:

.\doctor.ps1            # run every diagnostic check
.\logs.ps1 --tail       # follow the active log file
.\bundle.ps1            # produce a support-bundle ZIP for bug reports
.\flash.ps1             # re-flash without re-running setup
.\configure-wifi.ps1    # re-send Wi-Fi credentials (Pico must be in setup mode)
.\couchlink.exe test <name>  # run one diagnostic check by name

The wrappers record a transcript under %LOCALAPPDATA%\ParsecCouchLink\data\logs\ alongside the bridge's own logs, so one folder has everything a bug report needs. The bare couchlink.exe form works too -- the wrappers are just shortcuts that pre-name the subcommand and capture a transcript.

Reconfigure Wi-Fi

If the router or Wi-Fi password changes:

.\configure-wifi.ps1

(equivalent to .\couchlink.exe configure-wifi.)

If the Pico cannot enter setup mode, follow Setup and Flashing.

Clone this wiki locally