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A CAN bus update refers to rewriting the firmware or software of a module (ECU) connected to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus in a vehicle. Common updates include:

  • GitHub repositories – Hiworld has started open-sourcing some USB-to-CAN firmware under the MIT license. Search for hiworld-can-usb-firmware. Verify that the repository is linked from the official site.

  • Specialized diagnostic forums – Communities like MHH Auto, Digital-kaos, or Reddit r/CANBus sometimes host legacy updates. However, check MD5 hashes against any official release notes.

  • Critical note: As of this writing, some Hiworld devices use chips from STMicroelectronics (STM32) or NXP (LPC11Cxx). The update process differs between them. Download the correct flasher: STM32 requires STM32CubeProgrammer; NXP uses LPCScrypt.

    After the Canbus update, your steering wheel controls might stop working until you re-configure them.

    Before downloading any update, ensure you have: