Work with SenseCraft HMI
SenseCraft HMI is Seeed Studio's powerful cloud-based interface design platform that lets you create professional visual interfaces for screen-based devices without writing code. With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, and AI-powered design capabilities, SenseCraft HMI turns your hardware into a beautiful information display, dashboard, digital signage, or control panel.
This guide is the single source of truth for using SenseCraft HMI with any compatible Seeed ePaper product. Pick your hardware once at the firmware step; the rest of the workflow is identical for every device.
Compatible Hardware
SenseCraft HMI works out of the box with the following Seeed ePaper products. The reTerminal E Series ships with HMI firmware preinstalled, while the XIAO ePaper Display Board (EE02–EE05) family is flashed from the SenseCraft HMI Tools page in your browser.
| Product line | Out-of-box experience | Targeted screens |
|---|---|---|
| reTerminal E1001 / E1002 / E1003 / E1004 | HMI firmware preinstalled — power on and pair | Integrated 7.5" / 7.3" / 10.3" / 13.3" panels |
| EE02 | Flash from SenseCraft HMI Tools page | 13.3" Spectra 6 (color) |
| EE03 | Flash from SenseCraft HMI Tools page | 10.3" Monochrome (high-speed refresh) |
| EE04 | Flash from SenseCraft HMI Tools page | 24-pin / 50-pin universal — many sizes |
| EE05 | Flash from SenseCraft HMI Tools page | 24-pin / 50-pin universal (latest) |
This article uses the XIAO ePaper Display Board (ESP32-S3) – EE04 paired with the 7.3" Spectra 6 display as the primary hardware example because it covers the largest set of features. All steps apply to other products with minor differences noted in their respective tabs.
| XIAO ePaper Display Board(ESP32-S3) - EE04 | 7.3" Spectra 6 E-Ink |
|---|---|
 |  |
EE04 / EE05 — supported screen list
The XIAO ePaper Display Board EE04 / EE05 offers two connector options — 24-pin and 50-pin — supporting a wide range of screen sizes. Choose the one that matches your display from the list below.
- 24-Pin Connector
- 50-Pin Connector
- 1.54-inch ePaper - Monochrome 200x200
- 2.13-inch ePaper - Flexible Monochrome 212x104
- 2.13-inch ePaper - Quadruple Color 212x104
- 2.9-inch ePaper - Monochrome 128x296
- 2.9-inch ePaper - Quadruple Color 128x296
- 4.2-inch ePaper - Monochrome 400x300
- 4.26-inch ePaper - Monochrome 800x480
- 5.83-inch ePaper - Monochrome 648x480
- 7.5-inch ePaper - Monochrome 800x480
Using the wrong jumper may cause the ePaper to fail to display or show abnormal content. Always double-check the jumper position before powering on.
Using the wrong jumper may cause the ePaper to fail to display or show abnormal content. Always double-check the jumper position before powering on.
Step 1: Register a SenseCraft HMI Account
Click the button in the upper-right corner of the SenseCraft HMI page to create an account.
Step 2: Get HMI Firmware on Your Device
- reTerminal E Series
- EE02 / EE03 / EE04 / EE05
The reTerminal E1001 / E1002 / E1003 / E1004 ships with the SenseCraft HMI firmware preinstalled. Just power the device on and skip to Step 3 (Network Setup).
If you previously flashed a different firmware (for example TRMNL), you can switch back to HMI from the SenseCraft HMI Tools page:
- Open the SenseCraft HMI device page and select your reTerminal model.
- Pick the latest HMI firmware build (use Full Flash if you want a clean device).
- Plug the device into your computer via USB-C and follow the on-screen serial-port prompts.
After registration, click Tools in the top menu bar to enter the firmware flashing section.
The XIAO ePaper Display Board EE04 / EE05 supports the following ePaper screens out of the box:
- 1.54-inch ePaper - Monochrome 200x200
- 2.13-inch ePaper - Flexible Monochrome 212x104
- 2.13-inch ePaper - Quadruple Color 212x104
- 2.9-inch ePaper - Monochrome 128x296
- 2.9-inch ePaper - Quadruple Color 128x296
- 4.2-inch ePaper - Monochrome 400x300
- 4.26-inch ePaper - Monochrome 800x480
- 5.83-inch ePaper - Monochrome 648x480
- 7.5-inch ePaper - Monochrome 800x480
- 7.3-inch Spectra 6 ePaper 800x480
EE02 ships dedicated to 13.3" Spectra 6; EE03 ships dedicated to 10.3" monochrome with high-speed refresh.
The flashing flow is identical for every screen size — pick the right firmware build for your panel. The example below uses the 7.3" Full-Color Display (800×480).
Step 1. Select the 7.3" Full-Color Display 800×480 entry on the Tools page.
Step 2. Select the latest firmware (e.g. EE04_7_3_color_1.0.5).
The SenseCraft HMI platform is regularly updated. Always pick the latest firmware version for best compatibility and performance.
Step 3. Click Flash to upload the firmware.
After clicking Flash, the platform will prompt a port selection window. Choose the port corresponding to your device.
- Full Flash: clears all stored information including Wi-Fi networks and user panel data.
If no port appears, simply press the RESET button on the board to refresh the connection.
Step 4. Check the display output.
After flashing, the ePaper display will briefly flicker and show the QR code screen below. Two QR codes lead to the User Guide and Wi-Fi Setup pages respectively.
The configuration is not yet complete. Please continue to Step 3: Network Setup below.
Step 3: Network Setup
The Wi-Fi pairing flow is the same for every Seeed ePaper product running HMI firmware.
Step 1. Connect your phone or computer to the device's Wi-Fi access point. The AP name is shown on the device's screen (no password required).
Step 2. Once connected, scan the QR code on the ePaper screen — your phone should redirect automatically to the Wi-Fi configuration page. If not, open a browser and visit 192.168.4.1.
Step 3. Select your local Wi-Fi network and enter the password, then click Connect.
The XIAO ESP32-S3 family only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. 5 GHz networks are not supported.
Step 4. After the connection completes, the screen will display a pair code:
Step 4: Add the Device to SenseCraft HMI
Step 1. Navigate to the Workspace section and click Add Device.
Step 2. Name your device, enter the pair code displayed on the device's screen, and click Create.
Step 3. After pairing, your device appears in the Workspace.
You can now start designing dashboards in SenseCraft HMI.
Creating Dashboards
The SenseCraft HMI platform offers powerful tools for designing and customizing content. The five core building blocks are described below; for a complete reference see the SenseCraft HMI documentation.
The following demos use a 7.3" screen. When using a different size, remember to:
- Confirm the orientation of the screen flex cable (front and back).
- Verify the number of pin headers matches your device's connector.
- Use the corresponding size cover cap.
- Avoid bending or excessive folding when installing the flex cable.
AI Generator
Let AI design your dashboard. Describe what information you want displayed, and the AI Generator will automatically create an attractive, functional layout — perfect for weather displays, calendars, to-do lists, or informational panels without manual design work.
Learn more about AI Generator →
ePaper display result:
7.3-Inch ePaper Display
Gallery
Turn your ePaper display into a digital photo frame. Upload favorite images and the platform optimizes them for ePaper. Create slideshows with custom transition times.
ePaper display result:
7.3-Inch ePaper Display
Canvas
Design your dashboard from scratch with Canvas — a drag-and-drop interface offering:
- Text blocks with customisable fonts and sizes
- Image placeholders
- Widgets for time, date, and weather
- Data visualization tools
- Shapes and dividers for layout organisation
ePaper display result:
7.3-Inch ePaper Display
RSS Feed Integration
Stay updated with your favorite news sources or websites by adding RSS feeds to your dashboard. Display headlines, summaries, or full articles from multiple sources.
Two recommended sources:
Learn more about RSS Feed Integration →
ePaper display result:
7.3-Inch ePaper Display
Web Content Display
Embed any web URL directly on your ePaper dashboard. Perfect for transparently showing tools and pages that don't have a native HMI plugin yet.
Learn more about Web Content Display →
ePaper display result:
7.3-Inch ePaper Display
Reference & Resources
- Getting Started with SenseCraft HMI (official docs) — gain a deeper understanding of how to use SenseCraft HMI to maximise its capabilities and enhance your projects.
Tech Support & Product Discussion
Thank you for choosing our products! We are here to provide you with different support to ensure that your experience with our products is as smooth as possible. We offer several communication channels to cater to different preferences and needs.