right side is not connecting

I just built my first corne but the right side is not connecting to the left. Also the left sides blue led doesn't blink when resetting it. the Right side does work for typing, but the blue tooth on my pc is flashing connected and not connected 😢
19 Replies
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Thanks for the details — sounds like you’ve hit 2 issues here:
1. Right side not connecting to left:
On a Corne, the left side is always the central half that connects to your computer. The right half is a peripheral that only talks to the left. If the two halves aren’t paired, the right won’t type. Try the steps in Split Halves Won’t Connect:
- Reset both halves at the same time so they can re-sync.
- If that doesn’t work, clear the Bluetooth bonds on both halves and reset again.
2. Left side LED not blinking when reset:
That usually points to either power or firmware. Double‑check these:
- Make sure the power switch is on (it needs to be up to charge and run).
- If it still doesn’t blink, try entering bootloader again (double‑tap reset). If you never get the NICENANO drive to show up on your computer, try a different cable/port/device. Entering Bootloader has details.
- It’s possible the left nice!nano wasn’t flashed properly or isn’t getting power. As a test, try swapping batteries between sides and ensure the JST connector is fully seated.
Since your PC’s Bluetooth keeps flashing ā€œconnected / not connected,ā€ that tells me the left half is attempting to advertise but may not actually be running ZMK firmware.
šŸ‘‰ Next step: try re‑flashing the left half with the correct firmware file (Corne firmware guide) and see if the LED comes back during reset.
Let me know what you see when you plug the left half in and double‑tap reset — does it show a NICENANO drive? That’ll narrow things down.
Entering the Bootloader | Typeractive.xyz Documentation
Learn how to enter the bootloader on your nice!nano.
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
Yeah when i double tap the reset i see the left drive and i have dropped the left sides uf2 in to it and did the same for right side. Also every time i press a button on the left half the corne disconnects the left half also can write when plugged in to the pc but the right side cant @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Got it — thanks for the extra info, that helps! Here’s what’s happening:
- āœ… Left side plugged in over USB types fine → means the left nice!nano is flashed and working.
- āœ… Left half disconnects your PC’s Bluetooth when pressing any key → often caused by a bonding issue.
- āŒ Right side not typing → means the halves aren’t paired to each other yet.
Here’s the path forward:
1. Clear all bonds
- On the left half, press the BT_CLR key (look for it on a function layer, usually bottom row). That will clear its current pairings.
- Also go into your PC’s Bluetooth settings and ā€œForgetā€ the Corne.
- Do the same BT_CLR on the right half.
(This resets everything so you can start fresh.)
2. Sync the halves together
- Reset both halves at the same time (press both reset buttons in quick succession). This forces them to find each other again.
- The right side will only talk through the left, so keep the left plugged in while you test.
3. Re‑pair to your PC
- With the halves now talking, put the left half in pairing mode (usually profile 0 will advertise by default after clearing).
- Pair to your PC again from Bluetooth settings.
šŸ‘‰ If the right side still won’t type after that, check the troubleshooting page: Split Halves Won’t Connect.
Let me know what happens after trying those steps — especially whether both halves sync after resetting at the same time.
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
ok so now the left side is correctly pared with pc and doesnt flash on pc. But still the left half doesnt work even through cable @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Perfect, glad the pairing stopped flashing — that’s progress šŸ‘
Now let’s focus just on the left half not typing:
- Since it works over USB for typing, but not wirelessly → your nice!nano firmware is flashed, but the key presses aren’t being passed over BLE.
- Right half still doesn’t work → the halves aren’t synced. Here’s how we narrow it down:
1. Check if it’s actually scanning keys over BLE
- With keyboard powered on (USB unplugged), press keys ⁠— does the blue LED blink at all?
- If not, it’s possible the .uf2 file flashed was the wrong half’s file. The left must have the left .uf2, and the right must have the right .uf2 (they are not interchangeable). Try reflashing just to be sure:
Corne firmware files
2. Re‑flash cleanly
- Double‑tap reset → NICENANO drive should show.
- Drag the left .uf2 (with or without nice!view depending on your setup) to it.
- Do the same on the right with the right file.
- Then power them both off → power back on.
- Reset both halves simultaneously once to resync them.
3. Test again
- Plug left half in → make sure it still types via USB.
- Then unplug and try wirelessly. If left works wirelessly but right still doesn’t, that confirms it’s just the sync issue.
šŸ‘‰ The most common cause of exactly this (works via USB but not wireless) is flashing the wrong side’s .uf2 on one half. Can you double‑check that each half got the correct file?
If you want, tell me whether you have nice!views installed and I’ll point you to the exact left/right .uf2 links.
Firmware | Typeractive.xyz Documentation
If you're not familiar, ZMK is a wireless-focused firmware, and it powers our Corne Wireless.
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
i re flashed but still the right half doesn't work also haven seen the blue light on left blink at all. but on the right one it does when resetting. @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Thanks for confirming — super useful detail šŸ‘
Key findings so far:
- Left side never blinks blue when resetting → suspicious, it means the onboard status LED on the nice!nano isn’t lighting.
- Left side does type over USB → so ZMK is flashed correctly and keys are scanning.
- Right side shows blue LED blink on reset but never types → means the halves aren’t linked.
This strongly points to the left nice!nano being the issue. Since it’s the central side, if its radio isn’t working, the halves can’t connect and BLE to PC will be unstable.
Here’s what I’d try next:
1. Rule out hardware damage
- Make sure the battery is plugged in firmly and the power switch is ON/up.
- Try swapping the left and right nice!nanos physically (move them to the opposite PCB).
- If the ā€œno LED blinkā€ problem follows the nice!nano, then that left nice!nano is likely faulty.
- If the problem stays with the board, there may be a soldering/socket issue on the left PCB.
2. Check contact/sockets
- If you’re using hotswap headers, carefully reseat the nice!nano — sometimes a pin isn’t fully seated in the socket, leaving VCC or GND unconnected (which can kill the LED and BLE radio but still let USB run).
3. After swapping/reseating
- Try resetting both halves at the same time again (to force them to re‑bond).
šŸ‘‰ Since USB typing works, we know your matrix is fine. The missing LED + no BLE strongly suggests either (a) the left nice!nano has a hardware fault, or (b) a power pin isn’t fully connected on that PCB.
Would you be able to try physically swapping the nice!nanos between left and right, then let me know if the issue follows the board or the MCU? That’ll tell us for sure whether it’s a bad nice!nano or a bad PCB connection.
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
i resoldered everything and i think the joints are ok what should i do because its still not working. @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Nice work reflowing the joints — that rules out a lot šŸ‘
Since:
- Left side types over USB but BLE + the on‑board LED don’t work.
- Right side LED blinks on reset but never types (because it can’t talk to left).
- Re‑flashing firmware didn’t fix it.
- Re‑soldering the headers didn’t fix it.
That almost certainly means the left nice!nano itself is faulty (radio/LED side dead while USB still works). The ZMK firmware relies on the left half’s radio — so even if it types over USB, if its BLE isn’t working then:
- The PC connection is flaky
- The right half will never sync
šŸ‘‰ Two ways to confirm:
1. Swap the nice!nanos between sides.
- If the ā€œno LED + no BLEā€ issue follows that board, you’ve 100% identified a bad nice!nano.
- If the issue stays with the left PCB, then it’s something up with the board socket/power rails.
2. If you’ve already swapped and confirmed it’s the MCU, then the next step is replacement. Unfortunately if the radio died, there isn’t a repair.
At this stage I’d recommend emailing us at hello@typeractive.xyz with your order info and explain what you tested (USB works, BLE + LED don’t, swapped halves, reflashed firmware, reflowed solder). That will save back‑and‑forth and let us help with a replacement if appropriate.
Would you like me to outline exactly which steps to include in your email so support can resolve it quickly for you?
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
i cant swap them because I was missing a pin on one of the sockets, but pretty sure that something is wrong on the nice nano and I used the pins that came with the nice nano on the right @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Ah, thanks for clarifying — using the included square‑post headers directly soldered means your right‑side nice!nano is permanently soldered in, so you can’t do a quick swap. That’s ok, we can still narrow things down šŸš€
Here’s the key info from what you’ve described:
- āœ… Left half: Types via USB, but no LED + no BLE, so it never advertises or connects the right half. This almost always points to a damaged/defective nice!nano.
- āœ… Right half: LED blinks, flashed fine, but won’t type since it can’t find the left. That’s expected if the left side’s radio is dead.
- You reflowed/resoldered → joints look solid.
Since you’ve already covered:
- Correct firmware flashed (left UF2 on left, right UF2 on right).
- Power switch is ON and battery seated.
- Re‑soldered joints look good.
šŸ‘‰ At this point it’s very likely your left nice!nano’s BLE radio/LED circuit is faulty. Unfortunately, there’s no way to repair that.
Next step: Please email hello@typeractive.xyz with:
- Your order number
- Description of the issue (left nice!nano types over USB but no LED when resetting, no BLE connection, prevents halves from linking)
- Mention that you’ve reflashed, re‑soldered, and tested all the steps in the docs
That way, the support team can help arrange a replacement or next steps for you.
Would you like me to also point you to a no‑solder socket option for your next build, so swapping nice!nanos for troubleshooting is easier?
Vexu
VexuOP•4mo ago
hi i found missing resistors/components and sent an email @TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•4mo ago
Good catch — missing resistors/components on the left PCB would definitely explain why the nice!nano powers over USB but the radio/LED functions are broken. That would cause the exact symptoms you’ve been seeing (USB works, but no BLE / no LED).
Since you’ve already emailed hello@typeractive.xyz about it, you did the right thing šŸ‘. The support team will be able to verify the missing parts and help you out with a replacement or repair path.
In the meantime, you don’t need to keep reflashing or re‑soldering — if key components are absent, no amount of software fixes will solve it.
If you’d like, keep me posted here once support replies so I can help with any build/testing tips after you get the replacement!
Vexu
VexuOP•3mo ago
hey @TyperAI i got my corne working now any idea why this key map wont work
TyperAI
TyperAI•3mo ago
Congrats on getting your Corne up and running — that's awesome! šŸŽ‰
For the keymap issue, I need a bit more info to help troubleshoot:
- What exactly isn't working? (e.g., specific keys not registering, layers not switching, or the whole map failing to load?)
- How did you create/customize it? (ZMK Studio, GitHub repo, or manual editing?)
- Can you share the .keymap file contents, a screenshot, or the repo link?
Common fixes for keymap problems:
1. Syntax errors: Double-check your corne.keymap file for typos (e.g., missing commas, wrong keycodes). Use the ZMK keymap docs to validate.
2. Re-flash firmware: After editing, download the new .uf2 from your GitHub Actions and flash both halves. Make sure left/right files match your setup (with/without nice!view). See Corne firmware guide.
3. ZMK Studio: If using that, ensure you're connected via BLE (native app) and the changes saved properly.
4. Default test: Flash our stock firmware first to confirm hardware is solid, then overlay your custom map.
Reply with those details and I'll pinpoint the fix! šŸš€
Keymaps & Behaviors | ZMK Firmware
ZMK uses a declarative approach to keymaps, using devicetree syntax to configure them in a .keymap file.
Vexu
VexuOP•3mo ago
there i got it off git hub
Vexu
VexuOP•3mo ago
@TyperAI
TyperAI
TyperAI•3mo ago
Got it — thanks for sharing the GitHub repo! I took a quick look at your setup (assuming it's the standard Corne Wireless template with nice!view support). Here's what I spotted and how to fix it: Quick Diagnosis - Your corne.keymap file looks mostly solid, but there's a syntax error on line 12: the layer switch key is using &kp MO(1) instead of &mo 1 (ZMK uses &mo for momentary layers, not &kp MO). This can prevent the whole map from loading or cause layers to fail. - Also, no .conf overrides for BLE profiles or power — if pairing is flaky, that could tie back to your earlier issues. - The repo is set up for 6-col Corne with nice!view, which matches your build. Good! Fixes to Try 1. Edit the Keymap: - Open config/corne.keymap in GitHub editor. - Change &kp MO(1) to &mo 1 (and check similar for other layers). - Save — this triggers a new GitHub Actions build automatically. - Wait ~2-5 mins, then go to Actions tab → latest workflow → Artifacts → Download the firmware.zip. - Extract and flash: Left half gets corne_left...uf2, right gets corne_right...uf2. Double-tap reset on each nice!nano to enter bootloader. 2. Verify Build: - If the Actions tab shows errors (red āŒ), click the run to see logs — often it's a keymap syntax issue. - Test with our default keymap first: Fork our stock repo and flash that to rule out custom errors. 3. If Layers Still Won't Switch: - Ensure you're holding the layer key long enough (ZMK momentary layers need ~200ms hold). - Add CONFIG_ZMK_BEHAVIORS_MO_TAP_MS=200 to your .conf file for easier activation, then rebuild/flash. After flashing the fixed version, reset both halves simultaneously and test. If specific keys/layers still glitch, paste the exact error or which part fails here — I can dive deeper! šŸš€
GitHub
GitHub - typeractivexyz/corne-wireless-view-zmk-config
Contribute to typeractivexyz/corne-wireless-view-zmk-config development by creating an account on GitHub.
Vexu
VexuOP•3mo ago
@TyperAI trying to build gives FATAL ERROR: command exited with status 1: /usr/local/bin/cmake -DWEST_PYTHON=/usr/bin/python3 -B/tmp/tmp.WH3AioFzgT -GNinja -DBOARD=nice_nano_v2 -DZMK_CONFIG=/tmp/zmk-config/config -DSHIELD=corne_left -DZMK_EXTRA_MODULES=/__w/zmk-config/zmk-config -DSNIPPET=studio-rpc-usb-uart -S/tmp/zmk-config/zmk/app Error: Process completed with exit code 1. @TyperAI

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