Can I reset Arduino RP2040 to factory settings?

Question

I uploaded to my Arduino RP2040 the following sketch

#include <ArduinoBLE.h>
#include <Arduino_LSM6DSOX.h>
#define BUFFER_SIZE 64
BLEService service("180F");
BLEUnsignedCharCharacteristic accellerometerChar("0001", // standard 16-bit characteristic UUID
 BLERead | BLENotify); // remote clients will be able to get notifications if this characteristic changes
int oldBatteryLevel = 0; // last battery level reading from analog input
long previousMillis = 0; // last time the battery level was checked, in ms
int i = 0;
float buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
/*
 * SETUP 
 */
void setup() {
 Serial.begin(9600); // initialize serial communication
 while (!Serial);
 pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT); // initialize the built-in LED pin to indicate when a central is connected
 // avvio del bluetooth
 if (!BLE.begin()) {
 Serial.println("starting BLE failed!");
 while (1);
 }
 Serial.println("Bluetooth device attivo, in attesa di connessione...");
 //Avvia dell'accellerometro
 if (!IMU.begin()) {
 Serial.println("Failed to initialize IMU!");
 while (1);
 } 
 Serial.println("Unità IMU inizializzata...");
 
 /* 
 * Impostazioni dei parametri del servizio
 */
 BLE.setLocalName("Algoritma");
 BLE.setAdvertisedService(service); // add the service UUID
 service.addCharacteristic(accellerometerChar); // add the battery level characteristic
 BLE.addService(service); // Add the battery service
 accellerometerChar.writeValue(oldBatteryLevel); // set initial value for this characteristic
 // start advertising
 BLE.advertise();
}
void loop() {
 // wait for a BLE central
 BLEDevice central = BLE.central();
 readSensoreAccellerometetro();
 // if a central is connected to the peripheral:
 if (central) {
 Serial.print("Connected to central: ");
 Serial.println(central.address());
 digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
 // check the battery level every 200ms
 // while the central is connected:
 while (central.connected()) {
 long currentMillis = millis();
 readSensoreAccellerometetro();
 // if 200ms have passed, check the battery level:
 if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= 200) {
 previousMillis = currentMillis;
 updateAccellerometerLevel();
 }
 }
 // when the central disconnects, turn off the LED:
 digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
 Serial.print("Disconnected from central: ");
 Serial.println(central.address());
 }
}
void readSensoreAccellerometetro(){
 float x, y, z;
 if (IMU.accelerationAvailable()) {
 IMU.readAcceleration(x, y, z);
 buffer[i] = sqrt( abs(x)* abs(x) + abs(y) * abs(y) + abs(z) * abs(z));
 i++; 
 if (i > BUFFER_SIZE){
 i = 0;
 }
 }
}
void updateAccellerometerLevel() {
 float batteryLevel = 0;
 float tot = 0;
 for(int i = 0; i < BUFFER_SIZE; i++){
 tot += buffer[i] * buffer[i];
 }
 batteryLevel = sqrt( tot ) / BUFFER_SIZE;
 
 if (batteryLevel != oldBatteryLevel) { // if the battery level has changed
 Serial.print("Accellerometro : "); // print it
 Serial.println(batteryLevel);
 int val = (int) (batteryLevel * 100);
 accellerometerChar.writeValue(val); // and update the battery level characteristic
 oldBatteryLevel = batteryLevel; // save the level for next comparison
 }
}

now the device is blinking forever. and I'm not able to upload any new sketch. If a try the IDE waits few minutes and gives the following generic message

.....................
Errore durante il caricamento dello sketch

as if it is not able to use the serial port.

Is it possible to reset the board to facortory settings? I've already tried with the reset button and with the reset pin. What in my sketch must be avoided to get in this situation?

Answer 1

Honestly, that was really easy to find this article, which seems to explain a lot.

First thing you can try is to try to force bootloader mode by double-pressing the reset button. Once there, you can try to upload another sketch from IDE. If it works, press reset again to exit bootloader mode.

• nanofarad: Answers here are expected to stand alone even if the link goes down or becomes stale. Can you paraphrase a summary of the steps recommended in that article directly into your answer? (reference)
• Roberto Petrilli: If you double tap the reset button Arduino goes into an operation mode that allow to upload a new sketch
• JYelton: Agreed, this is essentially a link-only answer. If the link breaks, this answer won't be useful.
• NStorm: Edited my answer to include an explanation how to force bootloader mode from the link to answer.
• Roberto Petrilli: I added as an answer what worked for me of the link above hopping that may be useful to somebody else

Answer 2

In my case I simply double tapped on the reset button. My Arduino got in a mode where not sketch was executed then I was able to upload a new sketch (i.e. bilker) as usual. Eventually I disconnected the USB power and reconned my Arduino board to power.