Download the flasher using the button below, then double-click the file to run it. Windows will show a series of warning screens before it opens — this is normal. Work through them in order:
② Same screen expands — click Run anyway
③ User Account Control — click Yes
Once the PiLoader OS — Bobcat 300 (SN: 28) Installer window opens and shows "Waiting for the Bobcat in flasher mode..." you are ready to move to the next step.
Unplug the power cable and ethernet cable from your Bobcat 300 and set it on a flat surface. Flip it upside down and remove the four T9 Torx screws — one in each corner. Once all four screws are out, flip the miner back over and lift the top cover straight up and set it aside. You now have full access to the internals.
You'll need a T9 Torx screwdriver for this step — a standard Phillips won't fit. T9 Torx drivers are inexpensive and widely available online or at any hardware store.
On the Bobcat 300 SN:28 the flashing port is on the board itself. Remove the four Phillips screws that hold the board to the bottom of the case, then lift the board out far enough to reach the internal FLASH USB port. The board also has a single small button — the Recovery button. Take note of where both the port and the button are; you'll use them in the next steps.
You'll need a #1 Phillips screwdriver for these four board screws — this is separate from the T9 Torx you used on the cover. Work gently and keep track of the screws.
Unlike some Bobcat models, there is only one button on this board and it isn't labeled — so there's nothing to mix it up with.
Plug one end of your micro USB cable into the internal FLASH USB port on the board and the other end into a USB port on your Windows PC. The photo also points out the single Recovery button (the second arrow) — that's the button you'll press and hold in the next step.
Do NOT use the USB port on the back panel — that one is a serial console and cannot flash the miner. You must use the internal FLASH USB port on the board.
With the PiLoader flasher open and the USB cable connected, make sure the miner's power is unplugged. Then press and hold the Recovery button, plug in the power cable while still holding, and release the button after about one second. Your PC should chime as it detects the miner, and the PiLoader flasher will then show "Bobcat detected — click Install PiLoader OS to begin."
Once you see "Bobcat detected — click Install PiLoader OS to begin." in the PiLoader window you are ready to move to the next step.
The timing takes a little practice. If the Bobcat isn't detected, unplug the power and try again, releasing the Recovery button a little sooner — it can take a few tries.
If the Bobcat is not detected within about 10 seconds, try a different USB port on your PC and repeat the cycle.
Tick the confirmation checkbox at the bottom of the flasher — it confirms your miner's serial starts with 28 (not 285), since flashing the wrong version can brick the miner. Then click the Install PiLoader OS button. The flasher will automatically download the latest PiLoader OS image and flash it directly onto your Bobcat's internal storage. This process is fully automatic and should take between 20–30 minutes to complete.
Do not unplug the USB cable, power cable, or close the flasher during this process. Interrupting the flash will leave the miner without a working operating system.
Once the Bobcat Flasher shows "Flash Complete ✓" it is safe to unplug the power cable and the USB cable. Set the board back into the case and reinstall the four Phillips board screws, then place the top cover back on and reinstall the four T9 Torx screws to secure it. Your Bobcat miner now has the current version of PiLoader OS and is ready for First-Time Setup.
Connect the ethernet cable and plug in the power cable to boot your Bobcat. The first boot takes about 60–90 seconds. Give it a couple of minutes to come online before the next step.
PiLoader OS keeps your miner's factory network (MAC) address, so it comes up on the same address your router already knows — no surprises for port-forwarding.
Open Advanced IP Scanner on your PC and click Scan. Look for a device named "piloader" in the results and note the IP address next to it — you'll need it in the next step.
Alternatively, log into your home router (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and check its connected-devices list for the piloader IP address.
On any device connected to your home network, open a browser and go to piloader.local. This opens your PiLoader OS dashboard directly — no IP address needed. Bookmark it for easy access going forward.
Use piloader.local — don't type https:// in front of an IP address. A secure (https) connection to a raw IP won't load; it's only set up to work with the piloader.local name.
If piloader.local doesn't load on your network, open Advanced IP Scanner, click Scan, and find the device named "piloader". Then browse to that IP address followed by :8080 — for example 192.168.0.103:8080.
Read through the Terms and Conditions and accept them. Enter your email address — this is required for password recovery and license registration so make sure it's accurate. Choose a strong, unique password for your dashboard. Click "Save Password & Continue" to proceed.
Enter the password you just set and click "Log In". Welcome to your PiLoader OS dashboard — this is your command center. From here you can install and manage your earning modules, monitor your hardware health, configure your network and WiFi settings, set your local time zone, and access everything PiLoader has to offer. You did the hard work — now let your Bobcat start earning for you.
You're Live!
Head to the Modules section in your dashboard and start enabling your earning apps. Enter your credentials, hit install, and PiLoader OS takes care of the rest. Good luck out there — and Happy Mining! 🎉
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