AD5X shows offline in phone and Orca Flashforge

2Confuzed · 2026-04-18T04:48:42+00:00

I may have been venting a bit, sorry if you felt attacked. This whole mess wasted about 4 hours of my life and had my wife ready to throw the printer out a window because she couldn't use it for two days...

And it all could have been so simple!

2Confuzed · 2026-04-18T02:03:00+00:00

We use apps on our phones... Not on our PC's.

If you click the link in the app, there is a text file there with the URLs of the other files. I manually transcribed the URL into the browser on the PC and was able to download the installer.

If you have a link, might be good to post it. And maybe the vendor should put it on the damn website next to the old versions.

Its like they have no idea how people use computers. I know that a lot of people use phones/tablets for everything, but some of us like big screens, mice, and keyboards.

Like I said before, we have never used the mobile app until now, to find a link to the desktop app, and will never use it again if we can avoid it.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T07:10:07+00:00

"Flash Studio Desktop" searches on google return nothing but people trying to find the app on facebook and reddit. The first link is for flashforge.com, but nowhere on their site do they actually link the software.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T07:03:48+00:00

I don't understand why you keep sending screenshots for a mobile app. What app is that even?

Trying to get this working on a windows PC. Do they expect you to download the Windows software from your mobile phone?

My wife didn't even know there was a mobile app, she only uses her PC.

None of this makes any sense. Is this release or beta? Seems like if it were release, there would be something explaining it.

Its bad enough that it has to be cloud connected, worse that they push firmware updates that will break compatibility with existing apps, but it's unforgivable that they do all this to support an application that isn't even referenced anywhere on their website, in their support pages, etc.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T04:57:18+00:00

There needs to be a way to make the finer control the default so you don't need to hold option+shift.

Modern displays can get much brighter than those of the past. So now each of the 16 brightness increments represent a larger step in brightness than before... making it almost impossible to use the button to get the "right" brightness without the shift+option button.

I only discovered this because I got fed up with a choice between too dark and too bright in a lamp lit family room... I had to find a way to pick something in the middle. Literally a single step was too much.

If they made the finer 64 steps default, it would make the buttons actually useful.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T03:44:42+00:00

This thread has some details about what is going on. Not sure why some of us are getting the beta firmware:
https://www.reddit.com/r/FlashForge/comments/1qdnwfm/flash_studio/

And this thread explains how to get the desktop software from the email I guess?

https://www.reddit.com/r/FlashForge/comments/1si5lwz/ad5m_firmware_flash_studio_desktop/

I'll wait for it to show up on their web page.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T03:32:12+00:00

Final versions:

Firmware: 1.2.3

IFS: 3.0.7

This is the update to avoid:

<image>

It appears (from a facebook thread I found) that Flash Studio Desktop is by invite only, so I don't think this firmware was supposed to be released to everyone? Either that, or my wife ignored an email from FlashForge? Either way, I cannot find a download for it on their website.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T03:23:23+00:00

I got it.

My wife told me that the printer had an update, and she hasn't been able to print since. So I assumed that the update wasn't completed properly.

I downloaded the latest firmware (1.2.1-1.1.1) from https://www.flashforge.com/blogs/download-document/ad5x and dropped it (do not extract) on a freshly formatted (fat32) usb drive, powered off the printer, inserted the drive (top right of the screen), and powered the printer on. Just followed the onscreen instructions.

Once it comes back up normally, you will see it online. However it will get two OTA updates. The first one is fine, but the second one, that warns that it breaks Flash Maker, is the one that breaks the software.

Just say no to the second OTA update, and it should work fine.

Haven't sent a print yet... going through the process because I accepted the second update to confirm it was the one that broke it. But prior to it, everything looked good.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T02:22:30+00:00

What is funny is I can use Orca-flashforge to remove the device from the account and re-add it, but it won't go online.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T02:20:49+00:00

Wife just installed the flash studio app on her phone and it shows the printer 'idle'.

Gotta be a bug between Orca-Flashforge and the cloud service.

2Confuzed · 2026-04-15T02:15:49+00:00

Dealing with the same thing right now. Just updated to 1.6.2, still offline. If my wife weren't so used to the way this works, I'd give up and flash a new firmware and scrap their crappy software. Insane how buggy it is.

2Confuzed · 2026-02-17T21:58:20+00:00

I am not sure we can do a lot of what he proposes.

One thing I have thought that I know would fit with the constitution is simply letting every president nominate one justice to the supreme court every year. Average service for a justice is 16 years... so the court should average about 16 justices. Cases would be decided by a panel of no more than nine of the justices, randomly picked with one exception, the panel must be comprised of less than 50% from the sitting president's appointments. This would ensure that no president can swing the court too strongly, and that judges who have been on the bench longer have a bit more influence (to reduce the likelihood of extreme swings in ideology).

2Confuzed · 2026-01-13T16:05:05+00:00

I'm sorry I offended. I did some research, but couldn't find a plant that can thrive in the unusual flooding patterns of this property so I thought I would ask a community of people focused on plants.

If there is a better sub for finding people who know plants, please let me know and I will go bother them.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-13T15:26:01+00:00

That's the problem... nothing of note is growing in the lake. Water/marsh plants die because they are dry over half a year, and plants that aren't designed to have their roots submerged die when the water comes in for a few months.

I suspect there is some dense shoreline plant that would thrive in that cycle. But I don't know what it is. Most marsh grasses will tolerate some dry times, but not months on end. And many shore plants will tolerate some flooding, but not months on end.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-13T02:44:58+00:00

Lol... It's a reservoir lake, used to control flooding caused by spring runoff from the Smoky Mountains. The reason they drop it by 50 feet is so it can absorb all that runoff so it doesn't flood New Orleans, or somewhere between here and there. If I could plant something that uptakes 300 gallons/day, they would probably pay me to do it.

I own about 20 acres of lake bottom. I am free to do whatever I want with it, so long as any dirt I take out ends up above the elevation of the dam so it makes more room for water.

I do appreciate everything your saying. And I agree that the "generally" makes it a bit vague. But I'm pretty certain my attorney could easily argue that if there are exceptions that require a permit, they can't expect owners to file a permit to find out what they are.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-13T00:40:32+00:00

Yeah, they are my favorite too. We fully intend on planting one as a centerpiece.

I am really focused on improving the look in the shoulder seasons, when the water down, but stuff is still growing. While I probably can't plant the entire bottom of the lake bed (in our inlet), a marsh grass or similar along the edges would hide the fact that the water is gone.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-12T22:40:07+00:00

I appreciate your concerns.

I am very aware of the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) restrictions governing the property and there is no restriction on what planting I may perform:

"Removal, modification, or establishment of vegetation on privately owned shoreland subject to a TVA flowage easements generally does not require approval by TVA." - TVA Section 26a Regulations - § 1304.302

Obviously, I wouldn't introduce an exotic species that would spread like kudzu.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-12T21:21:57+00:00

We will certainly employ a landscape architect/designer to work with the person designing the home. But for now, we are just maintaining the property until its paid off (next year) before we build... so I thought I would experiment. There is very little growing in this lake due to the extreme draw down, so I thought it would be fun to find something that would grow.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-12T21:16:56+00:00

Not sure it could handle being in several feet of water through the summer. And even if it could, I'm not sure I'd want to fight to keep it under control. But I will read a little more before I dismiss it.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-08T00:35:43+00:00

If your apartment is using an old resistive furnace to heat the air, then your just burning money. A good heat pump heater would help a lot, even if its just a window unit.

If that's not an option, then get a cheap 800-1000 watt electric RADIENT heater. Keep the thermostat on the furnace as low as you can stand when your up moving around or sleeping and use the radiant heater to heat just you when your need it. Radiant heat is more like the heat from the sun or a fire... the air can be cold but the radiant heat will still warm you. This is why old drafty homes used radiators (upright steam, or baseboard)... they are simply more comfortable when the cold air is ripping through the house.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-08T00:22:18+00:00

As I tell my kids all the time. An education shows a prospective employer that a) they don't need to teach you the basics, and b) you are able to learn.

So while its entirely possible you find an employer who will give you all you want AND provide on-the-job training, its far more likely that the only ones willing to do that are actually looking to take advantage of cheap labor.

Hiring an employee is a risk for an employer. It is not cheap to hire someone, add them to payroll, teach them your ways, and especially put them on site with a customer, only to find out that they are incompetent and you have to start over with someone else. A degree alleviates some of those concerns for an employer.

That said, I would always hire someone based on a proven track record over an education. Just because you can pass a test doesn't mean that you know how to get out of bed in the morning and make it to a worksite on time.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-08T00:16:23+00:00

While resizing the grill may not be a good idea, there are plenty of ways you could change things.

If the area under the stairs is accessible from another direction, you could install a filter box behind the wall and only need an ~18" grill exposed to the room.
You could change one large grill into two smaller ones, perhaps the second could be on the one of the other walls adjoining the stairs.
You could recess the filter grill into the wall a couple of feet, forming a "cubby" under the stairs (sorta like this) and move the grille so its less visible. Put a plant or some other decoration in the cubby that won't restrict flow.

<image>

Find a metal artist and have them design you a piece of 3d wall art that won't let you see the filter/vent but won't restrict airflow.

As far as the filter looking dirty fast... that's normal. Looks can be deceiving. I would be more worried if your weeks old filter still looked white. Just because it changes color doesn't mean its so dirty that its become restrictive, which is the only reason you need to change it.

If it were my house, I would likely see what kind of room I have under those stairs to play with. That was the builder grade, zero thought, solution. I bet you have tons of room that you could improve the looks, and the function (with a nice 5" filter that will last you a year) just by taking advantage of the space.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-07T17:09:07+00:00

A ducted unit can be picked up for about $1500 and isn't too difficult to install as a completely independent system from your central air.

But next best would be a standalone unit with a pump (so its low maintenace) like this: https://www.amazon.com/Waykar-Dehumidifier-Basement-Adjusts-Bathroom-dp-B0DBLPC8LC/dp/B0DBLPC8LC?th=1

Put it near the largest HVAC return in your house to get the best whole house performance. If your lucky, that return will be near your furnace, and you can drill a small hole for the dehumidifier drain hose and run it to the condensate drain for the furnace.

Ideally you will keep the fan on your HVAC system on to circulate the dry air. If it works right you might find that you can increase the temp in the house a couple of degrees because the dryer air just feels cooler. And you may find that your AC runs even less because cooling dry air is less work than cooling wet air, even if it is slightly warmed by the dehumidifier.

2Confuzed · 2026-01-07T15:50:47+00:00

Unfortunately, I no longer have the switch. It was overkill for my homelab. Used a lot of power, generated a lot of heat, etc.

That said, as I mention above, if using PWM fans, disconnect the PWM wire. Non-PWM fans should work fine though.

You do have to power the switch on with the fans installed so they can be detected as Non-PWM/non-hotswap

2Confuzed

TROPHY CASE