Status LED
The onboard LED shows a startup pattern, then the current operating status. The GIFs below loop for illustration; the startup patterns run once on the device.
| Appearance | Meaning |
|---|---|
 Red → yellow → green → blue | Spectranext is starting up. |
 Fast flashing blue | Spectranext is starting with DivMMC compatibility enabled. |
 Fast flashing red | You have held the Magic button long enough to restart the Spectrum. With DivMMC compatibility enabled, release the button while it flashes red to restart. |
 Increasingly fast flashing yellow | Keep holding the Magic button to disable DivMMC compatibility. Release while it flashes yellow to cancel. |
 Brief yellow flash, long dark pause | DivMMC compatibility has changed. Disconnect all power, including USB, before using the system again. |
 Green | Connected to Wi-Fi. Network activity can make its brightness flicker. |
 Yellow | Wi-Fi signal is weak. |
 Red | Not connected to Wi-Fi. Use the Magic button to configure the connection. |
 Blue | Spectranext is handling a Magic button action or loading a program. |
 Pink / violet | A debugger or Web File Browser session is connected. See Debugging Spectrum. |
 Flashing pink / violet | The debugger has paused the program at a breakpoint. |
 Breathing green | A firmware update is ready to install. Restart to install it. |
 Flashing yellow | Firmware update in progress. Keep the device powered until it finishes. |
 Flashing red | The USB device is not recognized. Reconnect it or try another cable, and check that it is supported. |
 Alternating red / blue | Spectranext has detected a conflict with another device. Disconnect all power, remove the conflicting device, then reconnect power. |
 Dark | The LED may be between flashes or the device may still be starting. If it stays dark, check the power connection. |
Using the Magic button:
- Without DivMMC compatibility: a quick press opens the menu. Hold for about half a second to restart the Spectrum; the LED flashes red until you release the button.
- With DivMMC compatibility: release while the LED flashes red to restart. After two seconds, it starts flashing yellow. Keep holding for ten seconds in total to disable compatibility, or release while it flashes yellow to cancel.
After enabling or disabling DivMMC compatibility, the LED gives a brief yellow flash with a long pause. The system will wait until you disconnect all power, including USB. Pressing reset will not clear this state.
If you enabled compatibility, install DivMMC before reconnecting power—the system now needs it to work. If you disabled compatibility, remove DivMMC before reconnecting power.