ILI9xxx - display is marked FAILED: unspecified

ESPHome
1

Hello all,

since 2025.11 I have problems with my display. It is only Black, nothing is visible. With the latest 2025.10.5 all fine.

LOG:

[17:06:11.216][C][ili9xxx:089]: ili9xxx
[17:06:11.216][C][ili9xxx:089]:   Rotations: 270 °
[17:06:11.216][C][ili9xxx:089]:   Dimensions: 320px x 480px
[17:06:11.221][C][ili9xxx:090]:   Width Offset: 0
[17:06:11.221][C][ili9xxx:090]:   Height Offset: 0
[17:06:11.222][C][ili9xxx:102]:   Color mode: 8bit 332 mode
[17:06:11.224][C][ili9xxx:106]:   18-Bit Mode: YES
[17:06:11.228][C][ili9xxx:108]:   Data rate: 40MHz
[17:06:11.231][C][ili9xxx:110]:   Reset Pin: GPIO38
[17:06:11.232][C][ili9xxx:111]:   CS Pin: GPIO14
[17:06:11.235][C][ili9xxx:112]:   DC Pin: GPIO42
[17:06:11.238][C][ili9xxx:114]:   Color order: BGR
[17:06:11.238][C][ili9xxx:114]:   Swap_xy: YES
[17:06:11.238][C][ili9xxx:114]:   Mirror_x: NO
[17:06:11.238][C][ili9xxx:114]:   Mirror_y: NO
[17:06:11.238][C][ili9xxx:114]:   Invert colors: NO
[17:06:11.241][C][ili9xxx:124]:   => Failed to init Memory: YES!
[17:06:11.244][C][ili9xxx:363]:   Update Interval: 1.0s
[17:06:11.247][E][component:154]:   display is marked FAILED: unspecified

Configuration:

display:
  - platform: ili9xxx
    model: ILI9488_A
#    model: ILI9486
    dc_pin: GPIO42
    cs_pin: GPIO14
    reset_pin: GPIO38
    dimensions: 
      height: 320
      width: 480
    auto_clear_enabled: True
    invert_colors: false
    rotation: 270
#    show_test_card: true
    color_palette: 8bit
    id: dispay
    pages: 
      - id: page1
        lambda: |- ...

What can I do for enabling the display again.

Kind regards

2

You can try this

display:
  - platform: ili9xxx
    model: ILI9488_A
    id: display
    dc_pin: GPIO42
    cs_pin: GPIO14
    reset_pin: GPIO38
    dimensions: 
      width: 480
      height: 320
    rotation: 270
    pixel_mode: 18bit    
    color_order: rgb  
    invert_colors: false
    auto_clear_enabled: true
    color_palette: 8BIT
    id: dispay
3

Hello Pepe59,

thank you for your idea, but it did not work, same reaction like before. Black Screen.

4

You probably need to configure PSRAM. And/or switch to the newer mipi_spi display component.

5

Hi there, thank you @clydebarrow for your hint! Worked for me for my Elecrow 2.8inch 240x320 display with ESP32-WROOM-32E / ESP32-D0WD-V3 chip with ILI9341V display driver (Elecrow DHO26028B), finally. This device has no PSRAM and that was the issue. However, display works now! Thanks!

esphome:
  name: esphome-web-6a0048
  friendly_name: ESPHome Web 6a0048
  min_version: 2025.11.0
  name_add_mac_suffix: false

esp32:
  variant: esp32
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

# Enable logging
logger:

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

captive_portal:

spi:
  - id: lcd
    clk_pin: GPIO14
    mosi_pin: GPIO13
    miso_pin: GPIO12
  - id: touch
    clk_pin: GPIO25
    mosi_pin: GPIO32
    miso_pin: GPIO39

i2c:
  sda: GPIO27
  scl: GPIO18
  scan: true
  id: bus_a

font:
  - file: "Helvetica.ttf"
    id: helvetica_12
    size: 12

display:
  - platform: mipi_spi
    model: ILI9341
    spi_id: lcd
    cs_pin: 15
    dc_pin: 2
    invert_colors: false
    lambda: |-
     it.line(0, 0, 50, 50);
     it.print(0, 10, id(helvetica_12), "Hello World!");

output:
  - platform: ledc
    pin: GPIO21
    id: former_led_pin

# Define a monochromatic, dimmable light for the backlight
light:
  - platform: monochromatic
    output: former_led_pin
    name: "Display Backlight"
    id: back_light
    restore_mode: ALWAYS_ON

Idea sponsored by GitHub - BOlaerts/ESP32-2432s028: Home Assistant integration using ESPHome on an esp32-2432s028 board, featuring I²C expansion and touchscreen functionalities