Creality K1C Setup

Get HelixScreen running on your Creality K1C (also works for K1 and K1 Max).

Time required: ~20 minutes

What You Need

Creality K1C with firmware v1.3.3.5 or later (check: Settings on the touchscreen)
K1C connected to your WiFi network
A computer on the same network with an SSH client

Step 1: Enable Root Access

On the K1C touchscreen:

Go to Settings > Root account information
Read the disclaimer, wait 30 seconds, then confirm

That’s it. Root is now enabled.

Step 2: SSH Into the Printer

From your computer:

ssh root@<PRINTER_IP>
# Password: creality_2023

Find the IP address on the K1C touchscreen under Settings > Network, or check your router’s DHCP client list.

Step 3: Install Simple AF (Recommended) or Guilouz Helper Script

HelixScreen needs Moonraker (the Klipper API server) to be running on your K1C. Stock firmware doesn’t include it, so you need community firmware.

Option A: Simple AF (Recommended)

Simple AF is the easiest path and has first-class HelixScreen support.

cd /usr/data
git clone https://github.com/pellcorp/creality.git pellcorp
cd pellcorp
sh installer.sh

Follow the prompts. This installs Klipper, Moonraker, and GuppyScreen. Once it’s working (GuppyScreen appears on the touchscreen), proceed to Step 4.

Option B: Guilouz Helper Script

If you prefer the Guilouz Helper Script:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Guilouz/Creality-Helper-Script.git /usr/data/helper-script
sh /usr/data/helper-script/helper.sh

From the menu, install Moonraker at minimum. Optionally install Fluidd or Mainsail for web access.

Note: If git clone fails with an SSL error, run git config --global http.sslVerify false first.

Step 4: Install HelixScreen

Option A: Direct Install (Recommended)

If your K1C has internet access, install directly on the printer via SSH:

wget -O - http://dl.helixscreen.org/install.sh | sh

This works because dl.helixscreen.org serves over plain HTTP, which BusyBox wget supports. No need to download anything on your computer first.

Option B: Two-Step Install

If your printer doesn’t have internet access, download on your computer first, then copy to the printer.

On your computer:

Go to the latest release page and download:

helixscreen-k1.zip (the K1 release archive)
install.sh (the installer script, under “Assets”)

Or use the command line (replace vX.Y.Z with the actual version):

VERSION=vX.Y.Z  # Check latest at https://github.com/prestonbrown/helixscreen/releases/latest
wget "https://github.com/prestonbrown/helixscreen/releases/download/${VERSION}/helixscreen-k1.zip"
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prestonbrown/helixscreen/main/scripts/install.sh

Copy to the printer and install:

scp helixscreen-k1.zip install.sh root@<PRINTER_IP>:/usr/data/
ssh root@<PRINTER_IP>    # password: creality_2023
sh /usr/data/install.sh --local /usr/data/helixscreen-k1.zip

The installer automatically:

Detects your K1C platform
Stops GuppyScreen (or whatever screen UI is running)
Installs to /usr/data/helixscreen/
Creates the boot service (/etc/init.d/S99helixscreen)
Configures Moonraker update manager for easy future updates

Step 5: Complete Setup on the Touchscreen

HelixScreen starts automatically after install. The on-screen wizard walks you through:

Language selection
Moonraker connection — should auto-detect on localhost:7125
Printer identification — the K1C is in the printer database
Hardware discovery — heaters, fans, sensors, LEDs

Managing HelixScreen

# Start/stop/restart
/etc/init.d/S99helixscreen start
/etc/init.d/S99helixscreen stop
/etc/init.d/S99helixscreen restart

# View logs
cat /tmp/helixscreen.log
tail -f /tmp/helixscreen.log    # live follow

Updating

From Fluidd/Mainsail (easiest)

If you have Fluidd or Mainsail installed, HelixScreen appears in the update manager. One-click update.

From SSH

# On your computer (replace vX.Y.Z with actual version):
VERSION=vX.Y.Z
wget "https://github.com/prestonbrown/helixscreen/releases/download/${VERSION}/helixscreen-k1.zip"
scp helixscreen-k1.zip root@<PRINTER_IP>:/usr/data/

# On the printer (use the bundled install.sh - no need to download it again):
/usr/data/helixscreen/install.sh --local /usr/data/helixscreen-k1.zip --update

Uninstalling

/usr/data/helixscreen/install.sh --uninstall

This restores GuppyScreen automatically.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Can’t SSH in	Make sure root is enabled (Step 1). Password is `creality_2023`
`curl` or SSL error	K1 doesn’t support HTTPS downloads. Use the two-step install (Step 4) — download on your computer, then `scp` to the printer
Installer says “Moonraker not found”	Complete Step 3 first — Moonraker must be running
Blank screen after install	Check logs: `cat /tmp/helixscreen.log`
Touch not responding	Reboot: `reboot`

For more help: Troubleshooting Guide | Discord | GitHub Issues

Firmware Upgrade Path

If your K1C is on older firmware, you must upgrade in order:

Starting Version	Upgrade To
v1.2.9.14 or earlier	v1.2.9.15 → v1.2.9.22 → v1.3.0.30 → v1.3.1.4 → latest
v1.2.9.17 – v1.2.9.21	v1.2.9.22 → v1.3.0.30 → v1.3.1.4 → latest
v1.3.0.30	v1.3.1.4 → latest
v1.3.1.4+	Latest directly

Download firmware from Creality’s site, put the .img on a FAT32 USB drive, insert into the printer, and follow the on-screen prompts. Factory reset from Settings before installing rooted firmware.

After factory reset, root access must be re-enabled (Step 1) and community firmware reinstalled (Step 3).