PROJECT 0b · TOOLCHAIN

Setting up the Arduino IDE for ESP32

A picture‑by‑picture install guide. Do it once, then every project just needs Upload.

Brand new? See Project 0 — Introduction & Setup first.

The short version: install Arduino IDE → add the ESP32 boards URL → install the esp32 package → pick the DOIT ESP32 DEVKIT V1 board and its port → upload a test sketch.

1Install the Arduino IDE

Download and install the Arduino IDE from arduino.cc/en/software. Either the classic 1.8.x or the newer 2.x works.

2Add the ESP32 "Boards Manager URL"

Open File → Preferences:

Arduino IDE File menu with Preferences highlighted
File → Preferences

In Additional Boards Manager URLs, paste this and click OK:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json
Preferences dialog with the ESP32 URL pasted
Paste the URL into the Additional Boards Manager URLs field.
Already have an ESP8266 URL there? Separate multiple URLs with a comma.

3Install the ESP32 package

Open Tools → Board → Boards Manager…:

Tools menu, Board, Boards Manager highlighted
Tools → Board → Boards Manager…

Search esp32, find "esp32 by Espressif Systems", click Install:

Boards Manager searching esp32 with install button
Install the esp32 package (takes a minute or two).
Boards Manager showing esp32 installed
When it shows INSTALLED, you're done.

4Select the board and port

Plug the ESP32 in with a data USB cable, then:

Tools → Board → choose "DOIT ESP32 DEVKIT V1":

Selecting DOIT ESP32 DEVKIT V1
Select the board.

Tools → Port → choose the port (e.g. COM4 on Windows, /dev/ttyUSB0 on Linux):

Selecting the serial port
Select the port.
No port showing? Install the CP210x USB‑to‑UART driver (this board's chip is a CP2102) — the repo folder Install CP2101 drivers Windows has it. Some boards use a CH340 chip instead.

5Test with the WiFiScan example

Open File → Examples → WiFi (ESP32) → WiFiScan:

Opening the WiFiScan example
File → Examples → WiFi (ESP32) → WiFiScan
The WiFiScan example sketch
The example opens in a new window.

Click Upload (→) and wait for "Done uploading.":

Done uploading message
Upload succeeded.

Open Serial Monitor at 115200, press EN/RESET, and watch nearby Wi‑Fi networks appear:

Serial Monitor showing scanned Wi-Fi networks
If you see networks, your toolchain works. 🎉

6If an upload won't connect

Sometimes uploading stalls with "Failed to connect to ESP32: … Connecting…":

Connecting message during a failed upload
Stuck at "Connecting…" — use the BOOT trick.
  1. Press and hold BOOT.
  2. Click Upload.
  3. When "Connecting…" appears, release BOOT.
  4. After "Done uploading", press EN/RESET to run the sketch.
Location of the BOOT button
The BOOT button.

Reminders for every project

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