Getting Started with the ESP32-WROOM-32 (USB-C)

The ESP32-WROOM-32 is our most popular board, and for good reason. You get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, loads of pins and a USB-C connector for about the price of a coffee. This guide takes you from an unopened board to a blinking LED in roughly ten minutes.

1. Install the Arduino IDE

Grab the free Arduino IDE (version 2.x) and install it, then open it once so it can finish setting itself up. This is the program you'll write and upload your code in.

2. Add ESP32 board support

The IDE doesn't know about ESP32 boards out of the box, so we'll teach it. Go to File → Preferences and paste this line into the field labelled Additional boards manager URLs:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

Now open Tools → Board → Boards Manager, type esp32 into the search box, and install the package by Espressif Systems. It's a fairly large download, so give it a minute.

3. Install the USB driver

The board talks to your computer through a chip called the CP2102. Most computers recognise it straight away, but if yours doesn't, the next note sorts it out.

4. Plug in and pick your board

1. Connect the ESP32 to your computer with the USB-C cable.
2. Go to Tools → Board and choose ESP32 Dev Module.
3. Go to Tools → Port and pick the COM or usbserial port that appeared when you plugged in.

5. Upload your first sketch

In the Arduino world a program is called a sketch. Let's upload a ready-made one. Open File → Examples → 01.Basics → Blink and click the round Upload arrow at the top. After a few seconds the small LED on the board starts flashing. That's it, you've just programmed an ESP32.

What next?

Now that uploading works, the fun part begins. Try reading a sensor or driving a servo. Grab a handful of best-sellers and start building.