How to connect ESP32-xx to Arduino IDE

In this tutorial I use ESP32-C3 but it is applicable to ESP32-xx. I install it on Windows 11.

1. Install Arduino IDE
Ensure you have the latest version of the Arduino IDE installed on your computer.

2. Add ESP32 Board Support
Because the ESP32-C3 is not included in the standard Arduino installation, you must add it manually:
Open Preferences: Go to File > Preferences (Windows/Linux) or Arduino > Settings (macOS).
Add URL: In the "Additional Board Manager URLs" field, paste the official Espressif Arduino-ESP32 URL:
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json.
Install Package: Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager, search for "esp32", and click Install for the package by "Espressif Systems".

3. Select Your Board and Port
Connect your ESP32-C3 to your computer using a USB data cable.

Board Selection: Go to Tools > Board > esp32 and select ESP32C3 Dev Module.
Port Selection: Go to Tools > Port and select the COM port (Windows) or /dev/cu.usbserial (macOS/Linux) associated with your board.

4. Critical Hardware Settings
For the ESP32-C3 to function correctly with the Serial Monitor and for standard uploads, adjust these settings in the Tools menu:
USB CDC On Boot: Set to Enabled.

This is essential for the ESP32-C3 to output serial data to your computer over its native USB port.
Upload Speed: Usually 115200 or higher.
Flash Mode: Typically DIO or QIO.

5. Uploading Your First Sketch
You can test the setup using the built-in "Blink" example:
Go to File > Examples > 01.Basics > Blink.
Click the Upload (arrow) button.

Bootloader Mode: If the upload fails with a "Connecting..." error, hold the BOOT button on the board, press and release the RESET button, then release the BOOT button to enter programming mode.
Once "Done uploading" appears, press the RESET button on the board to start the program.

Summary of Common Pinouts

Built-in LED: Most ESP32-C3 boards use GPIO 8 or GPIO 10 for the onboard LED.
I2C Pins: Typically SDA is GPIO 8 and SCL is GPIO 9.

Now come the important part. You must install "driver" for this board.

I find out that it requires "CP210x USB to UART Bridge VCP Driver" because the board in connect to USB port on your computer and it is seen as some device on Ports (COM & LPT) in Windows device manager. This driver will recognise this board as a device on a usual USB port on any modern computer.

The ESP32-C3-DEVKITM-1 on Windows 11 generally requires the CP210x USB to UART Bridge VCP Driver. Download and install the driver from the Silicon Labs website. After installation, the board should appear in Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT) when connected.

You unzip the file, get into the directory and click "silabser.inf" to install the driver.

Run Hello World for this board

You can test the setup using the built-in "Blink" example:
Go to File > Examples > 01.Basics > Blink.
Click the Upload (arrow) button.

Blink

Turns an LED on for one second, then off for one second, repeatedly.

Most Arduinos have an on-board LED you can control. On the UNO, MEGA and ZERO

it is attached to digital pin 13, on MKR1000 on pin 6. LED_BUILTIN is set to

the correct LED pin independent of which board is used.

If you want to know what pin the on-board LED is connected to on your Arduino

model, check the Technical Specs of your board at:

https://docs.arduino.cc/hardware/

modified 8 May 2014

by Scott Fitzgerald

modified 2 Sep 2016

by Arturo Guadalupi

modified 8 Sep 2016

by Colby Newman

This example code is in the public domain.

https://docs.arduino.cc/built-in-examples/basics/Blink/

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board

void setup() {

// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.

pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);

}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever

void loop() {

digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // change state of the LED by setting the pin to the HIGH voltage level

delay(1000); // wait for a second

digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); // change state of the LED by setting the pin to the LOW voltage level

delay(1000); // wait for a second

}

Sketch uses 292522 bytes (22%) of program storage space. Maximum is
        1310720 bytes.

        Global variables use 14344 bytes (4%) of dynamic memory, leaving 313336
        bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.

        esptool v5.1.0

        Serial port COM3:

        Connecting....

        Connected to ESP32-C3 on COM3:

        Chip type:         
        ESP32-C3 (QFN32) (revision v0.3)

        Features:          
        Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Single Core, 160MHz, Embedded Flash 4MB (XMC)

        Crystal frequency:  40MHz

        MAC:               
        84:f7:03:67:23:98

        

        Uploading stub flasher...

        Running stub flasher...

        Stub flasher running.

        

        Configuring flash size...

        Flash will be erased from 0x00000000 to 0x00004fff...

        Flash will be erased from 0x00008000 to 0x00008fff...

        Flash will be erased from 0x0000e000 to 0x0000ffff...

        Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x00057fff...

        Compressed 19520 bytes to 12719...

        

        Writing at 0x00000000
        [                             
        ]   0.0% 0/12719 bytes... 

        

        Writing at 0x00004c40 [==============================] 100.0%
        12719/12719 bytes... 

        Wrote 19520 bytes (12719 compressed) at 0x00000000 in 1.5 seconds (106.5
        kbit/s).

        Hash of data verified.

        Compressed 3072 bytes to 146...

        

        . . .

        Writing at 0x00010000
        [                             
        ]   0.0% 0/162687 bytes... 

        Writing at 0x0001bc59
        [==>                          
        ]  10.1% 16384/162687 bytes... 

        Writing at 0x000243d7
        [=====>                       
        ]  20.1% 32768/162687 bytes... 

        . . .

        Writing at 0x00051cb7 [==========================>  
        ]  90.6% 147456/162687 bytes... 

        Writing at 0x00057740 [==============================] 100.0%
        162687/162687 bytes... 

        Wrote 292672 bytes (162687 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 14.8 seconds
        (158.6 kbit/s).

        Hash of data verified.

The program "blink" is flashed into the board. The board can be disconnected from computer. It still needs power to operate. You can connect the board to a batter pack. Reset and the blink will run.