Step 2: Add ESP32 Support to the Arduino IDE

By default, the Arduino IDE doesn't support ESP32 boards. You need to add the ESP32 board package.

Add ESP32 Board Manager URL

1. Open the Arduino IDE

2. Go to File > Preferences (or Arduino > Preferences on macOS)

3. In the "Additional Board Manager URLs" field, add the following URL:

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

4. If you already have other URLs in this field, separate them with commas:

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

5. Click OK to save the preferences

Install the ESP32 Board Package

1. Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager

2. In the search bar, type "ESP32"

3. Find the "esp32 by Espressif Systems" package

4. Click the "Install" button

5. Wait for the installation to complete - this may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection

Verify Installation

1. Go to Tools > Board
2. You should now see "ESP32 Arduino" in the list
3. Expand it to see the available ESP32 boards

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

• "Error downloading...": Check your internet connection and try again
• Installation hangs: Close and reopen the Arduino IDE, then try again
• URL not accepted: Make sure you've copied the URL exactly as shown above

Next Step

Once the ESP32 board package is installed, proceed to Connect Your ESP32.