How to Install ESP8266 in Arduino IDE

The ESP8266 can be used for a variety of projects, ranging from simple IoT applications to complex automation systems. If you want to program the ESP8266, you’ll need a development environment that supports it. There are several IDEs and environments available for programming the ESP8266, one of which is the Arduino IDE.

This article covers the ESP8266 installation in Arduino IDE.

Table of Content

Understanding ESP8266

Installing the ESP8266 Board in Arduino IDE

Step 1: Open the Arduino IDE
Step 2: Go to Arduino Preferences
Step 3: Enter the ESP8266 Board Manager URL
Step 4: Open the Boards Manager
Step 5: Install the ESP8266 Board
Step 6: Select the ESP8266 Board

How to Program ESP8266 Using Arduino IDE

Conclusion

Understanding ESP8266

The ESP8266 is a Wi-Fi module that can connect and exchange data with other devices inside a wireless network. It’s based on the ESP8266EX chip, which is a low-cost, low-power SoC (System on Chip) that combines a microcontroller, Wi-Fi radio, and memory.

To program ESP8266, we can use different languages and compilers including the Arduino IDE. The ESP8266 can also be used with other microcontrollers, such as the Arduino using which we can add Wi-Fi communication in different Arduino-based projects.

Installing the ESP8266 Board in Arduino IDE

To use the ESP8266 with the Arduino IDE, you’ll need to install the ESP8266 board in the IDE. Follow the steps explained to install ESP8266 in Arduino IDE:

Step 1: Open the Arduino IDE

First, open the Arduino IDE on your computer.

Step 2: Go to Arduino Preferences

Next, click on the “File” menu and select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu or press “CTRL+ Comma”. This will open the Preferences window.

Step 3: Enter the ESP8266 Board Manager URL

In the Preferences window, look for the “Additional Boards Manager URLs” field. In this field, enter the following URL:

http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

Note: If you already have the ESP32 boards URLs, separate them with commas as follows:

https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json, http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

Once you’ve entered the URL, click the “OK” button to save the changes.

Step 4: Open the Boards Manager

Now, go to the “Tools” menu and select “Boards” from the drop-down menu. Then, select “Boards Manager” from the sub-menu.

Step 5: Install the ESP8266 Board

Now search for “esp8266”. You should see an entry for “esp8266 by ESP8266 Community”. Click on this entry, then click “Install” to begin the ESP8266 installation in Arduino IDE.

Step 6: Select the ESP8266 Board

After completing the installation process, go to “Tools” and select “Board”. Then, select whichever board you are going to use.

How to Program ESP8266 Using Arduino IDE

To program ESP8266 using Arduino IDE, the USB to Serial drivers must be installed in our system. Most of the time ESP8266 comes with CP2102 or CH340 serial driver chips. Both have separate drivers that must be installed in order to establish serial communication between ESP8266 and Arduino IDE.

Detailed instructions for installing these drivers can be found here:

Conclusion

The ESP8266 board in IDE can be installed using the JSON file. We just have to add it in the additional board manager inside the preferences settings. Once you’ve installed the board, you’ll be able to program the ESP8266 with the help of Arduino IDE.