Technical Articles
2025-01-16

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

1、ESP8266–NodeMCU Development Board Driver Installation

NodeMCU Development Board is not a plug-and-play device, so we need to install the driver on the computer before it can be used.

Preparing to Install the Driver

Before installing the ESP8266-NodeMCU driver, please ensure that your computer is connected to the internet. Also, prepare the NodeMCU and USB data cable for installation.

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentOpen the Driver Installation Program

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentThe Driver Installation is Complete

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentConnect the ESP8266-NodeMCU Development Board to the Computer

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentOpen the Device Manager

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentCheck the NodeMCU connection port

As shown in the figure below, the COM port number shown behind “Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge” is the port number of the NodeMCU development board. In the following figure, the port number for NodeMCU connection is COM5.Please remember this port number, as it will be needed later in the setup process.Also, please note that the COM port number displayed on each person’s computer may differ from that shown in the figure below. Please remember your own NodeMCU connection COM port number.

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

2、Configure the Arduino IDE Development Environment

To use the Arduino IDE with the NodeMCU development board, you first need to configure the Arduino IDE.The following will introduce the configuration process and test whether the built-in blink example program is successful.

Preparation WorkBefore installation, please ensure that you have completed the following preparation work:

1. Use USB data cable to connect NodeMCU to the computer.

2. The NodeMCU driver has been successfully installed and can be found in the computer’s “Device Manager”.

3. The computer is connected to the internet.

4. The Arduino IDE is installed on the computer.

Open the Arduino IDE, go to File – Preferences

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

In the “Preferences” dialog of the Arduino IDE, find “Additional Board Manager URLs”

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Input the URL:
http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
Copy and paste the URL into the “Additional Board Manager URLs” field.

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Open the Arduino IDE’s “Board Manager”

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

In the “Board Manager” search for “ESP8266”.

Install the “ESP8266” board package.

After installation, you can find the “NodeMCU” board in the Arduino IDE’s board menu.

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentConfigure the NodeMCU Board in the Arduino IDE

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development EnvironmentOpen the Blink Example Program

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Upload the Blink Example Program to the NodeMCU

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Confirm that the LED on the NodeMCU is blinking

The upload is complete. If you see the LED on the NodeMCU blinking, it means the driver installation was successful. You can now start programming the NodeMCU with the Arduino IDE.

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

3、Example Program

Blink Example: A LED Blinking

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Digital Read Serial Example: Check the status of the button connected to Digital I/O pin 2 in the serial monitor

Installing NodeMCU Drivers and Setting Up the Development Environment

Related posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *