1. Preparing Your Environment

  • Install Arduino IDE: Download and install the latest Arduino IDE

  • Install USB Drivers: Depending on your board’s USB-to-UART chip (typically CP210x or CH340), download and install the proper drivers.

    • For CP210x drivers, visit Silicon Labs’ website.
    • For CH340 drivers, search for “CH340 driver download” (ensure you use a reputable source).

  • Verify Your USB Cable: Ensure you are using a cable that supports data transfer (some are “charge-only”).

2. Updating the ESP32 Board Cores

  1. Open Arduino IDE → Tools → Board → Boards Manager.
  2. Search for “ESP32”.
  3. Install or update the “ESP32 by Espressif Systems” package to the latest stable version.
    (Note: Occasionally a newer version might introduce changes; if you experience issues, you can roll back to a previous version as recommended in troubleshooting threads [citeturn0search1].)

3. Selecting the Correct Board and Settings

  1. Board Selection:
    Under Tools → Board, select “ESP32 Dev Module” (or the board variant matching your ESP-WROOM-32).

  2. Processor & Port Settings:

    • Processor: Select “ESP32” if that option is available (for most generic ESP-WROOM-32 boards).
    • Port: Choose the COM port (on Windows) or /dev/tty… (on Linux/Mac) that your board appears as.
    • Upload Speed: If needed, you can try a lower baud rate (e.g., 115200) if high-speed uploads fail.

4. Uploading Your Sketch

  1. Open or Write Your Sketch:
    For example, open the Blink sketch (found under File → Examples → Basics → Blink).

  2. Initiate the Upload:
    Click the Upload button in the Arduino IDE.

  3. Flashing Mode:

    • Most ESP-WROOM-32 boards are designed to automatically enter bootloader mode.
    • However, if you encounter issues (e.g., “Failed to connect to ESP32: Timed out waiting for packet header”), press and hold the BOOT button on your board immediately after clicking Upload. Release the button once you see the “Connecting…” message in the IDE’s output console.

  4. Verify Upload:
    The IDE should display messages such as “Done uploading” and you may see output in the Serial Monitor (set to 115200 baud by default).