Installing drivers for the Arduino Uno or Arduino Mega 2560 with Windows7, Vista, or XP:

• Finally, navigate to and select the driver file named "arduino.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory). If you are using an old version of the IDE (1.0.3 or older), choose the Uno's driver file named "Arduino UNO.inf"

• Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "arduino.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory). If you are using an old version of the IDE (1.0.3 or older), the name of the driver is "Arduino UNO.inf"

• Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "arduino.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory). If you are using an old version of the IDE (1.0.3 or older), the name of the driver is "arduino UNO.inf"

(:include HowtoUpload:)

• Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "arduino.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory).

Double-click the Arduino application. (Note: if the Arduino software loads in the wrong language, you can change it in the preferences dialog. See the environment page for details.)

9 | Upload the program

• Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "ArduinoUNO.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download (not the "FTDI USB Drivers" sub-directory).

See also: step-by-step screenshots for installing the Uno under Windows XP.

• Plug in your board and wait for Windows to begin it's driver installation process.  After a few moments, the process will fail, despite its best efforts

• Finally, navigate to and select the Uno's driver file, named "ArduinoUNO.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download.

Installing drivers for the Arduino Uno with Windows7, Vista, or XP:

Installing drivers for the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila with Windows7, Vista, or XP:

For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila

• Plug in your board and wait for Windows to begin it's driver installation process.  After a few moments, the process will fail, despite it's best efforts

For the Arduino Uno

On Windows7, Vista, and XP:

• Plug in your board and wait for Windows to try to install the driver.  After a few moments, it will fail despite it's best efforts
• Click on the Start Menu, and open up the Control Panel.
• While in the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security. Next, click on System. Once the System window is up, open the Device Manager.
• Look under Ports (COM & LPT).  You should see an open port named "Arduino UNO (COMxx)"
• Right click on the "Arduino UNO (COmxx)" port and choose the "Update Driver Software" option.
• Next, choose the "Browse my computer for Driver software" option.
• Finally, navigate to the Uno's driver file, named "ArduinoUNO.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download.
• Windows will finish up the driver installation from there.

For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila'''

For the Arduino Uno:'''

• Plug in your board and wait for Windows to try to install the driver.  It will fail.

2) Click on the Start Menu, and open up the Control Panel. 3) While in the Control Panel, click on System and Security. Next, click on System. Once the System window is up, open the Device Manager. 4) Look under Ports (COM & LPT).  You should see an open port named "Arduino UNO (COMxx)" 5) Right click on the "Arduino UNO (COmxx)" port and choose "Update Driver Software". 6) Choose "Browse my computer for Driver software" 7) Navigate to the Uno's driver file, named "ArduinoUNO.inf", located in the "Drivers" folder of the Arduino Software download.

Windows will finish the install from there.

For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila:'''

A. For the Arduino Uno:

B. For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila:

'''A. For the Arduino Uno:

blah

B. For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila:

When you connect the board, Windows should initiate the driver installation process (if you haven't used the computer with an Arduino board before).

For the Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila: When you connect the board, Windows should initiate the driver installation process (if you haven't used the computer with an Arduino board before).

• When asked Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software? select No, not this time. Click next.

• Make sure that Search for the best driver in these locations is checked; uncheck Search removable media; check Include this location in the search and browse to the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. (The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.) Click next.

You can check that the drivers have been installed by opening the Windows Device Mananger (in the Hardware tab of System control panel). Look for a "USB Serial Port" in the Ports section; that's the Arduino board.

Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. This is likely to be COM3 or higher (COM1 and COM2 are usually reserved for hardware serial ports). To find out, you can disconnect your Arduino board and re-open the menu; the entry that disappears should be the Arduino board. Reconnect the board and select that serial port.

On Windows XP, the Add New Hardware wizard will open:

• When asked "Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?" select No, not this time. Click next.
• Select Install from a list or specified location (Advanced) and click next.
• Make sure that "Search for the best driver in these locations is checked"; uncheck "Search removable media"; check Include this location in the search and browse to the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. (The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.) Click next.
• The wizard will search for the driver and then tell you that a "USB Serial Converter" was found. Click finish.
• The new hardware wizard will appear again. Go through the same steps and select the same options and location to search. This time, a "USB Serial Port" will be found.

When you connect the board, Windows should initiate the driver installation process (if you haven't used the computer with an Arduino board before).

On Windows Vista, the driver should be automatically downloaded and installed. (Really, it works!)

On Windows XP, the Add New Hardware wizard will open. When asked "Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software?" select No, not this time. Click next.

Select Install from a list or specified location (Advanced) and click next.

Make sure that "Search for the best driver in these locations is checked"; uncheck "Search removable media"; check Include this location in the search and browse to the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. (The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.) Click next.

The new hardware wizard will appear again. Go through the same steps and select the same options and location to search. This time, a "USB Serial Port" will be found.

Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. This is likely to be COM3 or higher (COM1 and COM2 are usually reserved for hardware serial ports).

To find out, disconnect your Arduino board and re-open the menu; the entry that disappears should be the Arduino board. Reconnect the board and select that serial port. Alternatively, you can open the Windows Device Mananger (in the Hardware tab of System control panel). Look for a "USB Serial Port" in the Ports section; that's the Arduino board.

Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. This is likely to be COM3 or higher (COM1 and COM2 are usually reserved for hardware serial ports). To find out, disconnect your Arduino board and re-open the menu; the entry that disappears should be the Arduino board. Reconnect the board and select that serial port.

Alternatively, you can open the Windows Device Mananger (in the Hardware tab of System control panel). Look for a "USB Serial Port" in the Ports section; that's the Arduino board.

5 | Launch the Arduino application

6 | Open the blink example

7 | Select your board

8 | Select your serial port

(:*toc :)

3 | Connect the board

4 | Install the drivers

2 | Download the Arduino environment

Get the latest version from the download page.

When the download finishes, unzip the downloaded file. Make sure to preserve the folder structure. Double-click the folder to open it. There should be a few files and sub-folders inside.

1 | Get an Arduino board and USB cable

1. Connect the board and install the drivers
2. Launch the Arduino environment
3. Open the blink example
4. Select your board
5. Select your serial port

3 | Connect the board and install the drivers

Make sure that "Search for the best driver in these locations is checked"; uncheck "Search removable media"; check "Include this location in the search" and browse to the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. (The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.) Click next.

4 | Launch the Arduino application

5 | Open the blink example

6 | Select your board

(:include HowtoBoard:)

7 | Select your serial port

8 | Upload the program

(:include HowtoBoard:)

1. Get an Arduino board and USB cable

Getting Started w/ Arduino on Windows

1. Get an Arduino board and cable
2. Download the Arduino environment
3. Install the USB drivers
4. Connect the board
5. Run the Arduino environment
6. Upload a program
7. Look for the blinking LED
8. Learn to use Arduino

6 | Upload a program

5 | Launch Arduino and open an example

Double-click the Arduino application.

4 | Connect the board

(:include HowtoIntro:)

(:include HowtoDownload:)

Download Arduino: Arduino 0011 for Windows

Download Arduino: Arduino 0010 for Windows

Download Arduino: Arduino 0009 for Windows

Download Arduino: Arduino 0008 for Windows

(:include HowtoLED:)

Download Arduino: Arduino 0007 for Windows

3 | Locate the USB drivers

If you are using a USB Arduino, you will need to install the drivers for the FTDI chip on the board. These can be found in the drivers/FTDI USB Drivers directory of the Arduino distribution. In the next step ("Connect the board"), you will point Window's Add New Hardware wizard to these drivers.

2 | Download the Arduino environment

To program the Arduino board you need the Arduino environment.

Download Arduino: Arduino 0006 for Windows

(:include HowtoExample:)

Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. On Windows, this should be COM1 or COM2 for a serial Arduino board, or COM3, COM4, or COM5 for a USB board. To find out, open the Windows Device Mananger (in the Hardware tab of System control panel). Look for a "USB Serial Port" in the Ports section; that's the Arduino board.

(:include HowtoDownload:)

3 | Unzip the USB drivers

On Windows, you will need to unzip FTDI USB Drivers.zip. In the next step ("Connect the board"), you will point Window's Add New Hardware wizard to these drivers.

(:include HowtoConnect:)

The Add New Hardware wizard will open. Tell it not to connect to Windows update and click next.

(:include HowtoUpload:)

(:include HowtoReferences:)

How To Get Arduino Running on Windows

(:include HowtoSteps:)

(:include HowtoGet:)

Arduino Howto

These are the steps you need to follow in order to be up and running:

1. Get an Arduino board
2. Download the Arduino environment
3. Install the USB drivers
4. Connect the board
5. Upload a program

1 | Get an Arduino board

The Arduino i/o board is a simple circuit featuring the ATmega8 processor from Atmel. The board is composed of a printed circuit board (PCB) and electronic parts.

There are a few ways to get an Arduino board:

• buy a ready made board. See how you can buy a board or just the PCB.
  • European distributor
  • US distributor
• build your own board. If you want you can build your own PCB just by downloading the CAD files from the Hardware page. Extract the .brd file and send it to a PCB manufacturer. Be aware that manufacturing a single pcb will be very expensive. It's better to get together with other people and make 20 or 30 at a time. Since you get the full CAD files you can make your own customised version of Arduino. if you make modifications or fix bugs please send us your changes!
  • purchase parts. purchase the parts from any electronics store. The Serial version in particular has been designed to use the most basic parts that can be found anywhere in the world. The USB version on the other hand requires some advanced soldering skills because of the FTDI chip that is an smd part. Here is a list? of parts for the serial board.
  • assemble the board. We put together a step by step guide on how to build an arduino board. Newbies: never soldered before? afraid of trashing thousands of boards before getting one properly soldered? fear not :) learn to master the art of soldering.
  • program the bootloader. In order for the development environment to be able to program the chip, this has to be programmed with a piece of code called bootloader. See the bootloader page on how to program it on your chip.

2 | Download the Arduino environment

To program the Arduino board you need the Arduino environment.

Download Arduino: From the software page.

For more information, see the guide to the Arduino environment.

3 | Install the USB drivers

If you are using a USB Arduino, you will need to install the drivers for the FTDI chip on the board. These can be found in the drivers directory of the Arduino distribution.

On Windows, you will need to unzip FTDI USB Drivers.zip. Then, when you plug in the Arduino board, point the Windows Add Hardware wizard to the FTDI USB Drivers directory.

The latest version of the drivers can be found on the FTDI website.

4 | Connect the board

If you're using a serial board, power the board with an external power supply (6 to 25 volts DC, with the core of the connector positive). Connect the board to a serial port on your computer.

On the USB boards, the power source is selected by the jumper between the USB and power plugs. To power the board from the USB port (good for controlling low power devices like LEDs), place the jumper on the two pins closest to the USB plug. To power the board from an external power supply (needed for motors and other high current devices), place the jumper on the two pins closest to the power plug. Either way, connect the board to a USB port on your computer.

The power LED should go on.

On Windows, the Add New Hardware wizard will open. Tell it not to connect to Windows update and click next.

Then select "Install from a list or specified location (Advanced)" and click next.

Make sure that "Search for the best driver in these locations is checked"; uncheck "Search removable media"; check "Include this location in the search" and browse to the location you unzipped the USB drivers to in the previous step. Click next.

The wizard will search for the driver and then tell you that a "USB Serial Converter" was found. Click finish.

The new hardware wizard will appear again. Go through the same steps. This time, a "USB Serial Port" will be found.

5 | Upload a program

Open the LED blink example sketch: File > Sketchbook > Examples > led_blink.

Here's what the code for the LED blink example looks like.

Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. On Windows, this should be COM1 or COM2 for a serial Arduino board, or COM3, COM4, or COM5 for a USB board.

Push the reset button on the board then click the Upload button in the IDE. Wait a few seconds. If successful, the message "Done uploading." will appear in the status bar.

If the Arduino board doesn't show up in the Tools | Serial Port menu, or you get an error while uploading, please see the troubleshooting suggestions.

A few seconds after the upload finishes, you should see the amber (yellow) LED on the board start to blink.

Learn More

• Read about the Arduino Environment
• Learn about the parts of the Arduino board
• See the tutorials for some example programs. (There are also some examples available in the examples directory inside the arduino directory.)
• Look up specific Arduino functions and syntax in the reference
• The Arduino programming language is compatible with the Wiring language allowing porting applications from the Wiring board to Arduino. Please note the differences between the Wiring and Processing languages.
• If you're having problems, check the FAQ.
• If you don't find a solution there, try posting in the forums.