There are different firmwares that you can use to program the ESP32 and ESP8266 boards. If you want to program the ESP32 or ESP8266 board using the MicroPython firmware, we recommend using uPyCraft IDE. uPyCraft IDE runs in any major operating system. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to install the uPyCraft IDE for MicroPython on a Windows PC.
If you’re using a different operating system, make sure you follow the right guide:
- Install uPyCraft IDE – Mac OS X Instructions
- Install uPyCraft IDE – Linux (Ubuntu 16.04) Instructions
After installing uPyCraft IDE in your computer, we recommend reading: Getting Started with MicroPython on ESP32 and ESP8266.
Installing Python 3.7.X – Windows PC
Before installing uPyCraft IDE, make sure you have the latest version of Python 3.7.X installed in your computer. If you don’t, follow the next instructions to install Python 3.7.X.
1. Go to the Python Downloads page: www.python.org/downloads and download the installation file.
2. After a few seconds, you should have a file called python-3.7.X.exe file in your computer. Double-click the file to open it.
3. Enable the option at the bottom “Add Python 3.7 to PATH“. Then, press the “Install Now” button:
4. Wait a few seconds while the software completes the installation process…
5. When it’s done, you should see the message “Setup was successful” and you can close that window.
Installing uPyCraft IDE – Windows PC
As mentioned before, for this tutorial we’ll be using uPyCraft IDE to program the ESP32 or ESP8266 boards using the MicroPython firmware. In our opinion, uPyCraft IDE is the easiest way of programming ESP based boards with MicroPython at the moment.
You can learn more about uPyCraft IDE on their GitHub repository or explore the uPyCraft IDE source code.
Downloading uPyCraft IDE for Windows
Click here to download uPyCraft IDE for Windows or go to this link https://randomnerdtutorials.com/uPyCraftWindows. After a few seconds you should see a similar file (uPyCraft_VX.exe) in your Downloads folder:
Double-click that file. A new window opens with the uPyCraft IDE software:
We’ll be using this software to flash our ESP based boards with MicroPython firmware as well as to program the boards.
Follow the next tutorial to flash your ESP boards with the MicroPyhton firmware:
Wrapping Up
We hope you’ve found this tutorial useful. This is a quick guide that shows how to install uPyCraft IDE on a Windows computer. If you have a different operating system, read one of the following guides:
- Install uPyCraft IDE – Mac OS X Instructions
- Install uPyCraft IDE – Linux (Ubuntu 16.04) Instructions
Learn more about MicroPython with our eBook: MicroPython Programming with ESP32 and ESP8266
The IDE looks good so far. The examples show MQTT not working yet, that is a must-have for me
I did find MQTT however I can’t get it to connect.
I am using Win 7 pro. I see the port in device manager and is working.
I select the ESP8266 and serial port
it comes back with
could not open port ‘COM7’: PermissionError(13, ‘Access is denied.’, None, 5)
The device is ok I can load the provider list in my area just fine in Arduino.
James
Hi looks good will setup and try out thsnks
Let me know your results.
Every time I try to download uPyCraft IDE I get a Trojan warning so not taking this any further.
Hi John.
This is an open-source project and all the source code is available.
I definitely think this software is secure and you don’t need to worry about.
However, most antivirus won’t allow you to download .exe files from the internet and flag it as suspicious. But you can trust the software. We’re using it without any problems.
Hi Sara,
Thanks for your response. I’ll give it a go and see what happens.
Hi,
I have uPycraft 1.1 and a new NodeMCU ESP32S. Opening PuTTY to COM9 and pressing reset, I can see it boot. I flashed it with uPython 1.9.4-683
There is nothing happening in the uPycraft though. It just says “open serial error”.
Any suggestions how to get a file onto this unit?
Thank you. Your tutorials are great.
Can you restart your board? Did the flash process completed successfully?
Sometimes you need to press the Open/connect button multiple times to establish a connection
Im using Win 10 home and I cant install uPyCraft IDE. error: mscvr100.dll missing.What to do ?
Hi Sten.
Take a look here: https://rntlab.com/question/micropython-course-cannot-get-upycraft-working/
Alternatively, you can try using Thonny IDE for MicroPython. It is very intuitive to use, and you shouldn’t have any problem installing: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Sara
I followed your link and was inspired ! I copied vc_redist.x64 and vc_redist.x86 and installed them both. Restarted and everything worked ! Now i’ve just finished the first moments in your excellent book,
Regards Sten Kristensson Helsingborg /Sweden
I wanted to install uPyCraft on my W10 Pro PC. First I did install the latest version of Python3.7.3 as of today and then I downloaded the file uPyCraft and unzipped it to uPyCraft.exe. When trying to have the IDe installed I get the error message that I have to install the font “SourceCodePro” Checking my W10 pro I got the message the font was already installed. What can I do to fix this?
Here the content of the uPyCraft.log:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 2835, in
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 87, in __init__
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 217, in setFont
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: ‘C:/Users/Hellmut Kohlsdorf/AppData/Roaming/SPB_Data/Desktop/SourceCodePro.ttf’
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 2835, in
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 87, in __init__
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 217, in setFont
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: ‘C:/Users/Hellmut Kohlsdorf/AppData/Roaming/SPB_Data/Desktop/SourceCodePro.ttf’
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 2835, in
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 87, in __init__
File “uPyCraft.py”, line 217, in setFont
FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: ‘C:/Users/Hellmut Kohlsdorf/AppData/Roaming/SPB_Data/Desktop/SourceCodePro.ttf’
Hi.
That’s a current problem of upyCraft IDE. You can try follow these instructions: https://rntlab.com/question/sourcecodepro-font/ and see if it solves your problem.
If it doesn’t, and you don’t want to see that annoying message, I recommend using another IDE like Thonny IDE: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/
Our readers usually like Thonny IDE more than uPyCraft.
Regards,
Sara
hello dear Sara – many many thanks for all your work and the great support. this is very supportive.
your tutorials on the topics uPyCraft, installing on win and linux and the work with ESP32 and 8266 are appreciated.
keep up the great work – it rocks.
martin
Thanks 😀
hello dear Sara
where can i find the neweset version of upyCraft!? I only have the version 1.0 but there must be a newer version out there.
do you know where i can obtain this!?
love to hear from you
howdy – good day – well this is outstanding and very cool
but plz do not forget to mention that many ppl out there would need a driver
the famous Silicon labs CP210X USB to UART Bridge
this might be pretty important for many folks.
besides that – this is a very hot piece of software. Thanks for bringing this to us.
Hi.
Thank you for sharing that. This may be important for many of our readers.
Regards,
Sara
dear Sara,
I am trying to install it on Linux too – on a MX-Linux which is debian based. But at the moment i have troubles to do that.
BTW – you have a similar site – for installing upycraft on Linux – but there some more observance would be great! I guess that many many ppl want to install upycraft on their linux box.
Besides upyCraft i am also configuring
– vscode
– pyCharme
to work on Windows and Linux. I am glad for all recommendations and hints regarding the setup of VSCODE and PyCharme to work with MicroPython
keep up your great work on this place.
After installing Python 3.82 and testing “Hello” ok, I tried the test blink and get a syntax error when run.
from machine import Pin
from time import sleep
led = Pin(2, Pin.OUT)
while True:
led.value(not led.value())
sleep(0.5)
Hi Eliot.
What exact error do you get?
And which line is highlighted?
Double-check that you have the right spacing and indentation in each line.
Regards,
Sara
For the life of me, we are unable to install this on to a Windows 10 PC.
First, when running the installer (uPyCraft_V1.1.exe), we got an error message about msvcr100.dll being missing. So have many others, we see. After installing the right update from Microsoft, no joy.
We noticed somebody had some success by copying msvcr100.dll into their download directory. For us, this let the installer went a little further and then crash.
Would really like to install and try this, and would be happy to pay for something that works and does not have a lot of trial and error to get it running.
Hi.
If upycraft IDE is not working for you, you might consider using Thonny IDE:https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/
Regards,
Sara
Hello,
On windows 10 I can’t install uPyCraft IDE, I get a message : MSVCR100.dll missing
Hello,
Can i install uPyCraft on windows 11?
Thanks for your help
Yes
dear all
I’m trying to install uPyCraft IDE
fist i came to version 1.0., when try to run the system says “msvcr100.dll” is missing
then tried the 1.1 ver. no success, even worse, it comes with an application error message (0xc000007b)
the story is lousy trying to find help over the net…
could you please suggest a fix to my case?
running on win 10 64bit
Thanks in advance
Dimitris Liakos
Hi.
If you’re having a lot of issues trying to use uPycraft IDE, maybe you can try using Thonny IDE instead: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/
Regards,
Sara