# Installation of ESP-IDF and Tools on Windows

[中文]

This section describes how to install ESP-IDF and its required tools on Windows using the Espressif Installation Manager (EIM).

Note

This document describes the default and recommended way to install ESP-IDF v6.0 and newer versions. ESP-IDF also supports the legacy method for updating ESP-IDF tools on Windows.

## Step 1: Install the EIM

Install the EIM Graphical User Interface (GUI) or Command Line Interface (CLI) via WinGet:

- GUI:

        winget install Espressif.EIM

- CLI:

        winget install Espressif.EIM-CLI

Note

Installing via WinGet makes it easier to keep EIM up to date.

Alternatively, download the EIM installer for Windows from the Espressif Download Page, which provides both online and offline installers available in both CLI and GUI versions.

## Step 2: Install ESP-IDF Using EIM

You can install ESP-IDF and the required tools using one of the following methods, depending on your preference:

- Online Installation Using EIM GUI

  Recommended for most users. Installs ESP-IDF and tools via a graphical interface with internet access.

- Online Installation Using EIM CLI

  Installs ESP-IDF and tools from the command line with internet access.

- Online Installation Using a Loaded Configuration

  Installs ESP-IDF and tools using a pre-saved configuration file copied from another PC. This method works with both the GUI and CLI, but requires internet access.

- Offline Installation

  Installs ESP-IDF and tools from a local package, without internet access.

### Online Installation Using EIM GUI

Open the ESP-IDF Installation Manager application eim.

Under `New Installation` click `Start Installation`.

EIM Start Installation

Note

If you have never installed ESP-IDF before, you will not see `Manage Installations`. In this case, `New Installation` will be the only available option.

Under `Easy Installation`, click `Start Easy Installation` to install the latest stable version of ESP-IDF with default settings.

EIM Easy Installation

If all prerequisites and path checks pass, you will see the `Ready to Install` page. Click `Start Installation` to begin the installation.

EIM Ready to Install

During the installation, you can monitor the progress directly in the interface.

EIM Installing

Once finished, the `Installation Complete` page will appear.

EIM Installation Complete

If the installation fails, you can:

- Click `Logs` at the bottom of the interface to view error details. Resolve the issues and click `Try Again` to restart the installation.

- Alternatively, use Custom Installation.

Note

- To select an ESP-IDF version or customize the installation path, use `Custom Installation` instead. See more instructions in EIM documentation > Expert Installations.

- To manage existing installations, refer to EIM documentation > Version Management.

### Online Installation Using EIM CLI

Run the following command to install the latest stable version of ESP-IDF with default settings in non-interactive mode:

    eim install

If you encounter issues running the above command, or if you want to customize the installation path, select ESP-IDF versions, or modify other options, launch the interactive installation wizard and follow the on-screen prompts:

    eim wizard

If the ESP-IDF version you want to install is not available in the interactive wizard, run the following command to install any available versions. For example, to install ESP-IDF v5.4.2, run:

    eim install -i v5.4.2

Once the installation is complete, you will see the following message in the terminal:

    2025-11-03T15:54:12.537993300+08:00 - INFO - Wizard result: %{r}
    2025-11-03T15:54:12.544174+08:00 - INFO - Successfully installed IDF
    2025-11-03T15:54:12.545913900+08:00 - INFO - Now you can start using IDF tools

Note

- To see all available options, run:

        eim --help

- For more information about CLI usage, refer to

  - EIM documentation > CLI Configuration

  - EIM documentation > CLI Commands

### Online Installation Using a Loaded Configuration

When you install ESP-IDF, the installer automatically saves your setup to a configuration file named `eim_config.toml` in the installation directory. This configuration file can be reused on other computers to reproduce the same installation setup.

To install ESP-IDF using an existing `eim_config.toml` file, refer to the EIM documentation > Configuration Files.

### Offline Installation

Both the GUI and CLI installers support offline installation. For instructions, refer to EIM documentation > Offline Installation.

## Next Steps

You are now ready to start developing with ESP-IDF. To begin building and running your first application, continue with the Build Your First Project section.

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