Installation Methods

The ESP-IDF Installation Manager (EIM) offers multiple ways to install ESP-IDF based on your needs.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

The GUI installer provides two primary entry points from the welcome screen:

New Installation: A wizard that guides you through the installation process. It offers both a streamlined Simplified Installation and a more customizable Expert Installation.
Offline Installation: If an offline archive (.zst file) is detected, the installer will present this option to perform a full installation without an internet connection.

Installation methods

If you have an existing ESP-IDF installation, the welcome page will change to give you the option to Manage Installations, which takes you to the new Version Management dashboard.

Welcome - version already present

Command Line Interface (CLI)

The CLI version is ideal for:

Automated installations
CI/CD pipelines
Docker environments
Users who prefer command line tools

Interactive Mode: Run without parameters for a step-by-step wizard.
Headless Mode: Use command line arguments for automated installations.