![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ESP32-IDF-Create-Template.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPrerequisites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before following this guide, you need to install the ESP-IDF extension on VS Code IDE (Microsoft Visual Studio Code). Follow the next guide to install it, if you haven’t already:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Getting Started Guide:<\/strong> Programming ESP32 with ESP-IDF using VS Code<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You will also need an ESP32 development board<\/a> model of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating an ESP-IDF Template App Project for the ESP32<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The ESP-IDF extension on VS Code can easily create a new ESP-IDF project for the ESP32 with all the needed files and configurations automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To create a new ESP-IDF project on VS Code, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Open the ESP-IDF Espressif extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Expand the “Advanced<\/strong>” menu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click the “New Project Wizard<\/strong>” option<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choose the “Use ESP-IDF v5.4.1<\/strong>” to select the framework version<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Create-Open-New-Project-Wizard-Menu.png?resize=937%2C742&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nA new window opens, you need to fill in these fields:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Project Name:<\/strong> type the desired project name;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enter Project Directory:<\/strong> click the folder icon and select the target folder to save all your project files. You can use any directory. Note:<\/strong> do NOT use a Google Drive \/ One Drive \/ Dropbox folder<\/u>, because it will write\/create many files during the building process\u2014if it’s on a cloud folder, this process might be extremely slow;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF Target:<\/strong> select the target device chip, I’m using an ESP32 with the esp32s3<\/strong> chip;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF Board:<\/strong> for the esp32s3 chip, I also need to select the configuration: ESP32-S chip (via builtin USB-JTAG);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Serial Port:<\/strong> while having your ESP32 board connected to your computer, select the correct COM port number that refers to your ESP32;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choose Template:<\/strong> click the blue button to create a new project using a template.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Create-Open-New-Project-Wizard-Menu-Select-Directory-Board-Template.png?resize=983%2C856&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIn the menu, select the “ESP-IDF Templates<\/strong>” sample project and press the “Create project using template sample project<\/strong>” button.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Create-New-Sample-Project-using-IDF-Template.png?resize=1178%2C744&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOpening the ESP-IDF Project on VS Code<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After a few seconds, a notification will appear on a new window on VS Code. You can click “Open Project<\/strong>” to open the newly created ESP-IDF sample project template.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Open-New-Project-Sample.png?resize=1024%2C503&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIMPORTANT:<\/strong> if you didn’t see the notification that allows you to automatically open the ESP-IDF project on VS Code, you can easily do it by following these instructions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go to File <\/strong>> Open Folder…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Open-Project-Folder-VS-Code-File-Menu.png?resize=396%2C315&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nBrowse on your computer for the esp-idf-project folder<\/em> (your project folder name that you’ve previously defined) and “Select Folder<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ESP-IDF-ESP32-Open-Project-VS-Code-Select-Folder.png?resize=667%2C366&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThat’s it! Your new ESP-IDF project template has been successfully created and opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Programming ESP32 with ESP-IDF using VS Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
That’s it, your first project has been created. You can get started programming your ESP32 boards with your first Blink<\/a> project by following our guide ESP-IDF: ESP32 Blink LED Example<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"ESP-IDF](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ESP-IDF-Extension-Installation-Completed-VS-Code-ESP32.jpg?resize=900%2C667&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In this tutorial, you learned how to create a template ESP32 project using VS Code. You can now program your ESP32 board using ESP-IDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some ESP-IDF tutorials that you may find helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Programming ESP32 with ESP-IDF using VS Code \u2013 Getting Started Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF: ESP32 Blink LED Example (VS Code)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF: ESP32 GPIO \u2013 Control Digital Outputs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF: ESP32 GPIO PWM with LEDC (Control LED Brightness)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can check our ESP32 resources (with Arduino IDE) to learn more about the ESP32 board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Learn ESP32 with Arduino IDE (eBook)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More ESP32 Projects and Tutorials\u2026<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is a quick guide for getting started using ESP-IDF with the ESP32. Learn how to create a template on VS Code to program your ESP32 using ESP-IDF. Prerequisites Before … <\/p>\n
- More ESP32 Projects and Tutorials\u2026<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- ESP-IDF: ESP32 Blink LED Example (VS Code)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enter Project Directory:<\/strong> click the folder icon and select the target folder to save all your project files. You can use any directory. Note:<\/strong> do NOT use a Google Drive \/ One Drive \/ Dropbox folder<\/u>, because it will write\/create many files during the building process\u2014if it’s on a cloud folder, this process might be extremely slow;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click the “New Project Wizard<\/strong>” option<\/li>\n\n\n\n