# Help connecting ESP8266 sparkfun thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Arduino\ **Created:** [29 October 2025 23:01 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523 "2025-10-29T23:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gabriel303628](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gabriel303628](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gabriel303628)\ **Post date:** [29 October 2025 23:01 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/1 "2025-10-29T23:01:51Z")
Hello, I’m currently building a smart terrarium that utilises arduinos and sensor to moniter the environment. I’m doing this for a school project and have purchased all the sensor and items I need. The board I’m using is called the Sparkfun thing ESP8266 but I’m having troubles figuring out how to connect the board to Arduino IDE. When I search for boards in the board manager the board doesn’t come up. I have some idea that you can do preferences to add different boards but I don’t really know where to start can someone please help me? ---
**Author:** ![Michael99645](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/michael99645/32/11893_2.png) [@Michael99645](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Michael99645)\ **Post date:** [30 October 2025 05:56 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/2 "2025-10-30T05:56:02Z")
> [@Gabriel303628](#): > > ESP8266 FYI I dont use that board or the Arduino IDE, so take this as is. A quick google and this seems to be what your after. > **[Installing ESP8266 in Arduino IDE (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux) | Random Nerd...](https://randomnerdtutorials.com/how-to-install-esp8266-board-arduino-ide/)** > > Learn how to install the ESP8266 board add-on in Arduino IDE in less than 1 minute. This guides works in any operating system: Windows PC, Mac OS X, and Linux. Happy to wait for the experts to comment 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/jane/32/12622_2.png) [@Jane](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jane)\ **Post date:** [30 October 2025 23:19 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/3 "2025-10-30T23:19:55Z")
Seems you are the expert here, Michael, cause that’s pretty much exactly it. @Gabriel303628, were you able to connect to the Arduino IDE via these instructions? ---
**Author:** ![Gabriel303628](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gabriel303628](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gabriel303628)\ **Post date:** [3 November 2025 07:50 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/4 "2025-11-03T07:50:56Z")
yup got it connected, seems to work fine Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Gabriel303628](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gabriel303628](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gabriel303628)\ **Post date:** [6 November 2025 22:54 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/5 "2025-11-06T22:54:29Z")
I might have caught another problem. I’m trying to connect my board to arduino ide but the port isnt showing up. Ive tried downloading drivers to fix this problem for the board/chip but the port still doesn’t show up. I’ve switched the cable connecting the board to my laptop but it still doesn’t show up which makes me think it isn’t an issue with the connector cable. Can anyone help me out? ---
**Author:** ![Jane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/jane/32/12622_2.png) [@Jane](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jane)\ **Post date:** [7 November 2025 04:20 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/6 "2025-11-07T04:20:50Z")
Hey Gabriel, I’ve definitely had moments where Windows computers don’t want to let go of a serial port even after you’ve removed your device. Usually that can be solved via a reboot of the IDE and if all else fails rebooting the computer. Was the problem persisting through a reboot? ---
**Author:** ![Gabriel303628](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gabriel303628](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gabriel303628)\ **Post date:** [7 November 2025 11:41 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/7 "2025-11-07T11:41:46Z")
I have tried restarting arduino ide and my laptop but it still doesn’t solve the problem. I also installed a program that also shows me all my usb connections and when i plug the connector in nothing shows up so idk… ---
**Author:** ![Robert93820](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@Robert93820](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Robert93820)\ **Post date:** [8 November 2025 00:48 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/8 "2025-11-08T00:48:32Z")
Hi Gabriel How about “I don’t know” instead “of idk”. Some of us oldies might have a bit of trouble with these modern phone type hieroglyphics or abbreviations. When I for one come across this and it looks like taking a bit of time to figure out I just go to the next topic and ignore that one. You are not alone. Some just use initials instead of a device title so the same applies. All good if you are sitting there composing these shortcuts but to the great unwashed they usually mean nothing. Like “PD” i queried once. Reply…means “Power Delivery” of course. Last time I looked in the real live electronics world “PD” meant “Potential Difference” Cheers Bob ---
**Author:** ![Jane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/jane/32/12622_2.png) [@Jane](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jane)\ **Post date:** [10 November 2025 03:26 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/9 "2025-11-10T03:26:32Z")
Hmm, that’s a strange one. Are you receiving any error messages or is the IDE just no longer recognising that there is any board attached? Could you please also confirm that the power switch to the right of the USB port is in the ‘On’ position? ---
**Author:** ![Gabriel303628](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gabriel303628](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gabriel303628)\ **Post date:** [12 November 2025 22:22 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/10 "2025-11-12T22:22:53Z")
It seems that Arduino IDE can’t detect any output coming from the board into my computer and my computer can also not see the connection between the board. The board is definitely on but still no connection. I’ve switched the cable many times so I don’t think its a problem with the cable connection being power only and not USB and power transfer. ---
**Author:** ![Michael99645](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/michael99645/32/11893_2.png) [@Michael99645](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Michael99645)\ **Post date:** [13 November 2025 01:09 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/11 "2025-11-13T01:09:02Z")
I wonder if you need to force it into boot mode by hand for some reason ? ```auto ESP8266 into boot mode, manually pull the GPIO0 pin low while resetting the chip. On boards with buttons, press and hold the "BOOT" or "FLASH" button, then press and release the "RST" button, and finally release the BOOT button ``` ---
**Author:** ![Jane](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/jane/32/12622_2.png) [@Jane](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Jane)\ **Post date:** [13 November 2025 03:55 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/help-connecting-esp8266-sparkfun-thing/23523/12 "2025-11-13T03:55:19Z")
> [@Gabriel303628](#): > > It seems that Arduino IDE can’t detect any output coming from the board into my computer and my computer can also not see the connection between the board. The board is definitely on but still no connection. I’ve switched the cable many times so I don’t think its a problem with the cable connection being power only and not USB and power transfer. Hi there, Gabriel303628, I have just realised the problem here. The ESP8266 SparkFun Thing actually cannot be flashed via USB. It requires a [3.3V FTDI Basic Serial Adapter](https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwidzPihne6QAxWMOHsHHdiqF3sYACICCAEQBxoCdG0&co=1&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAiA_dDIBhB6EiwAvzc1cFxSmhrgeJfqCoqJ9ObqqPQvsNivvsB1jTNDppOUEbkxOeKRoDiDFhoCJHMQAvD_BwE&cid=CAASmAHkaN1bNhygDrz685M8f4imIcf6Oa9FzCsg1ISYQDg5-LpJZdqgYUBA2ITOdJe7k6P2Cx-8DtdUC2tNNEOv5iaR-KhOefWtdmOY-xWzg6i3HK9veRJAOj18QgOVyQmBPe1Kc0eUsc4dS4KJ08Kz7ByG4Vu0OZB4a_3FZtUmqL50t04ZD4z0YMDB3vGJWvysfwNH52Kz65uIRQ&cce=2&category=acrcp_v1_32&sig=AOD64_1fWdd63LdpxlJhYq2U_hDl_jmgBQ&ctype=5&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwjg5_Chne6QAxW-rVYBHTukNi0Q9aACKAB6BAgPEB0&adurl=) program it, or really any serial converters with 3.3V I/O levels should work just fine as well. The converter does need a DTR line in addition to the RX and TX pins so that FTDI Basic will work fine.