How to Set Up an ESP32-C3 and ESP32-S3

The ESP32-C3 and ESP32-S3 are newer members of the ESP32 family. The C3 is a low-cost single-core RISC-V chip with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, while the S3 is a dual-core part with more memory and native USB, popular for camera and AI-at-the-edge projects. Both install through the same Arduino core. If you would rather have the board, sensors, and a tested sketch arrive together, Compoden's AI build assistant turns a described project into a parts list, wiring, and code, then ships the kit. Here is the manual setup.

What you need

You need an ESP32-C3 or ESP32-S3 development board, a data USB cable, and the Arduino IDE. Many C3 and S3 boards use the chip's native USB, so no external serial driver is needed. Boards that use a separate CH340 or CP2102 chip will need that driver instead.

Add the ESP32 boards manager URL

Open the Arduino IDE, go to File then Preferences, and add this to "Additional boards manager URLs": https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json. Click OK, open Tools, Board, Boards Manager, search "esp32", and install "esp32 by Espressif Systems". This single package covers the original ESP32, the C3, and the S3.

Select the right board

Go to Tools, Board, esp32, and pick the variant that matches your hardware, for example "ESP32C3 Dev Module" or "ESP32S3 Dev Module". Choosing the wrong variant is the most common reason a sketch compiles but will not run, so confirm the chip printed on your board before selecting.

Enable native USB if needed

On many S3 and C3 boards the chip's own USB acts as the serial port. If the Serial Monitor stays blank after upload, go to the Tools menu and set "USB CDC On Boot" to Enabled, then re-upload. This routes printed output to the native USB port. Boards with a separate USB-serial chip do not need this.

Upload a test sketch

Select the COM port under Tools, Port. Open File, Examples, Basics, Blink. Some C3 and S3 boards put the user LED on a different pin or use an addressable RGB LED, so if plain Blink does nothing, check your board's documentation for the LED pin. Click Upload. If the upload does not begin, hold the BOOT button, tap RESET, release BOOT, then upload to force download mode.

Test Wi-Fi

Open File, Examples, WiFi, WiFiScan. Upload it and open the Serial Monitor at 115200 baud. The board should list nearby networks, confirming the radio and toolchain are both working before you build anything larger.

Build it with Compoden's AI

Describe your project to Compoden's AI build assistant, for example a BLE sensor tag on the C3 or a camera build on the S3, and it picks the right ESP32 variant plus the sensors or camera module you need, provides wiring for the 3.3V pins, and writes starter code with the correct board and USB settings. The kit ships to your address in India, so you go straight to building.

Tell Compoden's AI assistant what you want to build and get an ESP32-C3 or S3 kit set up for it. You can also browse the full catalog for modules and sensors.

FAQ

Do the C3 and S3 use the same Arduino core? Yes. The single "esp32 by Espressif Systems" package supports the original ESP32, the C3, and the S3. You just select the matching board variant.

Why is my Serial Monitor blank on an S3? Many S3 boards use native USB, so set "USB CDC On Boot" to Enabled in the Tools menu and re-upload to route serial output to the USB port.

How do I force download mode? Hold the BOOT button, tap RESET, release BOOT, then start the upload. This puts the chip into the mode needed for flashing.