Beginners Guide to Installing 3rd party / User Libraries

Non Interference


When starting out it is easy to get overwhelmed with 'problems'. To help things go smoothly I start with a clean system so initially to make sure that there is no interference between libraries remove all existing libraries from the user library area. This is normally found in a subdirectory called 'libraries' below the user sketch folder. In my case this is

C:\Users\Paul\Google Drive\Development\Arduino\libraries

Delete all the files in this directory.



Obviously this will remove any 3rd party libraries already installed but I have found it a valuable step to make sure a new library works correctly.

NOTE: This step is not compulsory and can be missed out if 100% confident or not a complete Virgin!


Installing User Libraries In the Arduino IDE

To install new libraries in Adruino IDE go to

Sketch|Import Library|Add Library

then navigate to the library to be installed. If it is a ZIP it will be decompressed and installed to the user library area mentioned above namely inside


C:\Users\Paul\Google Drive\Development\Arduino\libraries