Install the Arduino IDE

If you haven’t already installed the Arduino IDE, you can download it from the official Arduino website.

Add the ESP8266 Board URL

1. Open the Arduino IDE.
2. Go to File > Preferences.
3. In the Additional Board Manager URLs field, paste the following URL:
   http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
4. Click OK to save your changes.

Install the ESP8266 Board Package

1. Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager.
2. In the search bar, type “ESP8266”.
3. When the ESP8266 by ESP8266 Community package appears, click Install.
4. Once installed, you’ll see a list of ESP8266-compatible boards under Tools > Board.

Select Your Board and Port

1. Connect your ESP8266 board to your computer via USB.
2. Go to Tools > Board and select your specific ESP8266 board model (e.g., NodeMCU 1.0, ESP-01).
3. Next, go to Tools > Port and select the port where your ESP8266 is connected.