![\"Upload](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-Micro-USB-Programmer-CH340G-Serial-Chip.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker<\/a> module is an ESP32 development board with an OV2640 camera, microSD card support, on-board flash lamp and several GPIOs to connect peripherals. And it costs just a few bucks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, one of the biggest hassles when working with the ESP32-CAM Ai-Thinker module is uploading code to the board. The AI-Thinker board doesn’t have a built-in USB programmer. In previous tutorials we recommended using an FTDI programmer to connect to the board through the serial pins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, you also needed to follow another two or three steps until successfully uploading the code. But, now you can simply use the ESP32-CAM-MB USB programmer<\/a> and click the Upload button to successfully program your board. It’s that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can open the next link to check the available stores to get the ESP32-CAM-MB USB Programmer. The package includes the ESP32-CAM-MB Programmer and it might also include the ESP32-CAM board itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker MB programmer is a shield that you attach to your ESP32-CAM board GPIOs. The following image shows the programmer and the ESP32-CAM side by side.<\/p>\n\n\n The programmer comes with the CH340C USB to serial chip. <\/p>\n\n\n This allows you to program the ESP32-CAM using the USB port on the shield.<\/p>\n\n\n Additionally, the shield also comes with a RESET and a BOOT (IO0) buttons. This may be useful to easily reset the ESP32-CAM or put it into flashing mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To program the ESP32-CAM board with Arduino IDE, you need to have Arduino IDE installed as well as the ESP32 add-on. Follow the next tutorial to install the ESP32 add-on, if you haven\u2019t already:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, simply connect the MB programmer to the ESP32-CAM as shown in the following image.<\/p>\n\n\n Then, connect the board to your computer using a USB cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After that, in your Arduino-IDE, follow the next steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Go to Tools <\/strong>> Board <\/strong>and select AI-Thinker ESP32-CAM<\/strong>. You must have the ESP32 add-on installed<\/a>. Otherwise, this board won\u2019t show up on the Boards menu.<\/p>\n\n\n 2) Go to Tools <\/strong>> Port <\/strong>and select the COM port the ESP32-CAM is connected to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: <\/strong> if the board doesn’t show up, it means that you probably don’t have the CH340C drivers installed on your computer. Go to Google and search “CH340C drivers” followed by your operating system and install the drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) For demonstration purposes, you can copy the following blink <\/em>sketch:<\/p>\n\n\n View raw code<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This sketch, simply blinks the on-board flash LED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4) Then, click the Upload <\/strong>button in your Arduino IDE.<\/p>\n\n\n And that’s it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should get a message saying the code was successfully uploaded and your board should be blinking the LED flash. <\/p>\n\n\n Troubleshooting<\/strong>: if the board doesn’t boot automatically and you can’t upload code, follow one of the next two procedures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1)<\/strong> While connecting the shield to the PC (with the ESP32-CAM already installed), press and hold the IO0 button. After connecting, the IO0 button can be released and the code can be uploaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2)<\/strong> While the shield (with the ESP32-CAM installed) is connected to the PC, press and hold the IO0 button and then briefly press the RST button on the ESP32-CAM. Then the IO0 button can be released and the code can be uploaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker MB Programmer<\/a> is the easiest way to program the ESP32-CAM board. You no longer have to use an FTDI programmer and experience timeout issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope you have found this article useful. You can try our projects with the ESP32-CAM:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learn how to upload code to the ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker board using the ESP32-CAM-MB micro USB programmer. This is the easiest way to program your ESP32-CAM board. This micro USB programmer … <\/p>\nGetting the ESP32-CAM-MB USB Programmer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-wifi-esp32-cam-ov2640-micro.jpg?resize=600%2C600&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nESP32-CAM AI-Thinker MB Programmer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-Micro-USB-Programmer-CH340G-Serial-Chip-for-OV2640.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-CH340G-Serial-Chip-USB-Converter.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-CH340G-Serial-Chip-USB-Port.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nProgram ESP32-CAM using the MB Programmer (Arduino IDE)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-Micro-USB-Programmer-CH340G-Serial-Chip-OV2640-Camera.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Select](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Select-ESP32-CAM-Ai-Thinker-Arduino-IDE.png?resize=699%2C362&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\/*********\r\n Rui Santos & Sara Santos - Random Nerd Tutorials\r\n Complete instructions at https:\/\/RandomNerdTutorials.com\/esp32-cam-projects-ebook\/\r\n Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files.\r\n The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.\r\n*********\/\r\n\r\n\/\/ ledPin refers to ESP32-CAM GPIO 4 (flashlight)\r\nconst int ledPin = 4;\r\n\r\nvoid setup() {\r\n \/\/ initialize digital pin ledPin as an output\r\n pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);\r\n}\r\n\r\nvoid loop() {\r\n digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);\r\n delay(2000);\r\n digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);\r\n delay(2000);\r\n}\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\t![\"Program](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/upload-button-arduino-ide.png?resize=32%2C32&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"ESP32-CAM-MB](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/ESP32-CAM-MB-Micro-USB-Programmer-CH340G-Serial-Chip-Testing-Demonstration.jpg?resize=750%2C422&quality=100&strip=all&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n