{"id":94759,"date":"2020-03-10T15:33:12","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T15:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/?p=94759"},"modified":"2025-04-12T16:33:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T16:33:42","slug":"esp32-cam-ai-thinker-pinout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/esp32-cam-ai-thinker-pinout\/","title":{"rendered":"ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker Pinout Guide: GPIOs Usage Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The ESP32-CAM is a development board with an ESP32-S chip, an OV2640 camera, a microSD card slot, and several GPIOs to connect peripherals. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the ESP32-CAM GPIOs and how to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinout Diagram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following image shows the pinout diagram for the ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"ESP32-CAM<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Schematic Diagram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following figure shows the schematic diagram for the ESP32-CAM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/center><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can download a PDF file with better resolution on this GitHub repository<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power Pins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ESP32-CAM comes with three GND<\/span> pins (colored in black color) and two power pins (colored with red color): 3.3V<\/span> and 5V<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can power the ESP32-CAM through the 3.3V<\/span> or 5V<\/span> pins. However, many people reported errors when powering the ESP32-CAM with 3.3V, so we always advise to power the ESP32-CAM through the 5V pin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power output pin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There’s also the pin labeled on the silkscreen as VCC<\/span><\/strong> (colored with a yellow rectangle). You should not use that pin to power the ESP32-CAM. That is an output power pin. It can either output 5V or 3.3V. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our case, the ESP32-CAM outputs 3.3V whether it is powered with 5V or 3.3V. Next to the VCC pin, there are two pads. One labeled as 3.3V and other as 5V. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"ESP32-CAM<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you look closely, you should have a jumper on the 3.3V pads. If you want to have an output of 5V on the VCC pin, you need to unsolder that connection and solder the 5V pads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serial Pins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GPIO 1<\/span> and GPIO 3<\/span> are the serial pins (TX and RX, respectively). Because the ESP32-CAM doesn’t have a built-in programmer, you need to use these pins to communicate with the board and upload code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to upload code to the ESP32-CAM is using an FTDI programmer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how to upload code to the ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use GPIO 1<\/span> and GPIO 3<\/span> to connect other peripherals like outputs or sensors after uploading the code. However, you won’t be able to open the Serial Monitor to check if everything is going well with your setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GPIO 0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

GPIO 0<\/span> determines whether the ESP32 is in flashing mode or not. This GPIO is internally connected to a pull-up 10k Ohm resistor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When GPIO 0 is connected to GND, the ESP32 goes into flashing mode and you can upload code to the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n