Frequently Asked Questions

ArduinoStudio is a browser-based platform that lets you control Arduino boards visually — no code, no IDE, no uploads. You build sequences by dragging hardware components onto a canvas, configure their settings, and press Play to run them on real hardware in real time.

Not for every project. In Chrome, Edge, or on a Chromebook, USB direct (Web Serial) runs the Standard LED, Servo, Button, Photoresistor, Switch and Potentiometer blocks on a real board with nothing installed. Most other blocks, such as the RGB LED, DC motor, relay and several sensors, need the ArduinoStudio Bridge desktop app on a real board, and a few don’t work properly on a real board yet. Firefox and Safari always need the Bridge.

Arduino Uno R3, Uno R4 WiFi, Uno R4 Minima, Mega 2560, Nano, Micro, Leonardo, and ESP32 dev boards. See the supported boards page in the docs for the full, current list.

Firmata is a protocol that allows software to communicate with Arduino boards in real time. The first time you connect an Uno, Nano or Mega over USB direct, the setup wizard uploads Firmata firmware straight from the browser, with no installer. The Bridge desktop app can flash it too. This replaces any existing sketch but can be overwritten by uploading from the Arduino IDE later.

Yes — the free plan lets you create projects, use all hardware components, and run sequences. Premium plans add features like project cloning, public portfolios, and more sequences per project.

The app is optimized for desktop browsers. The Interface viewer works on mobile, but the Logic editor (canvas) requires a desktop browser for the best experience.

When you press Play, the browser runs your sequence and sends each step to your Arduino over USB using Web Serial and the Firmata protocol. Sensor readings come back the same way. The Bridge desktop app relays the same Firmata messages for Firefox and Safari, and for the blocks that run on a real board only through the Bridge.

Yes — make your project public and share the link. Others can view your sequences, interface design, and even run them on their own Arduino board.

The editor has 21 hardware blocks: DC Motor, Servo, Relay, Piezo, ESC, RGB LED, Standard LED, Photoresistor, Potentiometer, Button, IR Motion, Switch, Proximity, Joystick, Thermometer, Barometer, Hygrometer, Accelerometer, Gyro, IMU, and Compass. Not every block runs on every connection yet, and a few do not work yet. The components page in the docs lists what each block does in the simulator, over USB direct and through the Bridge.

Try a different USB cable (some are charge-only) or a different USB port. Then click USB direct in the editor toolbar, click Connect on the USB direct row, and pick the port in the browser dialog. On Linux, make sure your user is in the dialout group. Check that no other program (Arduino IDE, serial monitor) is holding the same port.

Yes — just open the Arduino IDE and upload any sketch normally. It will overwrite the Firmata firmware. You can always re-flash Firmata from ArduinoStudio later.

A small desktop app that relays between the browser and your board over USB. You need it in Firefox and Safari, which have no Web Serial, and on any browser for the blocks that run on a real board only through the Bridge (a few blocks don’t work properly on a real board yet, with or without it). On Chrome, Edge, and Chromebooks, projects that use only the Standard LED, Servo, Button, Photoresistor, Switch and Potentiometer blocks don't need it. On Windows and macOS it auto-updates; on Linux, download the latest .deb from the download page.

Yes — you can cancel anytime from your account settings. Your projects remain accessible on the free plan, but premium features will be locked.

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