How to install a Library in Arduino (1.8 onwards), using Library Manager

The library manager you will use a lot when you’re making fun projects with Arduino. Libraries provide your sketches with extra functionality.

From the Arduino website, “Libraries are a collection of code that makes it easy for you to connect to a sensor, display, module, etc. For example, the built-in LiquidCrystal library makes it easy to talk to character LCD displays. There are hundreds of additional libraries available on the Internet for download.”.

They can be written by anyone, and you can create your own and share it. When I last checked there were over 4000 libraries!

I’ll jump right in so you’ve got the basic steps on adding libraries to your code.

Accessing the Library Manager

Head to your TOOLS menu and from there you will see, MANAGE LIBRARIES

library manager, in tools — Accessing the library manager in Arduino.

That will open up a window for the manager. I always find this always a little slow to open and frustrating, but it could be because I’ve got a lot of libraries installed.

The library Manager window — The view of the Library Manager.

You might know which library you want to install. Type in the name or part of the component you want to add a library for.

This will show you what libraries are available.

Library Manager, installing a library — Click install to add the library.

Once you have installed the library – and it might take a little time to download, then it will say ‘installed’ on that item. You can also select a different version.

installed libraries — The libraries now say installed.

Alternative way to add the Library, if you’ve downloaded a .zip file

Sometimes you might follow a tutorial and then they provide a download link to a library. You can still add this library to the libraries folder. Once the .zip file has been downloaded onto your computer, go to the menu

SKETCH > INCLUDE LIBRARY > ADD .ZIP LIBRARY

sketch menu — Alternative ways of adding libraries.

Now go to the folder where you downloaded that file and select it.

Example sketches

When it installs the library, it will typically install some example code files as well. These will be available through the file menu once you’ve clicked on install for the file you want.