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  VS Arduino › › › VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
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Hot Topic (More than 8 Replies) VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed (Read 1782 times)
Chris Wood
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VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Sep 14th, 2026 at 6:47pm
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I just installed a board package by unzipping it into arduino15\packages. It's for the Waveshare ESP32S3 XIP 7" display. The only way it comes is as a zip file that I downloaded and unzipped.
The Arduino IDE recognizes this board, and l can compile my project on the IDE, but Visual Micro board manager can't find that board.
What can I do to "find" that board?
  
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Tim@Visual Micro
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #1 - Sep 14th, 2026 at 10:16pm
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if you are using the correct ide selection in visual micro then it should be automatically detected and not require a 2nd board manager install.

please follow the guide in yellow at the top of the page so we can see what you have selected.

initially just build bare bones code for any board so we can see your general config.
  
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Chris Wood
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #2 - Sep 14th, 2026 at 10:54pm
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Here's the build properties.
There was no package_xx_index.json file and I think I have screwed things up more by trying to create one.

Thanks,
Chris
  
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Tim@Visual Micro
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #3 - Sep 15th, 2026 at 4:05pm
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yes you can actually put custom hard below the sketchbook/hardware folder. it avoids the json discussion but if the arduino ide sees it vm should so please provide the url to the zip you used.
  
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Chris Wood
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #4 - Sep 15th, 2026 at 5:10pm
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Here's the zipped file:
Waveshare ESp32S3 XIP package files
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hyWGmStVypenhOjHrTdqtWjc__V0kAyS/view?usp=shari...
  
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Tim@Visual Micro
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #5 - Sep 15th, 2026 at 7:23pm
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Thanks, is there an official repository/site where you got this?
  
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Chris Wood
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #6 - Sep 15th, 2026 at 7:46pm
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Oh, but I wish there was...
I got it here:
https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/Esp32-XIP-3.1.1_Development_Board_Installation

The board it's for is the Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch LCD 7 Type B. The "Type B" is the key. 
The previous version (without the B) is well supported and, if I recall correctly, it's in the ESP32 package from Espressif. But, alas, that won't work with the B.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #7 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 3:31am
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Thanks for the report. The arduino ide spec was extended to auto install local packages using the installed.json located lower down in the package folder. That caters for zips that are already in the correct structure for arduino15\packages.

An update for Visual Micro will be published over the next couple of days. This thread will be updated when it's available.

Thanks again
  
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Chris Wood
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #8 - Sep 18th, 2026 at 5:31pm
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Thanks, that will be great. I appreciate the great support.
  
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Tim@Visual Micro
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #9 - Sep 21st, 2026 at 5:37am
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Please install the LATEST from here https://www.visualmicro.com/forums/YaBB.pl?board=VS_ARDUINO_EXT_RELEASES

The release will also be published to the gallery over the coming week but the download found from the above link is a normal visual micro release.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #10 - Sep 21st, 2026 at 9:37pm
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Still no joy. You are looking in "l\arduino15\packages\esp32-XIP-3.1.1\hardware\esp32\3.1.1\boards.txt" and not installed.json, right?
installed.json just mimics Espressif's file. The only place that I have seen the board name is in boards.txt.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #11 - Sep 21st, 2026 at 9:58pm
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sure. arduino15\packages is the default location for board packages unless overridden in the visual micro app settings or arduino ide. 

Please post a screen image of your arduino15\packages folder. I did use a simpler folder name for the Esp32XIP package but I see the boards in my test.

Yes the json we look for is simply what arduino also looks for. It doesn't have much bearing other than a crude check to ensure it's a valid package structure.

We downloaded the package from the web site link you provided.

Please also provide new output from esp32dev board so we can confirm your config again.

« Last Edit: Sep 21st, 2026 at 10:09pm by Tim@Visual Micro »  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #12 - Sep 21st, 2026 at 11:29pm
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Here's my Arduino15/packages folder and another build report.
I tried the short folder name, but no joy.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #13 - Sep 21st, 2026 at 11:50pm
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Thanks, maybe the package_esp_s2s3_xip_index.json is throwing it out. did did you add that manually? does the arduino ide still see the board you want? does removing the file and either restarting visual studio or clicking vMicro>General > Rescan toolchains and libraries them show the board?
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #14 - Sep 22nd, 2026 at 12:44am
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I did put that file there, and removing it makes no difference. The Arduino IDE still sees the board. Restarting Visual Studio, Rescan in Micro Explorer, and Rescan Toolchains & Libraries do no good.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #15 - Sep 22nd, 2026 at 6:11am
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which ide are you using? vs2026? 2022?
  
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Chris Wood
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #16 - Sep 22nd, 2026 at 1:43pm
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VS2026 Latest version
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #17 - Sep 22nd, 2026 at 9:59pm
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Thanks. We review the spec again. I suspect you are missing the installed.json but it doesn't matter because missing meta can be ignore. An attempt to load the package is now made regardless. Please try the LATEST .08 release. Thanks.

https://www.visualmicro.com/forums/YaBB.pl?board=VS_ARDUINO_EXT_RELEASES

  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #18 - Sep 23rd, 2026 at 12:39am
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Still no joy. I updated Visual Micro and even unzipped the package again. 
Do you get this when you unzip it? 
I never worried about it because I'm not using Matter, but anything might be causing this.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #19 - Sep 23rd, 2026 at 3:35am
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Yes those files are in the zip (exe). I was in a temp folder,  right clicked it and selected extract here then copied the files across. looks like you did similar. please show your installed boards list. we will try your json urls so we have same packages installed. not sure why that would be an issue but if you have the files under packages as per earlier screen shot you provided then the board should be available in the installed boards list, on the vmicro menu and on the toolbar.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #20 - Sep 23rd, 2026 at 6:23pm
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I think this is what you are asking for (if not, tell me where to find it):
http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/package_adafruit_index.json
https://downloadcd.dfrobot.com.cn/boards/package_DFRobot_index.json
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json
https://github.com/stm32duino/BoardManagerFiles/raw/master/package_stmicroelectr...
https://resource.heltec.cn/download/package_heltec_esp32_index.json
https://static-cdn.m5stack.com/resource/arduino/package_m5stack_index.json
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #21 - Sep 23rd, 2026 at 9:11pm
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Thanks sorry I wasn't clear, those were in the output you provided. I was hoping to see screen shot of the installed packages on 1st tab of the platform explorer.
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #22 - Sep 24th, 2026 at 12:16am
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I've seen you image with 3 packages showing. That's different to the screen shot you sent earlier of the installed packages in windows explorer.

That made me revisit your build properties and I had missed your paths were showing as C:\Users\chris\AppData\Local\arduino15\packages\packages\

Notice the duplicate \packages path.

I suspect you have entered an alternative packages path in the visual micro IDE Locations. Clear the path if you have set it. Out of interest, please let us know what was entered into that path.

That means visual micro is looking somewhere else for packages and you must have used boards manager to install them separately to what the arduino ide installed. we should share the same packages folder, it's the default.

If that's not the issue it means we are incorrectly reading the arduino 2 config files. Switch the sketch to use Visual Micro (No IDE) instead of Arduino 2 if you want to work without confusion of Arduino IDE config files. That's all we use from the Arduino IDE v2 system. and the config files only optionally specify platform and sketchbook locations. It's almost irrelavent if Arduino is installed or not.

Thanks
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #23 - Sep 25th, 2026 at 5:45am
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Thanks for the email. 

You should leave the optional folder for downloaded board packages empty. Let's see what you see in board manager when you do that.

As far as I can see this is potentially an invalid path C:\Users\chris\AppData\Local\arduino15\packages

Your current windows user folder potentially is "C:\Users\chris woods" not "C:\Users\chris". One of the screen shots in your email shows it.

1) Clear the path from IDE locations
2) In "Tools>options>visual Micro>Applications and Locations" make sure there is no value set. 

This will ensure Visual Micro uses either Arduino 2 paths or if using Visual Micro (No IDE) it will ensure the default user path that windows feeds us is the right path. 

If that doesn't help then please enable compile verbose in arduino ide file>preferences. then build in arduino ide and email or post the output as a file.

Thanks
  
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Re: VM doesn't recognize the board package I just installed
Reply #24 - Sep 25th, 2026 at 5:55am
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And also note that optional field is for arduino15 folder not the packaged sub folder. There are other folders that are used. Not just packages but also staging. So clearing the path is best course of action
  
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