Pick Board & Port, Then Upload
Choose the right board and serial port to flash code.
Pick Board & Port, Then Upload is a free Arduino & IoT Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Arduino & IoT Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Two Settings First
Before uploading, the IDE needs two answers: which board you have and which port it is plugged into. Set these once and you are ready. 🙂
Plug It In
Connect the Uno with its USB cable first. The board's power LED should glow, showing the computer is feeding it electricity.
Open Tools Menu
Everything you need lives in the Tools menu at the top. Both the board choice and the port choice hide inside it.
Select the Board
Under Tools, open Board and choose Arduino Uno. This tells the IDE exactly which chip your code is built for.
Why Board Matters
Picking the wrong board can make the upload fail or behave oddly, because each model speaks its own dialect.
Find the Port
Next, open Port in the Tools menu. This is the doorway your computer uses to talk to the connected board.
Spot the Right Port
On Windows the port looks like COM3; on Mac it starts with /dev/cu. Unplug and replug to see which entry appears.
No Port Showing
If no port appears, try another USB cable. Some cheap cables only carry power, not the data your code needs.
Verify Before Upload
Click Verify first to compile your sketch. Catching errors here is faster than waiting for a failed upload.
Hit Upload
Now press Upload. Tiny RX and TX lights on the board will flicker as your code streams into the chip.
Done Uploading
When the console shows Done uploading, your sketch is now running on the board, even if you unplug the cable. ✨
Quick Check
Let's lock in the two must-set choices.
Recap
You set the board, picked the right port, verified, and uploaded. Seeing Done uploading means success. 🎉
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Pick Board & Port, Then Upload” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Pick Board & Port, Then Upload” is free to read here on the web, and the Arduino & IoT Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Arduino & IoT Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Pick Board & Port, Then Upload”?
Choose the right board and serial port to flash code. You practise Arduino & IoT Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Arduino & IoT Academy?
No prior experience is required. Arduino & IoT Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Pick Board & Port, Then Upload” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Arduino & IoT Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Arduino & IoT Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Tour of the Arduino Uno
- Installing the Arduino IDE
- Pick Board & Port, Then Upload
- Run the Built-in Blink Example