# Add LVGL to an ESP32 IDF project (/integration/chip_vendors/espressif/add_lvgl_to_esp32_idf_project)



LVGL can be used and configured as a standard [ESP-IDF](https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf) component.

If you are new to ESP-IDF, follow the instructions in the [ESP-IDF Programming guide](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32/get-started/index.html) to install and set up ESP-IDF on your machine.

Using LVGL in Your ESP-IDF Project [#using-lvgl-in-your-esp-idf-project]

The simplest way to integrate LVGL into your ESP-IDF project is via the [esp\_lvgl\_port](https://components.espressif.com/components/espressif/esp_lvgl_port) component. This component, used in the [ready-to-use projects](/integration/chip_vendors/espressif/overview), provides helper functions for easy installation of LVGL and display drivers. Moreover, it can add support for touch, rotary encoders, button or USB HID inputs. It simplifies power savings, screen rotation and other platform specific nuances.

The esp\_lvgl\_port supports LVGL versions 8 and 9 and is compatible with ESP-IDF v4.4 and above. To add it to your project, use the following command:

```sh title="sh" lineNumbers=1
idf.py add-dependency "espressif/esp_lvgl_port^2.3.0"
```

By default, esp\_lvgl\_port depends on the latest stable version of LVGL, so no additional steps are needed for new projects. If a specific LVGL version is required, specify this in your project to avoid automatic updates. LVGL can also be used without esp\_lvgl\_port, as described below.

Obtaining LVGL [#obtaining-lvgl]

LVGL is distributed through [ESP Registry](https://components.espressif.com/), where all LVGL releases are uploaded.
In case you do not want to use esp\_lvgl\_port, you can add [LVGL component](https://components.espressif.com/component/lvgl/lvgl) into your project with following command:

```sh title="sh" lineNumbers=1
idf.py add-dependency "lvgl/lvgl^9.*"
```

Adjust the `^9.*` part to match your LVGL version requirement. More information on version specifications can be found in the [IDF Component Manager documentation](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/idf-component-manager/en/latest/reference/versioning.html#range-specifications). During the next build, the LVGL component will be fetched from the component registry and added to the project.

**Advanced usage: Use LVGL as local component**

For LVGL development and testing, it may be useful to use LVGL as a local component instead of from the ESP Registry, which offers only released versions and does not allow local modifications. To do this, clone LVGL to your project with the following command:

```sh title="sh" lineNumbers=1
git submodule add https://github.com/lvgl/lvgl.git components/lvgl
```

<Callout type="info">
  All components from `${project_dir}/components` are automatically added to the build.
</Callout>

Display Integration [#display-integration]

For a successful LVGL project, you will need a [display](/main-modules/display) driver and optionally a touch driver. Espressif provides these drivers that are built on its [esp\_lcd](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/stable/esp32/api-reference/peripherals/lcd/index.html) component.

* esp\_lcd natively supports some [basic displays](https://github.com/espressif/esp-idf/tree/master/components/esp_lcd/src)
* Other displays are maintained in [esp-bsp repository](https://github.com/espressif/esp-bsp/tree/master/components/lcd) and are uploaded to ESP Registry
* Touch drivers are maintained in [esp-bsp repository](https://github.com/espressif/esp-bsp/tree/master/components/lcd_touch) and are uploaded to ESP Registry

These components share a common public API, making it easy to migrate your projects across different display and touch drivers.

To add a display or touch driver to your project, use a command like:

```sh title="sh" lineNumbers=1
idf.py add-dependency "espressif/esp_lcd_gc9a01^2.0.0"
```

Configuration [#configuration]

To configure LVGL, launch the configuration menu with `idf.py menuconfig` in your project root directory. Navigate to `Component config` and then `LVGL configuration`.

The current LVGL settings can be made permanent for the project by creating a file called
`sdkconfig.defaults` in the project root and moving the `CONFIG_LV_` symbols to it.

Per-chip defaults are possible too: a defaults file whose name ends with the chip variant is
applied only to that chip. For example, `sdkconfig.esp32p4` applies only to an ESP32-P4 IDF
project.

Starting the LVGL component [#starting-the-lvgl-component]

Once the IDF project and the LVGL component have been configured, the early initialization is
ready to use, but the LVGL subsystem still has to be started manually by calling
`bsp_display_start()`, or `lvgl_port_init()` if LVGL was configured manually, for example
without the `esp_bsp` component.

After calling this function, LVGL will be running in the background; that is,
unlike the usual approach, there is no need to periodically call <ApiLink name="lv_timer_handler" />,
this function is called by a background task managed by the IDF.

```c title=" " lineNumbers=1
void app_main(void)
{
    bsp_display_start();
    bsp_display_backlight_on();

    bsp_display_lock(0);
    lv_demo_benchmark();
    bsp_display_unlock();
}
```

For cases when the `esp_bsp` is not being used, it is possible to invoke
the ESP-LVGL port directly:

```c title=" " lineNumbers=1
void app_main(void)
{
    const lvgl_port_cfg_t lvgl_cfg = ESP_LVGL_PORT_INIT_CONFIG();
    esp_err_t err = lvgl_port_init(&lvgl_cfg);

    lv_demo_benchmark();
}
```

Building and Flashing [#building-and-flashing]

Building an IDF project that uses LVGL is no different from any other IDF project. On the
command line, several commands can be combined into one:

```sh title="sh" lineNumbers=1
idf.py build flash monitor
```

After flashing, the monitor console is launched automatically.