Getting started

Install using Thonny

Requirements

A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with the Thonny Python IDE installed.

You can find information on how to install Thonny in the Introduction to Raspberry Pi Pico guide.

Once Thonny is installed, you will need to ensure that you are using the latest MicroPython firmware. Details on how to install or update the Raspberry Pi Pico MicroPython firmware can be found in the Pico guide.

Select the MicroPython interpreter

You can change which interpreter you are using in Thonny by selecting the desired option at the bottom right of the screen. Make sure that MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico) is selected.

Selecting MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico) from the interpreter menu in the bottom right of the Thonny IDE

Install picozero from PyPI in Thonny

To install picozero within Thonny, select Tools > Manage packages…

Selecting Manage Packages from the Tools menu in Thonny

Search for picozero on PyPI.

picozero entered in the Search box of the Manage Packages window in Thonny

Click on install to download the package.

Information about the picozero package shown in the Manage Packages window

Manual install

picozero can be installed by copying the picozero.py code to your Raspberry Pi Pico.

Either clone the picozero GitHub repository or copy the code from the picozero.py file and save it on your main computer.

Create a new file called picozero.py, copy code into the file and save it on your Raspberry Pi Pico.

Copy picozero.py using Thonny

Alternatively, you can use the Thonny file manager to transfer the picozero.py file to your Raspberry Pi Pico.

In the View menu, ensure that the Files option has a tick. This will let you see the files.

The Files option selected from the View menu

Either clone the picozero GitHub repository or copy the code from the picozero.py file and save it on your main computer.

In Thonny, navigate to the cloned directory or location you saved the file in and find the picozero.py file.

Right click on the file and select the Upload to / option. You should see a copy of the picozero.py file on the Raspberry Pi Pico.

The "Upload to /" option selected in the picozero.py file menu

The picozero.py file shown in the Raspberry Pi Pico file viewer.

Write a program to control the onboard LED

The following code will blink the onboard LED at a frequency of once per second.:

from picozero import pico_led
from time import sleep

while True:
    pico_led.on()
    sleep(0.5)
    pico_led.off()
    sleep(0.5)

Run the program on your computer

You can choose to run the program from your computer.

Click on the Run current script button.

Choose to save the script on This computer and provide a filename.

Run the program on your Raspberry Pi Pico

You can choose to run the program from the Raspberry Pi Pico.

Click on the Run current script button.

Choose to save the script on Raspberry Pi Pico and provide a filename.

If you call the file main.py, it will run automatically when the Pico is powered on.