MCUXpresso Config Tools simplify and accelerate hardware configuration for NXP microcontrollers. This video walks through the full workflow - from project setup and device selection to a fully validated configuration - showing how quickly developers can get started using an intuitive, guided environment. It highlights the four core components - Pins, Clocks, Peripherals, and TEE -demonstrating their graphical interfaces, tight integration, and features like automatic configuration updates, live code generation, and issue detection with guided fixes. Overall, the tools enable faster, more reliable design by combining automation, validation, and ease of use, helping developers efficiently move from concept to working hardware configuration.

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools 26.03 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Version 26.03 Clocks Hierarchy for local configuration element settings is supported. TEE Multicore Interrupt Handling for Single Security Domain is supported. Option to filter only user-defined memory regions is added. Interrupts are now separated into groups based on the core.

In the MCUXpresso IDE, the config tools updates are disabled by default. To update Config Tools integrated in the MCUXpresso IDE follow these steps: Select Manage..., check MCUXpresso Config Tools Update Site and click Apply and Close     After enabling MCUXpresso Config Tools Update Site, use Help > Check for Updates for automatic update

Serial Memory Tool Training   Welcome to the Serial Memory Tool training! This course is designed to help you understand and efficiently use the Serial Memory Tool. You’ll learn how to check external memory connections, configure memory interfaces, optimize performance, and prepare your setup for production. By the end of this training, you’ll be confident in managing memory configurations, running tests, and generating the necessary files for your applications 01 - Introduction: The Serial Memory Tool Get an overview of the Serial Memory Tool, its purpose, and how it simplifies memory configuration and testing. Learn why this tool is essential for optimizing memory performance and reducing design time. 02 – Installation and Documentation Learn how to install the Serial Memory Tool from the Visual Studio Marketplace and where to find the most up-to-date documentation. We’ll guide you through initializing the toolchain and accessing practical examples on GitHub. 03 – The Tool’s UI Explore the user interface of the Serial Memory Tool. Understand the different panels, including MCU and Memory selection, available tests, and board connection options. Discover how to navigate and configure settings efficiently. 04 – The Configuration Panel Dive into the Configuration panel to set core frequency, memory properties, FlexSPI connection, and communication protocol. These settings impact your memory performance and board compatibility. 05 – Configure FlexSPI and Protocol, and Test Configuration Understand how to configure FlexSPI parameters and communication protocols. Learn how to verify your setup using initialization and read/write tests, and interpret logs for troubleshooting. 06 – Custom Memory Configuration and Export FCB Learn the process of working with custom boards and memories. Find out how to adjust FlexSPI parameters, modify LUT tables, and export the FlexSPI Configuration Block (FCB) binary for use in your application. Conclusion By completing this training, you have learned how to: Install and set up the Serial Memory Tool. Navigate its user interface and configure memory settings. Optimize FlexSPI connections and run validation tests. Work with custom boards and memories. Save, import, and export configurations, including generating FCB files. For more details and download, see https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=NXPSemiconductors.flexspi  

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v25.12 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via: https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) General Project management of the SDK West project is supported since SDK version 25.12

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v25.09 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) General • SDK West is supported as a new toolchain project starting with SDK version 25.09. • The Release Notes format is updated from plain text to markdown. • Fixed missing information about the toolchain project in the Dashboard dialog shown for the first time from VSCode. • The newly generated configuration includes the default NXP copyright notice and is licensed under the BSD-3-Clause license. Clocks – Supported input frequency setting

How to set up Zephyr pins through MCUXpresso Config tools - create DTSI file for your custom board. Create a new project for Zephyr pins tool Interface introduction - where to find what? Create DTSI for custom boards MCUXpresso Config tools download page 

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v25.06 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) • DCD – The pattern for identifying the tool source files is improved. • Clocks – Support for read-only element settings is added. – Filtering all settings of Initialization modules in the Details view is supported. • Peripherals – The wizard to export the Registers view data in the CSV format is added. – Performance of the tool is improved. • An ability to export/import Expansion Boards, Expansion Headers, and System Manager components is added.

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v25.03 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE (Version 25.03 can be updated from IDE) https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Version 25.03 • Output Paths Overrides for toolchain project is fixed. • "Filter source files" search bar with case-sensitive checkbox is removed. • TEE – Sort for Peripheral Configurations table is added.

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v24.12 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Version 24.12 • The creation (cloning) of the projects based on the SDK examples will no longer be supported in the future releases of the MCUXpresso Config Tools. Please start using the  MCUXpresso SDK CMake, Kconfig-based build, and configuration system to create MCUXpresso SDK standalone projects for the IAR Embedded Workbench, Keil uVision, GCC ARM Embedded, and/or CodeWarrior Development Studio toolchains. For detailed documentation, see the SDK Build And Configuration System documentation. • A new Radio option to create configuration for Zephyr in the New Configuration Wizard is added. • Clocks – Modular clocks initialization is supported. – Initialization mode is visible in the Clocks diagram and Details view. – A new Modular Initialization view for the configuration of initialization mode and core selection of the module is created. • TEE – The configuration and overview of areas with the same address and different address space is supported. – The Code generation can be toggled for global options groups. – The process for releasing ELE crypto before setting up TRDC is supported. – Support for MCUs with multiple SAUs, MPUs, NVIC triggers and interrupts (per core) is added. – A new tab to Security Access Configuration view for AXBS cross-bar switch configuration is added. – Flash Logical Window (FLW) configuration is supported. – TRDC Memory region checkers (MRC) restrictive overlap handling is supported. • Pins – The Miscellaneous tab for various Pins configuration options is added. – Filtering for routing dialogs is added. – Import of DTSI files is added.

MCUXpresso Config Tools provide a USB configuration component that allows configuring USB settings in a graphical environment and generates a configuration and sample C code according to the configuration.  This tutorial shows how to create the configuration and sample code for the mouse and keyboard HID USB class for the RT1050 EVKB board and build it using the MCUXpresso IDE.  Note: The i.MX RT1050 EVKB board is used; however, the instructions are applicable in a similar way on other NXP EVK boards.   Prerequisites EVKB-IMXRT1050 board  MCUXpresso IDE (v.11.x)  The SDK package for the board (EVKB-IMRT1050)  must be imported and ready to use into MCUXpresso IDE (in the installed SDKs)  Steps 1. Launch MCUXpresso IDE and click Create a new C/C++ project…:  2. Select the EVKBIMXRT1050 board in the MIMXRT1050 processor folder, click  Next:  3. Specify the project name (for example, Test_USB). In the Middleware section, select USB > USB Device. Then click Finish: 4. Unfold the drop-down menu (down arrow) of the Config tools icon (X) and launch the Peripherals tool: 5. In the Peripherals view of the Peripherals tool, click the USB1 peripheral checkbox, ignore the error for now: 6. When the Add configuration component instance dialog appears, select the USB configuration component, click  OK: 6. The USB configuration component instance is added. As it requires the component for MPU initialization, click the + icon to add it.  Confirm the selection of the MPU utility component in the dialog that appeared. Keep the MPU component in the default setting and close its editor tab. 7. In the USB component settings editor, select the HID Keyboard (bare metal) in the preset drop-down list:   The keyboard interfaces are now added to the Supported interfaces list and pre-configured. 8. To add the mouse interface, click the + in the Supported interfaces section. Select the newly added item and change the Class item to HID.   9. Check that the Use case Preset for the interface #1 is set to 'Mouse':   10. The Problems view shows an error as the clock function is inactive by default. To enable it, right-click on the error and select “Enable USBPHY1 PLL clock”: Note:  Optionally, it's possible to click the Show the problem… and adjust it in the Clocks tool. 11. Click the Update Code button in the main toolbar, a pop-up appears: In the pop-up, confirm the code update by clicking the OK button: Build the application using the Build Command in the Quickstart Panel.   13. Now connect the board to the computer via the USB debug connection. Note: The EVKB-IMXRT1050 board provides multiple USB connectors. For flashing the application, it is it’s necessary to use the debug connection.  Also ensure that the board power is configured properly. There are several other configuration jumpers on the board. So in case the application cannot be flashed or debugged,  follow the user guide of the board. 14. To launch the application in the debugger, click the Debug text located in the bottom-left corner of the IDE.   This launches the debugging and the connected board should be detected. Confirm the selection of the debug probe.   Once the connection is successful, launch the application by clicking the Run button. If the application connects successfully, connect an additional USB cable from the application USB connector to your PC. The generated source code files contain a sample code that moves a mouse cursor in a loop and sends Home and End keys. After the cable is connected and the application runs, the movement of the mouse cursor and the text cursor moves left to right are visible.      

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v16.1 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) • Fixed missing information about the toolchain project in the Overview dialog shown for the first time. – The Update code dialog opened from the Overview dialog shows the *.cgen.yml file. • Incorrect detection of the selected toolchain file after the command-line execution is fixed. The problem occurs for the folders with multiple different toolchain project files. • Creating a configuration from the toolchain project that does not contain the tool configuration in the MEX file or in the tools source file is allowed. • Open-CMSIS generator support – The usage of the path information from *.cbuild-gen-idx.yml for generation of the *.cgen.yml file is supported. • Clocks – Disabling enabled clock outputs that have settings with shared bit-fields after reopening the configuration is fixed. – Clock slices with multiple outputs are supported. • TEE – An incorrect number of the MPU region attributes shown for the configuration of RT1180 is fixed. – An incorrect domain visibility and tab names when DAC is disabled on RT1180 is fixed.

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v16.0 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) The product is based on Eclipse 2023-12 - A new command-line argument ( -UpdateCode) has been added. It performs the same action as the Update Code button in the user interface. It must be used with -HeadlessTool. - The command-line argument -CreateFromProject is improved, it no longer requires the -HeadlessTool argument and opens the toolchain project in the UI. - The command-line arguments -CreateFromProject and -ImportProject are improved. They no longer allow setting the toolchain project file path (for example, *.cbuild-gen-idx.yml, *.uvprojx, *.ewp, CMakeLists.txt) directly. TEE – The query for pins labels and routed signals is updated to work on the new NPI. – Global tool options now support enum, boolean, and string with the ability to define the regex validator. – Access templates are now greyed out when the global ones are used. – The legacy source names option is disabled when ROM output is selected. – MPU tabs are now sorted by top domain index and then alphabetically. – The correct representation of TRDC domains is implemented by removing mix domains. – Peripheral areas are now correctly stored within the correct tab. – The side-channel attack warning is added to the RAM security settings. – The Trigger tab for configuration of the ITRC register RW fields is added. PLU – Minor bug fixes Peripherals – Support for unique identification of configuration components is finished. – Support for settings with indentation, but no label content is added. Pins – Simultaneous routing detection (routing of one signal may result in multiple signals being routed based on the same register settings) is added. In that case, such signals are offered to be added into the configuration. – Support of internal pins that are not available on the package is added. Clocks – Creation of the clock model has been accelerated. Open-CMSIS generator – The open-CMSIS solution is supported as a new toolchain. – The generation of the .cgen.yml file is supported. – The generation of new source files inside the project output folder is supported. – The location of the MEX file inside the project output folder is supported.

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v15.1 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Config Tools v15.1 • On MacOS aarch64, the missing Overview is fixed. • TEE – Pin tables now only contain items for specific configuration (mask/security/interrupts).   Community MCUXpresso Config Tools      

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v15.0 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Config Tools v15.0 • The product is based on Eclipse 2023-06. • Support for SDK 2.15 in the Project cloner and Detect toolchain project is added. TEE – Setting a security level for a special three-state model is improved. – Validation for the uniqueness of DID, match and mask input for XRDC2 is added. – Default global access templates are now created if needed by checkers and missing within MEX. PLU – An error is now reported when a Verilog code contains a signal that was not declared. – A capability to select one input for some logic gates for which it does not make sense is removed. – A button to erase the whole diagram is added. – Support to keep intermediate files generated by an external program for debugging purposes is added. – The behavior of selecting the LUT type Custom to keep the previous logic table and added buttons to set it to zeros or ones is changed. – The status bar to the schematic view is added. Peripherals – A bug with the documentation view in a version integrated to the MCUXpresso IDE is fixed. – The mechanism that handles opening views that were opened in the previous session to work with identification of the configuration instead of its location on disk is updated. – A new optional experimental loading mechanism for components is prepared. This mechanism will be used by default in the next release. Pins – Validation to ensure that elements can be configured by the selected core is added.– Rows are sorted in the Peripheral Signals routing dialog. – The connected pins column in External User Signals always shows the pin's full name. – The missing scroll bar in the External User Signals view is fixed.   Clocks – Support for multicore code generation is added. – Global configuration elements now support tree structure and can be categorized. – Fractional PLL now supports a custom range and negative numerator. – Scrolling in the clock diagram by pressing the mouse wheel (drag and drop) is supported.   DCD – An issue with the code generation that stopped working after drag and drop of a group is fixed.   MCUXpresso IDE integration – Support for multiple MEX files within one project (toolbar Project combo + autoload MEX on IDE startup) is improved.   Community MCUXpresso Config Tools  

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v14.0 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Full details on the release (features, known issues...) Config Tools v14.0 The product is based on Eclipse 2022-12 Open JDK 17 is updated. Batch processing on command line is supported. Support for SDK 2.14 in Project cloner and Detect toolchain project is added. Link to a toolchain project on a location different than .mex file is added. The command for discarding changes and reloading .mex (MCUXpresso IDE) is added. Quick fix for errors allows setting the "Called by the default initialization function" flag when it would fix an error. Search functionality to Code Preview is added. TEE MCXN-947 combination of AHBSC with TRDC (MBC) is supported. Export TEE registers via wizard or command line is available. Boot ROM hiding feature is supported. Tier mode for TRDC is supported. Domain ambivalence for RDC masters is added. Master-specific memory alias Validation for A28 bit of MPU region address is added. Memory map filters are aligned with Arm terminology. Status bar is united with other tools. PLU Tools used for Verilog synthesis and model optimization are replaced. Linux, Mac, and Apple silicon platforms are supported. Newer versions of Verilog standard are supported. Creation of flip-flop circuits outside Direct mode is supported. Support for special comment that contains mapping information is added. Support for Verilog code resynthesis is added in the new command-line option. Buttons in Schematic view are reordered to groups of related buttons on each row. Information from Verilog synthesis and model optimization tools is added to the error dialog. Peripherals Migration of Peripherals tool components to the latest supported version on current MCU in command line is supported. User information on the dependency of the tool on another tool disabled in the configuration is improved. Migration report generation is supported. The generated report may contain instructions on how to handle incompatible changes between versions of the configured SDK component. Opening links to websites in the Documentation view in an external browser is supported. Pins Labels defined for Expansion header pins can be set as identifiers of the routed pin. Expansion headers can be locked for editing. Expansion headers and boards are added to the HTML and CSV reports. Columns from Routing Details can be added to the External User Signals view. New External User Signals can be created for all routed pins that are missing in the signals table. Clocks Support for the same frequencies settings from different source for internal clocks is added. Community MCUXpresso Config Tools

This article was written for MCUXpresso Config tools v12 and older. Newer MCUXpresso Config tools can map Arduino expansion boards into compatible expansion headers automatically, without the need for any virtual adapter and even with possibility to utilize all the spare pins!   This tutorial shows how to apply and use the appropriate Arduino virtual adapter file (virtual adapters are attached) to utilize Arduino compatibility across different expansion headers. Benefit Virtual adapter board files allow users of the Pins tool from the MCUXpresso Config tools suite to use the expansion board file intended for a standard Arduino expansion header with other NXP expansion headers that are compatible with the Arduino standard but not mechanically identical (for example, they use two rows of pins).   Arduino-compatible expansion headers Freedom Header (Kinetis FRDM boards) LPCXpresso V3 (LPC boards) LPCXpresso V3 Mirrored Normally, such expansion headers are treated as different in the Pins tool, but the virtual adapter file transforms the current board header into the standard Arduino header so the user can apply the expansion boards referencing the standard Arduino header. For details on the expansion board, see Creating expansion board definition file for Arduino Multifunction shield.   Step 1: Open the Expansion Header view   Open the Expansion Header view if it is not open. In the standalone MCUXpresso Config tools, select the command Views > Expansion header  In the MCUXpresso IDE, select the command Window > Show view > Expansion Header    Step 2: Apply the Arduino virtual adapter file   The application of the virtual adapter file is the same as the application of the expansion board definition file. Use the attached virtual adapter files. Press the “Apply expansion board” button Locate the virtual adapter file and confirm Select if you want to create the functional group (recommended) Choose which names you would like to use in your source code Apply the expansion board   Step 3: Switch to the newly created header   Choose the Arduino adapter header option and select the newly created “Arduino adapter” header. Using the “+” button, select and apply an expansion board intended for the standard single-row Arduino header, and it will be connected to appropriate pins automatically.    

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v13.1 are now available. Downloads It’s a part of MCUXpresso IDE https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/ide/download In order to use it with other toolchains, download the installer for all platforms, please login to our download site via:  https://www.nxp.com/mcuxpresso/config Please refer to MCUXpresso Config Tools documentation for installation and quick start guides. For online version, login into MCUXpresso site: MCUXpresso WEB Release Notes Config Tools v13.1 Pins tool Fix incomplete routing of deinit functions Update of data for Config Tools v13 and v13.1 General Update of MC56F80xxx support to the latest processor data Fix of missing MIMXRT1170-EVKB board configuration Pins tool Bug fix of incorrect labels of PMOD expansion header in Pins tool Peripherals tool Register init. components Bug fix of PLU Register init. component on LPC550x/S0x processors Bug fix of Peripherals tool FlexIO RIC SDK init. components Support of fcb Peripherals tool component for RT104x and RT116x processors Memory validation tool Update of DDR tool data for i.MX8M and i.MX93 processors Update of Memory validation tool data for Layerscape and i.MX RT processors Community MCUXpresso Config Tools  

We are pleased to announce that MCUXpresso Config Tools v13 are now available.