Getting started
Open a project
The welcome page offers:
- New project…: pick a folder and create a schematic and board in it. If the folder
already holds
.kicad_schor.kicad_pcbfiles, the new project can adopt them instead of starting blank. - Open project…: open an existing
.kicad_pro. - Open folder…: open a folder, with or without a project in it.
- Open file…: open a single file.
- Open sample project…: download an example design from GitHub to look around in.
A KiCad project opens in place. See KiCad compatibility for what happens to files from older KiCad versions.
The editors
Each file opens in its own tab, and the editor follows the file type.
| File | Editor | Also in the tab |
|---|---|---|
.kicad_sch |
Schematic | Components table, Schematic Setup |
.kicad_pcb |
PCB | Layout, 3D preview and Board setup views; fab outputs |
.kicad_sym |
Symbol | One symbol per tab |
.kicad_mod |
Footprint | Footprint and 3D preview views |
With nothing selected on a board, the properties panel’s Fabrication outputs button opens Gerbers, drill files, BOM and pick-and-place export.
Schematic and board
The schematic and the board stay separate files. Selecting a part in one selects it in the other, and in the Components table, across split panes and windows.
Schematic changes reach the board when you ask: Tools ▸ Update PCB from Schematic… (F8) lists what will change before applying it.