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Associate
February 21, 2026
Solved

Getting started with STM32CubeIDE

  • February 21, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 483 views

Hi I am just getting started with STM32CubeIDE for a project I am doing at my university!
I have made an account and installed the software, and I got the board (NUCLEO-L552ZE-Q), I wanted to start a new project with the board to try and blink and LED.

But somehow I cant find it anywhere where to create a new project that is not an empty project because I want my board automatically connected to my project, because I have read some online where they said a question "Initialize all peripherals with their default Mode?" will appear once you created a new project and want to connect the board.

The alternatives I get when pressing Create/Import STM32 Project is:

1. STM32CubeIDE Empty Project

2. C++ Project

3. C project

4. STM32 CMake Project


Please let me know if I have done something wrong with the installation or if there is something I missed.

Thanks in advance!

Best answer by unsigned_char_array

Use STM32CubeMX to create a project.

3 replies

Lead II
February 21, 2026

Use STM32CubeMX to create a project.

"Kudo posts if you have the same problem and kudo replies if the solution works.Click ""Accept as Solution"" if a reply solved your problem. If no solution was posted please answer with your own."
Associate
February 21, 2026

Ok because I got the link to install STM32Cube from my Employer
https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubeide.html, which I just installed and that is where I am today.

That was just the regular STM32CubeIDE, are you sure it is not compatible with my NUCLEO-L552ZE-Q?

Lead II
February 21, 2026

MX is no longer integrated in IDE. So get MX separately.
https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubemx.html

"Kudo posts if you have the same problem and kudo replies if the solution works.Click ""Accept as Solution"" if a reply solved your problem. If no solution was posted please answer with your own."
Andrew Neil
Super User
February 24, 2026

As @unsigned_char_array already noted, you now need to use CubeMX as a separate tool to create & configure a project.

See STM32CubeIDE 2.0.0 New workflow tutorial.

 

Note also that STM32CubeIDE 2.1.0 has just been released today

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.
Associate
February 24, 2026

Ok so you guys dont recommend installing an older version, since I will need to use both MX and STM32CubeIDE to debug and start a project.

Thanks for the help so far

Andrew Neil
Super User
February 24, 2026

You could do that.

IIRC, that last CubeIDE version before the split was 1.19 ?

But, as you're just starting out, it would seem more sensible to start with what's current than to start with something that's already out-of-date!

 

On the other hand, using older versions would be compatible with a whole load of older tutorials.

 

It's up to you really.

 

You mention this is a university project, and an employer is involved. Therefore you should discuss with your tutors/supervisors - they might have specific reasons for one approach or the other ...

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.
Associate
February 24, 2026

Thanks!

I actually already asked the employer and here is what he said : "It seems that ST has separated
MX from the IDE in the latest release of its IDE. MX is for configuring clocks, pins,
peripherals, etc. So either you download both and configure in one
and hack/debug in the other. Or you download
an older version of Cube IDE that contains both."

So what I was asking is what you guy recommend for me to use, since I am doing a secure boot project with OTA updates, so lots of debugging and registers.., I was wondering if I should just use the older versions for this or just install both STM32CubeIDE and MX and do the tasks on each one by itself or just download and older version and do everything in the same place!