# ESP32 Exception Decoder missing from menu **URL:** \ **Category:** IDE 2.x\ **Created:** [December 23, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271 "2025-12-23T12:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271/1 "2025-12-23T12:52:59Z")
Using IDE 2.3.7 on Win 11 with an ESP32 Dev board (not a fancy variant) I get an exception error and reboot that I want to get to the bottom of. However, the ESP32 Exception decoder does not appear in the IDE menu. I thought that it used to be in Tools I have esp-exception-decoder-1.1.1.vsix in C:\Users\.arduinoIDE\plugins but I cannot recall the last time that I used it What am I missing ? Do I need to change a board setting perhaps ? ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271/2 "2025-12-23T12:59:00Z")
Hi @UKHeliBob. > [@UKHeliBob](#): > > I thought that it used to be in Tools That is only in Arduino IDE 1.x (with the Arduino IDE 1.x plugin). With the Arduino IDE 2.x extension, the exception decoder is accessed via Arduino IDE's "command palette": [https://github.com/dankeboy36/esp-exception-decoder#usage](https://github.com/dankeboy36/esp-exception-decoder#usage) > ## Usage > > 1. Open a sketch in the Arduino IDE and verify it. > 2. Upload the sketch to your ESP8266/ESP32 board. > 3. Open the _Serial Monitor_ view to monitor the output for exceptions. > 4. When an exception occurs, open the _Exception Decoder_ terminal: > - Open the _Command Palette_ using Ctrl/⌘+Shift+P. > - Type `ESP Exception Decoder: Show Decoder Terminal` and press Enter. Give that a try and let us know if you still have any problems using the "ESP Exception Decoder" extension. ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271/3 "2025-12-23T13:08:22Z")
Thanks Per, it works Whether or not I can decipher what it is telling me is another matter ! ---
**Author:** ![UKHeliBob](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ukhelibob/32/215663_2.png) [@UKHeliBob](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/UKHeliBob)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271/4 "2025-12-23T13:22:09Z")
All sorted. Details don't matter in this case but with the help of the decoder I figured out that the sketch, an example from a library, was trying to control the brightness, colour, colour temperature and saturation of a wireless controlled plug. No wonder that there was a problem I have made a note of the instructions for the Exception decoder for future use ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-exception-decoder-missing-from-menu/1421271/5 "2026-06-21T13:23:05Z")
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