# IDE 2.3.4, Windows, portable - library folder in custom sketch folder not recognised **URL:** \ **Category:** IDE 2.x\ **Created:** [January 5, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336 "2025-01-05T16:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![milanbx](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/milanbx/32/277429_2.png) [@milanbx](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/milanbx)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336/1 "2025-01-05T16:08:34Z")
Hi, I am running a **portable** version of **Arduino IDE 2.3.4** on **Windows 10**. In **File \> Preferences** , I have **custom Sketchbook location** set to **D:\Arduino\sketch** folder. I have saved several libraries to a **D:\Arduino\sketchylibraries** subfolder. And I have expexted the IDE to find them in this subfolder, as the [documentation says so](https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/articles/4415103213714-Find-sketches-libraries-board-cores-and-other-files-on-your-computer): **"Libraries installed with the Library Manager are stored inside a Sketchbook subfolder:"**. However, if I run Library Manager **Manage Libraries** and filter libraries by setting the **Type** to **Installed** , **no library is shown**. Moreover, if I **install a new library using Library manager** , the new library is stored to a completely diferent location: **%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Arduino\libraries**. Why isn't the new library instaled to **D:\Arduino\sketchylibraries**? Thank you. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336/2 "2025-01-05T16:11:02Z")
I was not aware that IDE 2.x supported a portable installation. Is that a recent change ? ---
**Author:** ![sterretje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sterretje/32/391294_2.png) [@sterretje](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sterretje)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336/3 "2025-01-05T16:15:59Z")
> [@milanbx](#): > > **D:\Arduino\sketchylibraries** Is that a typo? Should be `D:\Arduino\sketch\libraries`. But that will not solve the problem that libraries still seem to be installed in `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Arduino\libraries`. Note: There is, to my knowledge, no portable install of IDE 2.x, only a ZIP install. ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336/4 "2025-01-06T07:49:17Z")
Hi @milanbx. > [@milanbx](#): > > I have saved several libraries to a **D:\Arduino\sketchylibraries** subfolder. However, if I run Library Manager **Manage Libraries** and filter libraries by setting the **Type** to **Installed** , **no library is shown**. The Arduino IDE Library Manager is only used to manage the libraries that are distributed via Library Manager. So if you install libraries via another mechanism ("[**Add .ZIP Library...**](https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide-v1/tutorials/installing-libraries#importing-a-zip-library)" or [manual installation](https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide-v1/tutorials/installing-libraries#manual-installation)), and those libraries are not in the Library Manager index, then it is expected that you won't see those libraries in Library Manager. > [@milanbx](#): > > Moreover, if I **install a new library using Library manager** , the new library is stored to a completely diferent location: **%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Arduino\libraries**. > Why isn't the new library instaled to **D:\Arduino\sketchylibraries**? I'm going to ask you to provide some additional information that might help us to identify the problem. * * * ❗ This procedure is not intended to solve the problem. The purpose is to gather more information. * * * Please do this: 1. Select **File \> Quit** from the Arduino IDE menus if it is running. All Arduino IDE windows will close. 2. Start [Windows " **File Explorer**"](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1). 3. Open the Arduino IDE installation folder. **ⓘ** The default installation location is at one of the following paths: - ```plaintext C:\Program Files\Arduino IDE ``` - ```plaintext C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Programs\Arduino IDE ``` (where `` is your Windows username) ❗ If looking for it with your file manager or command line, note that the `AppData` folder is hidden by default. On [Windows " **File Explorer**"](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1), you can make it visible by opening the " **View**" menu, then checking the box next to " **☐ Hidden items**". 4. In the folder listing of the Arduino IDE installation folder, hold the **Shift** key while clicking the right hand button on the mouse. A context menu will open. 5. Select " **Open PowerShell window here**" from the menu. Windows [**PowerShell**](https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/scripting/windows-powershell/starting-windows-powershell) will now open with the current directory set to the Arduino IDE installation folder. 6. Type the following command: ```plaintext & ".\Arduino IDE" ``` 7. Press the **Enter** key. Debug output should now be printed to the **PowerShell** window as Arduino IDE starts. 8. Wait for Arduino IDE to finish starting. 9. Use the Arduino Library Manager to install any library. 10. Verify that the library was not installed under the `libraries` subfolder of your configured sketchbook location. 11. Switch back to the **PowerShell** window. 12. Press the **Ctrl** + **Shift** + **A** keyboard shortcut. This will select all the text in the **PowerShell** window. 13. Press the **Ctrl** + **C** keyboard shortcut. This will [copy](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-copy-cut-and-paste-for-beginners-5801525) the contents of the **PowerShell** window to the clipboard. 14. Open a forum reply here by clicking the " **Reply**" button. 15. Click the **``** icon on the post composer toolbar. This will add the forum's code block markup ( **`````** ) to your reply to make sure the error messages are correctly formatted. ![Code block icon on toolbar](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/f/3/4/f34b0ef2ecd107da4bf127b3c0bc1c28569e7fe0.png) 16. Press the **Ctrl** + **V** keyboard shortcut. This will [paste](https://lifehacker.com/how-to-copy-cut-and-paste-for-beginners-5801525) the output into the code block. 17. Move the cursor outside of the code block markup before you add any additional text to your reply. 18. Click the " **Reply**" button to post the output. * * * Please let me know if you have any questions or problems while following those instructions. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2025, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-3-4-windows-portable-library-folder-in-custom-sketch-folder-not-recognised/1339336/5 "2025-07-05T07:49:26Z")
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