# Suggestions for improvements

**URL:** <https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494>\
**Category:** IDE 2.x\
**Created:** [December 24, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494 "2025-12-24T12:34:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yonaGY82](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/yonagy82/32/728591_2.png) [@yonaGY82](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/yonaGY82)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494/1 "2025-12-24T12:34:11Z")

</div>

Hello,

I am using the IDE for years and very happy with it. Yet, I made some suggestions for improvements. I was answered very promptly by the development. I want to thank you for it.

I downloaded and installed revision 2.3.7. This action by itself solved some of the issues. I should have doing it before the submission of the post, and I apologize for it.

1. Sometimes a compilation requires a long time. A button to upload a pre-compiled sketch to the target without recompiling it will help.

Development team response: **This is out of scope for Arduino IDE, which is a tool for** developing Arduino sketches.

OK, accepted. Thank you.

2. The Serial Monitor window:

a. I have two screens. The window should be movable to another screen (was in the past).

Development team response: **The Arduino IDE developers are tracking this request.**

OK, accepted. I’ll wait patiently. Thank you.

b. When running the sketch I print many debug messages. To review it I must disconnect the target from the USB. It would be nice to allow recording the screen data so I can review the resulted file.

Development team response: **The Arduino IDE developers are tracking this request.**

I downloaded and installed version 2.3.7. This issue was solved there.

3. In the past I could open two sketches and work with two targets through different USB ports. In the later versions I still can open two sessions, but they are of the same sketch. This requires a 2nd computer. The functionality of the sketches should be returned.

I downloaded and installed version 2.3.7. This issue was also solved there.

Thank you very much.

Regards

Yona Gy

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 24, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494/2 "2025-12-24T12:58:03Z")

</div>

Point 2 is partly catered for by the new button in 2.3.7 that allows you to copy the Serial output so that you can paste it into a file.

I don't know what you mean by point 3. I regularly, like right now, have two instances of the IDE (2.3.7) running and a different sketch in each on different COM ports. How are you opening the second instance of the IDE ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494/3 "2025-12-24T13:28:01Z")

</div>

Thanks for your suggestions @yonaGY82!

> [@yonaGY82](#):
>
> A button to upload a pre-compiled sketch to the target without recompiling it will help.

This is out of scope for Arduino IDE, which is a tool for developing Arduino sketches.

Excellent open source tools are available for uploading compiled binaries. Arduino provides one such tool, which is named **Arduino CLI** :

[https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/](https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/)

This is a command line tool. It actually provides most of the non-GUI capabilities for **Arduino IDE** under the hood. You can use the `arduino-cli upload` command to upload the previously compiled sketch binary to the target board:

[https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/commands/arduino-cli\_upload/](https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/commands/arduino-cli_upload/)

There are also lower level tools (which are actually used by **Arduino IDE** and **Arduino CLI** under the hood to perform the uploads). These tools are generally specific to certain classes of target boards (e.g., the excellent [**AVRDUDE**](https://avrdudes.github.io/avrdude/) for boards based on [microcontrollers of the **AVR** architecture](https://www.microchip.com/products/microcontrollers-and-microprocessors/8-bit-mcus/avr-mcus)). If you would like advice from the forum helpers. on such tools, you can provide details about the specific board you are targeting. If you do that, I suggest creating a new forum topic for the purpose since it is fairly tangential to the subject of this topic.

> [@yonaGY82](#):
>
> The window should be movable to another screen (was in the past).

The Arduino IDE developers are tracking this request here:

> <https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289>
>
> \### Describe the request
> 
> Allow \*\*Serial Monitor\*\* to be placed in a dedicated w…indow separate from the primary Arduino IDE window.
> 
> 🙂 It will be possible for the user to control the display location of the Serial Monitor separately from the primary Arduino IDE window according to their needs and preferences.
> 🙂 This will provide feature parity with the Arduino IDE 1.x Serial Monitor.
> 
> \### Describe the current behavior
> 
> Serial Monitor is a view in the bottom panel of the primary Arduino IDE window.
> 
> 🙁 It is not possible to move Serial Monitor to a separate screen in order to dedicate all space on the primary screen to the Arduino IDE editor.
> 
> \### Arduino IDE version
> 
> \#### Original report
> 
> 2.0.0-beta.4
> 
> \#### Last verified with
> 
> 2.0.1-snapshot-32d904c
> 
> \### Operating system
> 
> All
> 
> \### Operating system version
> 
> Any
> 
> \### Additional context
> 
> The requested "tear off" capability would probably make sense for other windows ("\*\*Output\*\*" view) too.
> 
> \<a name="workaround"\>\</a\>
> 
> \#### Workaround
> 
> 1. Select \*\*File \> New Sketch\*\* from the Arduino IDE menus.
> A new Arduino IDE window will open.
> 1. Select \*\*Tools \> Serial Monitor\*\* from the Arduino IDE menus.
> The "\*\*Serial Monitor\*\*" view will open in the bottom panel of the Arduino IDE window.
> 1. Hover the mouse pointer over the top border of the bottom panel.
> The mouse pointer will change into a resize icon.
> 1. Click and drag the border up until it reaches its maximum height.
> 
> You can now use that Arduino IDE window solely for Serial Monitor, switching back to the other Arduino IDE window to do sketch editing, compile, upload, etc. operations just as you would do with the Arduino IDE 1.x Serial Monitor.
> 
> \#### Additional requests
> 
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-810073157
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-813597014
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-850550857
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-983961342
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1006024396
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1034829176
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1068087883
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1195300991
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1247730828
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1247930105
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1257039691
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1382677544
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1399304977
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/289#issuecomment-1399421191
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/1799
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/1268
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/755
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/2131
> \- https://www.facebook.com/official.arduino/posts/pfbid02x5KM54Gf7L56Tea79pLYVafrciYAGZrioedDVD6YFKEnJdsiNT3w6S2WinZtrAc9l?comment\_id=1395510504579311
> \- https://www.facebook.com/official.arduino/posts/pfbid02qWaAtdLM6Hz43h7BRiYLg3yAoDz4HXRw28tLpgc4d1rszqG5gjbbumA21cLcS2Vcl?comment\_id=996845494967736
> \- https://twitter.com/DevReliefFred/status/1696610597171773571
> \- https://twitter.com/PaulStoffregen/status/1658089036685410305
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/making-the-serial-console-a-dockable-screen-again/1079586
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-0-3-undocking-serial-monitor/1063170
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-usb-serial-terminal-issues/1049458/13
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-get-all-my-1-18-19-libraries-installed-in-2-0-1/1050248/3
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serialmonitor-74880-baud-rate-in-ide-2-0-1/1046886
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/windows-the-serial-monitor-window-needs-to-pop-out-please/1036538
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/using-v-2-0-serial-monitor-print/1034093
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-2-0-0-macos-unexpected-differences/1033549
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/2-0-keyboard-shortcuts-dont-work/1033105/11
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-ide-2-0-0-available-for-download/1031651/17
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/1
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/3
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/4
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/15
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/changing-ide-fonts/1028827
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-issues-hopefully-fixed-before-release/1026548
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-seperate-window/1022661/1
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-seperate-window/1022661/2
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-seperate-window/1022661/5
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/automatic-build-external-screen-for-serial/1013958
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-with-new-ide/1010684/10
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-0-rc5-serial-monitor-problems/978293
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-characteristics-fail/943590
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-dock-serial-monitor/942477
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-dock-serial-monitor/942477/12
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/no-support-for-esp32-boards-manager-2-01/940115/5
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/first-impressions-and-comments/930873
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/missing-serial-monitor-and-serial-plotter/924262
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-2-0-has-too-many-problems/1100602
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-2-0-has-too-many-problems/1100602/13
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/missing-baud-rate-dropdown-v2-0-4-ide/1105972
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/arduino-2-04-stuck-in-splash-screen/1107587/11
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/16
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/17
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-double-window-problem/1112463
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/18
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-1-i-am-not-happy/1142471
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/ide-2-serial-monitor/1146303
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-a-separate-window/1031455/26
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/i-miss-my-separate-serial-monitor-window/1163606
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cannot-upload-to-ftdi-megas-only/1170683
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/your-reason-for-not-switching-to-the-2-x-ide/1176322
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/your-reason-for-not-switching-to-the-2-x-ide/1176322/23
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-in-separate-window-larger-font-etc/1204423
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/adios-ide-2-0-this-is-goodbye-forever/1031455/46
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/undock-serial-monitor/1237489
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/serial-monitor-not-in-separate-window-now/1299502/4
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/feeback-on-latest-2-x-ide-w-win11/1333594
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/critical-flaws-in-v2-ide/1335245
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/several-bugs-in-ide/1361018/11
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/path-error-linux-22-1/1393509/4
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/output-window-format/1406883
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494
> 
> \#### Related
> 
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/can-we-pin-the-serial-plotter-window-in-ide-2-x/1415954
> 
> \### Issue checklist
> 
> \- \[X\] I searched for previous requests in \[the issue tracker\](https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues?q=)
> \- \[X\] I verified the feature was still missing when using the latest \[nightly build\](https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide#nightly-builds)
> \- \[X\] My request contains all necessary details

I know it is not what you need, but some do prefer to have the Serial Monitor panel located at the right side of the Arduino IDE window instead of the default location at the bottom. I'll provide instructions you can follow to configure Arduino IDE to use that layout:

1. Press the **Ctrl** + **Shift** + **P** keyboard shortcut ( **Command** + **Shift** + **P** for macOS users) to open the "Command Palette".  
A menu will appear on the editor toolbar:  
 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/d/6/d/d6d06cdc2510d164ddbdde759fe56e215a747352.png)
2. Select the "**Preferences: Open Settings (UI)**" command from the menu.  
**ⓘ** You can scroll down through the list of commands to find it or type the name in the field.  
A " **Preferences**" tab will open in the Arduino IDE main panel.
3. Type `arduino.monitor.dockPanel` in the " **Search Settings**" field of the " **Preferences**" tab.
4. Select " **right**" from the menu under the " **Arduino › Monitor: Dock Panel**" setting.
5. Close the **Preferences** tab by clicking its **X** icon.

> [@yonaGY82](#):
>
> It would be nice to allow recording the screen data so I can review the resulted file.

The Arduino IDE developers are tracking this request here:

> <https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/549>
>
> \### Describe the request
> 
> It would be very helpful to have the option to save th…e file content in serial monitor to a text file.
> 
> \### Describe the current behavior
> 
> The only way to save Serial Monitor contents to file is by copy and paste.
> 
> \### Arduino IDE version
> 
> d6a4b0f
> 
> \### Operating system
> 
> All
> 
> \### Operating system version
> 
> Any
> 
> \### Additional context
> 
> \#### Additional requests
> 
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/1654
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/1839
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/549#issuecomment-1384824351
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/549#issuecomment-1981524738
> \- https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/issues/9479
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-serial-plotter-webapp/issues/26#issuecomment-1320034218
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/upgrade-the-serial-monitor-for-better-function/980128
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/would-the-ability-to-copy-from-or-save-serial-monitor-be-an-evil-thing/1123908
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/bug-report-serial-monitor/1297087
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-logging-or-save-to-file-for-the-serial-monitor/1383747
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-logging-or-save-to-file-for-the-serial-monitor/1383747
> \- https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494
> 
> \#### Related
> 
> \- https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues/812
> 
> \### Issue checklist
> 
> \- \[X\] I searched for previous requests in \[the issue tracker\](https://github.com/arduino/arduino-ide/issues?q=)
> \- \[X\] I verified the feature was still missing when using the latest \[nightly build\](https://www.arduino.cc/en/software#nightly-builds)
> \- \[X\] My request contains all necessary details

If you have a [**GitHub**](https://github.com/) account, you can subscribe to the GitHub threads to get [notifications](https://docs.github.com/account-and-profile/managing-subscriptions-and-notifications-on-github/setting-up-notifications/about-notifications) of any new developments related to these subjects:

 ![screenshot of Subscribe button](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/9/c/5/9c5eac15a84288b3eb990b7234c9149fbeb5d142.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 22, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/suggestions-for-improvements/1421494/4 "2026-06-22T13:28:54Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.