Importing KiCad Libraries

If you need to use a part that isn’t in the official KiCad libraries you will need to import others.

Some good places to find footprints are Component Search Engine or SnapEDA or you can search online as there are many GitHub repositories containing useful libraries.

Download your library. If you add it as a project specific library and put it in the project directory for your PCB KiCad will be able to keep track of it even if you move the project. Otherwise you should put it somewhere that you won’t move it later.

Install a Symbol Library

Whole symbol libraries are stored ‘packed’ as a single file.

From either the main window or schematic editor go to Preferences -> Manage Symbol Libraries.... If you want the to be available from all projects you can add it to the global libraries. Otherwise go to the Project Specific Libraries tab.

Click the folder icon and find and add your symbol library. It is the .kicad_sym file.

Click OK to save.

Install a Footprint Library

Footprint libraries are slightly different since they are stored ‘unpacked’ as a bunch of individual footprints in a folder but other than that installing them is the same:

From either the main window or the PCB editor go to Preferences -> Manage Footprint Libraries.... If you want the to be available from all projects you can add it to the global libraries. Otherwise go to the Project Specific Libraries tab.

Click the folder icon and find and add your symbol library. Since they are stored unpacked you need to select the .pretty folder and click Open, and then if you are on Windows, click Open again to select it.

Click OK to save.