Create About-different-versions-of-Arduino-IDE.md

Author: seaxwi

content/Software Support/Installation/About-different-versions-of-Arduino-IDE.md

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+---
+title: "Supported versions of Arduino IDE"
+---
+
+Arduino IDE 2 was fully released in September 2022, and is the actively developed and recommended desktop environment for Arduino. While IDE 2 was still in development, Arduino also maintained a version of IDE 1, so users could choose between the familiar experience of the classic IDE and the modern features of IDE 2.
+
+Arduino IDE 1.8.19 remains available as the final version of the classic IDE, but it only receives critical security fixes. For the best experience, security, and support, Arduino encourages all users to move to the latest version of Arduino IDE 2.
+
+In this article:
+
+<!-- TOC -->
+
+- [Arduino IDE 2.x Latest](#arduino-ide-2x-latest)
+- [Arduino IDE 1.8.19 Legacy](#arduino-ide-1819-legacy)
+- [Other versions of Arduino IDE](#other-versions-of-arduino-ide)
+
+<!-- /TOC -->
+
+---
+
+## Arduino IDE 2.x (Latest)
+
+Arduino actively develops and supports Arduino IDE 2. Each new release delivers feature enhancements, bug fixes, and important security patches. To keep your projects compatible with the latest Arduino boards and libraries, update regularly and install the newest release as soon as it becomes available. By staying current, you ensure the smoothest development experience and receive the highest level of support.
+
+[Download the latest version of Arduino IDE from the software page](https://www.arduino.cc/en/software/){.link-chevron-right}
+
+## Arduino IDE 1.8.19 (Legacy)
+
+Arduino IDE 1.8.19 (sometimes referred to as the "Legacy IDE" or "Java IDE") is the last version of Arduino IDE 1. Arduino maintains it only for high-severity security fixes. While existing projects may still compile and upload in this environment, you should migrate to IDE 2 to benefit from continued support, stability, and future functionality.
+
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> For the best experience, use the most recent version of Arduino IDE 2 instead. It gives you the newest features, ongoing support, and critical security protections, creating a reliable environment for all Arduino projects.
+
+[Download Arduino IDE 1.8.19 (Legacy IDE) from the software page](https://www.arduino.cc/en/software/){.link-chevron-right}
+
+## Other versions of Arduino IDE
+
+All other versions of Arduino IDE are unsupported and are not available for download on the official software page. Using these versions can create compatibility problems with current hardware and may expose you to security risks. For the best experience, use the most recent version of Arduino IDE 2.
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> Using unsupported versions of Arduino IDE can expose you to security risks.