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ESP32 + W5500 (SPI Ethernet) TCP Client Example — Full Guide

A complete ESP32 + W5500 TCP client example using SPI Ethernet, static IP, and ESP-IDF 5.5.x. Reliable wired networking for industrial IoT.

Grace_Koo

Published November 28, 2025

114 UCC

25 WCC

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ESP32 + W5500 (SPI Ethernet) TCP Client Example — Full Guide

Components

Hardware components
W5500

WIZnet - W5500

x 1

WIZ550io

WIZnet - WIZ550io

x 1

ESP32

Espressif - ESP32

x 1

Software Apps and online services
Visual Studio 2015

microsoft - Visual Studio 2015

x 1

WIZnet parts

Project description

1️⃣ Overview

ESP32 includes built-in Wi-Fi, but for industrial, high-noise, or secure environments,
wired Ethernet (W5500) is more stable and predictable.

This guide explains how to use ESP32 + WIZ550io(W5500) with ESP-IDF 5.5.x,
covering:

  • Example project creation command
  • Hardware wiring
  • Full menuconfig settings
  • Ethernet initialization
  • Build & flash
  • Testing (TCP/iperf)

Everything is aligned with your exact GPIO configuration.

ESP32 + W5500 (SPI Ethernet) TCP Client Example — Full Guide, 1️⃣ Overview

2️⃣ Install ESP-IDF

  • After installing ESP-IDF Tools:
install.bat
export.bat
  • Check version:
idf.py --version
  • Expected:
ESP-IDF v5.5.1

3️⃣ Create an Example Project (TCP Client)

ESP-IDF provides ready-to-use examples for the W5500 component.

✔ Create TCP Client Example

idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/tcp_client"
  • Or create the iperf example:
idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/iperf"
  • Move into project directory:
cd tcp_client

4️⃣ Hardware Wiring (Your exact GPIO pins)

W5500 PinESP32 GPIONotes
SCLKGPIO14SPI Clock
MOSIGPIO13SPI MOSI
MISOGPIO12SPI MISO
CSGPIO15Chip Select
INTGPIO4Optional interrupt
RESETNot connected (set to -1) 
3.3V3.3VPower
GNDGNDGround

5️⃣ Configure ESP-IDF (menuconfig)

  • Run the config menu:
idf.py menuconfig

✔ 5.1 Enable Ethernet

Component config  --->
    Ethernet  --->
        [*] Enable Ethernet

✔ 5.2 Disable Internal EMAC

(W5500 SPI Ethernet cannot be combined with internal EMAC)

Component config → Ethernet →
    [ ] Internal EMAC

✔ 5.3 Enable SPI Ethernet (W5500)

Component config → Ethernet →
    [*] SPI Ethernet

✔ 5.4 Configure SPI Ethernet Module #1 (W5500)

Component config → Ethernet →
    SPI Ethernet Driver --->
        (1) Number of SPI Ethernet modules
        SPI Ethernet module #1 (W5500 Module) --->
            (1)  SPI Host Number (SPI2_HOST)
            (14) SPI SCLK GPIO number
            (13) SPI MOSI GPIO number
            (12) SPI MISO GPIO number
            (16) SPI clock speed (MHz)
            (15) SPI CS0 GPIO number
            (4)  Interrupt GPIO number
            (-1) PHY Reset GPIO number
            (1)  PHY Address
            [*] Auto-configure MAC address

6️⃣ Code Example

7️⃣ Build & Flash

idf.py set-target esp32
idf.py build
idf.py flash

8️⃣ Full Workflow Summary

  • Install ESP-IDF (install/export)
  • Create W5500 example project
idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/tcp_client"
  • Wire ESP32 ↔ W5500
  • Configure in menuconfig
idf.py menuconfig
  • Enable SPI Ethernet, disable internal EMAC
  • Build & flash
  • Test TCP/iperf

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