Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Library: RP2040 Schematic & PCB Footprint

The Raspberry Pi Pico changed everything when it launched in 2021. For the first time, Raspberry Pi released a microcontroller board instead of a full Linux computer, and the engineering community responded enthusiastically. Now, designers want to integrate the Pico—or the RP2040 chip directly—into custom PCBs. The challenge? Finding a reliable Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Library with accurate schematics and footprints.

I’ve designed several RP2040-based boards and learned that library quality makes or breaks a project. An incorrect footprint means boards that don’t work, wasted money on fabrication, and delayed schedules. This guide covers where to download verified libraries, how to use them correctly, and essential PCB design considerations for successful RP2040 projects.

Understanding the Pico and RP2040 Ecosystem

Before downloading any Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Library, you need to understand the different components available. You can either design around the Pico board itself (using it as a module) or design with the bare RP2040 chip.

Pico Board Variants

Raspberry Pi offers several Pico variants, each with different features:

The Pico boards feature castellated holes along both edges, allowing them to be soldered directly to carrier boards as surface-mount modules. This makes them incredibly versatile for production designs.

RP2040 Chip Specifications

For designs using the bare RP2040 chip, here are the critical specifications:

The RP2040’s unique feature is its Programmable I/O (PIO) system—two PIO blocks with four state machines each that can implement custom protocols in hardware.

Where to Download Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Libraries

Finding accurate libraries is the first step toward a successful design. Here are the most reliable sources.

SnapEDA (SnapMagic Search)

SnapEDA provides free, verified libraries for both the Pico board and RP2040 chip.

Available Components:

• Raspberry Pi Pico (board footprint)
• Raspberry Pi Pico W (wireless variant)
• RP2040 (bare chip)
• RP2040-PICO-PC (third-party variants)

Download Process:

1. Visit snapeda.com and search “Raspberry Pi Pico” or “RP2040”
2. Select your component from the results
3. Choose “Altium” as the export format
4. Download the .zip file
5. Extract the .SchLib and .PcbLib files
6. Import into your Altium project

SnapEDA footprints follow IPC-7351B standards and include 3D models for mechanical verification.

Ultra Librarian

Ultra Librarian offers manufacturer-verified CAD models with detailed 3D STEP files:

Features:

• Free download after registration
• Includes accurate 3D models
• Available in 22+ CAD formats including Altium
• Verified against manufacturer datasheets

The RP2040 library from Ultra Librarian includes the proper QFN-56 footprint with exposed thermal pad specifications matching Raspberry Pi’s datasheet.

SamacSys (Component Search Engine)

SamacSys provides the Pico library through their Library Loader plugin:

Installation:

1. Download Library Loader from componentsearchengine.com
2. Install and configure for Altium Designer
3. Search for “PICO” or “RP2040”
4. Click “Add to Design” to import directly

The plugin adds components directly to your project without manual file management.

GitHub Community Libraries

Several community repositories offer tested Altium libraries:

Downloading from GitHub:

1. Navigate to the repository
2. Click “Code” → “Download ZIP”
3. Extract and locate .SchLib and .PcbLib files
4. Add to your Altium project

Raspberry Pi Official Resources

Raspberry Pi provides official KiCad design files that can be imported into Altium:

• Hardware Design Guide with RP2040
• Pico board reference design files
• RP2040 minimal design example

While these are in KiCad format, Altium’s import wizard can convert them successfully.

How to Import Pico Libraries into Altium Designer

Proper library installation ensures components work correctly across all your projects.

Installing Schematic and PCB Libraries

For separate .SchLib and .PcbLib files:

1. Open Altium Designer
2. Go to the Components panel
3. Click the menu icon and select File-based Libraries Preferences
4. In the Installed tab, click Install
5. Browse to and select your .SchLib file
6. Repeat for the .PcbLib file
7. Click Close

The libraries now appear in your Components panel for all projects.

Adding Libraries to a Specific Project

For project-specific use:

1. Right-click your project in the Projects panel
2. Select Add Existing to Project
3. Navigate to your library files
4. Select both .SchLib and .PcbLib files
5. The libraries appear under your project structure

Verifying Library Accuracy

After importing, always verify your libraries:

1. Open the Components panel
2. Search for “Pico” or “RP2040”
3. Preview the schematic symbol
4. Check the footprint tab
5. For the Pico board, verify 40 pins in two rows of 20
6. For RP2040, verify QFN-56 footprint with 56 pads plus thermal pad

Print the footprint at 1:1 scale and compare against actual hardware before ordering boards.

RP2040 Hardware Design Essentials

When designing with the bare RP2040 chip rather than the Pico module, several critical design considerations apply.

Required External Components

The RP2040 requires external components that don’t exist on-chip:

Power Supply Design

The RP2040 has specific power requirements:

IOVDD (I/O Power): 1.8V to 3.3V, supplies GPIO and peripherals. Use 0.1µF decoupling on each IOVDD pin.

DVDD (Digital Core): 1.1V nominal, generated by internal LDO from VREG_VIN. Add 1µF capacitor on VREG_VOUT.

USB_VDD: Power for USB PHY, requires 3.3V with 0.1µF decoupling.

ADC_AVDD: Analog power for ADC, filter from 3.3V for best performance.

For battery-powered applications, consider that the RP2040 typically draws 20-50mA depending on clock speed and peripheral usage.

QSPI Flash Layout Guidelines

The external flash is critical—poor layout causes boot failures:

Trace Length: Keep QSPI traces under 20mm total length.

Trace Width: Minimum 0.15mm (6 mil) recommended.

Matching: Match trace lengths for CLK, D0, D1, D2, D3, and CS signals.

Ground Plane: Maintain solid ground under all QSPI traces.

Flash Selection: Stick with Winbond W25Q series for guaranteed compatibility. Other manufacturers may have incompatible command sets.

Crystal Oscillator Layout

The 12 MHz crystal requires careful placement:

• Place crystal and load capacitors as close to RP2040 as possible
• Keep crystal traces short and away from high-speed signals
• Route XIN and XOUT traces on top layer only
• Avoid running other traces near crystal signals
• Use guard ground around crystal if space permits

USB Design Considerations

The RP2040 includes a USB 1.1 PHY (Full-Speed 12 Mbps):

Series Resistors: Add 27Ω resistors on D+ and D- lines near the RP2040.

Impedance: Target 90Ω differential impedance for USB traces.

Trace Length: Keep traces short; USB 1.1 is forgiving but matching still helps.

ESD Protection: Add TVS diode protection at the USB connector.

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Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Library: RP2040 Schematic & PCB Footprint

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Raspberry Pi Pico Board Footprint Design

When using the Pico as a module, the footprint design differs from a bare chip.

Castellated Hole Footprint

The Pico’s castellated holes allow surface-mount soldering:

Pin Arrangement:

• 40 total pins (20 per side)
• 2.54mm (0.1″) pitch
• Castellations on board edge

Footprint Specifications:

• Pad width: ~1.0mm
• Pad length: ~2.0mm for good solder joint
• Edge of pads aligned with Pico board edge

The Pico can also use standard 2.54mm headers for breadboard prototyping, then move to SMD mounting for production.

Keep-Out Zone for Pico W

When using the Pico W (wireless variant):

• Maintain clearance around the antenna area
• No copper on any layer under the antenna
• No components blocking antenna radiation pattern
• Consider antenna orientation in enclosure design

Mechanical Mounting

The Pico includes four mounting holes:

• 2.1mm diameter holes
• Can use M2 screws with standoffs
• Alternative: solder directly using castellations

Creating Your Own RP2040 Library

Sometimes you need to create custom libraries for specific package variants or modified footprints.

Creating the RP2040 Schematic Symbol

For the QFN-56 RP2040:

1. Create a new Schematic Library
2. Add a new component named “RP2040”
3. Create pins for all 56 package pins plus exposed pad

Pin Groups:

Organize pins logically by function for readable schematics.

Creating the QFN-56 Footprint

The RP2040 uses a 7mm × 7mm QFN-56:

Package Dimensions:

• Body: 7.0mm × 7.0mm
• Pad pitch: 0.4mm
• Pad width: 0.2mm
• Pad length: 0.7mm (including extension)
• Exposed pad: 3.2mm × 3.2mm

Thermal Pad:

• Add via array (9 minimum recommended) for thermal dissipation
• Connect to ground plane
• Use thermal relief on vias if required for hand soldering

Silkscreen:

• Add orientation mark at pin 1
• Component outline on top overlay
• Part number and reference designator

Linking Symbol to Footprint

After creating both:

1. Open the schematic library
2. Select the RP2040 component
3. Click “Add Footprint”
4. Browse to your PCB library
5. Select the QFN-56 footprint
6. Verify pin-to-pad mapping

Compile and verify before using in a design.

Useful Resources for Pico and RP2040 Design

Official Raspberry Pi Documentation

Library Download Sources

Reference Design Resources

Community Forums

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use the Pico board or the bare RP2040 chip?

For prototyping and low-volume production, the Pico board is usually the better choice. It includes all necessary external components (flash, crystal, power regulation) and is already tested. The castellated holes allow SMD mounting on carrier boards. Use the bare RP2040 chip when you need custom flash sizes, specific power regulation, smaller footprint, or very high volume production where component cost matters.

What flash chip should I use with the RP2040?

Stick with the Winbond W25Q series—specifically W25Q16, W25Q32, W25Q64, or W25Q128 (up to 16MB maximum). These are explicitly supported and tested by Raspberry Pi. Other flash chips may use incompatible command sets that prevent proper boot. I learned this the hard way when a Macronix chip didn’t work despite having similar specifications. The savings from alternative chips aren’t worth the risk.

Can I hand-solder the RP2040 QFN-56 package?

The QFN-56 package is extremely challenging to hand-solder due to the small 0.4mm pitch and exposed thermal pad. You’ll need either a hot air rework station (set to ~275°C) or a reflow oven. The exposed pad requires solder paste and proper thermal vias. For prototyping, I recommend using the Pico module instead—it solves all these assembly challenges and costs only a few dollars more than sourcing individual components.

Why does my RP2040 design not boot?

Common boot failure causes include: QSPI flash not compatible (use W25Q series), incorrect crystal frequency (must be 12 MHz), missing or incorrect decoupling capacitors, TESTEN pin not tied to ground, flash chip not properly soldered or connected, or BOOTSEL circuit interference. The RP2040’s built-in USB bootloader means a completely blank chip should still enumerate over USB when BOOTSEL is held during power-up. If it doesn’t, the problem is hardware.

How do I program the RP2040 on my custom board?

There are two methods: USB bootloader (hold BOOTSEL, connect USB, drag-and-drop UF2 file) or SWD debugging interface (requires SWCLK and SWDIO connections plus a debug probe like the Raspberry Pi Debug Probe or J-Link). For production, include test points for SWD and ensure the BOOTSEL button or jumper is accessible. Most custom boards include both methods for flexibility during development and testing.

Building Your First RP2040 Design

With a proper Raspberry Pi Pico Altium Library in hand and understanding of the design requirements, you’re ready to create your own RP2040-based PCB. Start with Raspberry Pi’s minimal design example as a reference, verify your library footprints against the datasheets, and pay careful attention to the QSPI flash and crystal layout.

The RP2040 platform offers exceptional value—a powerful dual-core processor with rich peripherals at a remarkably low cost. Whether you’re using the Pico module on a carrier board or designing with the bare chip, proper library selection and hardware design practices will ensure your project succeeds.

Remember that Raspberry Pi’s hardware design guide is your primary reference. It contains detailed layout recommendations, component selection guidance, and verified design examples that represent years of engineering experience. When in doubt, follow their recommendations—they’ve tested these designs extensively.

Your custom RP2040 board awaits. Get the right libraries, follow the guidelines, and start designing.