# Run Zephyr on ESP32 with QEMU: no board required

DevFeed: [Run Zephyr on ESP32 with QEMU: no board required](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/run-zephyr-on-esp32-with-qemu-no-board-required-26238.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://developer.espressif.com/blog/2026/09/zephyr-espressif-qemu-hello-world/>)

Author: John Lee

Published: 2026-09-15T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Blog on Developer Portal](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/blog-on-developer-portal.md>)

Topics: [Zephyr RTOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/zephyr-rtos.md>), [ESP32](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/esp32.md>), [qemu](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/qemu.md>), [Espressif](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/espressif.md>), [Emulator](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/emulator.md>), [Embedded Software Dev](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/embedded-software-dev.md>), [SDK](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/sdk.md>)

Tags: [blog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog.md>), [boot](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/boot.md>), [bootloader](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bootloader.md>), [build](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/build.md>), [debugger](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debugger.md>), [emulator](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/emulator.md>), [esp32](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp32.md>), [esp32-c3](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp32-c3.md>), [esp32-c6](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp32-c6.md>), [esp32-s3](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp32-s3.md>), [espressif](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/espressif.md>), [firmware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/firmware.md>), [flash](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/flash.md>), [gdb](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/gdb.md>), [install](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/install.md>), [qemu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/qemu.md>), [sdk](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/sdk.md>), [toolchain](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/toolchain.md>), [tutorial](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tutorial.md>), [zephyr](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/zephyr.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how to install and use the Espressif QEMU fork to build and run Zephyr firmware for emulated ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, and ESP32-C6 targets without physical boards. It covers Simple Boot and MCUboot/sysbuild workflows, debugger attachment through GDB, and the relevant Zephyr SDK toolchain setup.

## Source excerpt

Install the Espressif QEMU fork and run Zephyr on emulated ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, and ESP32-C6 targets without a physical board.