KiCad import guide
Check supported KiCad versions, required files, and how to prepare your schematic and board before importing a project.
CircuitHub currently supports KiCad versions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
We support the latest stable version of KiCad (currently version 10). Older KiCad versions are supported on a best-effort basis and may be upgraded to the latest stable version during processing. KiCad generally provides good backward compatibility with recent releases.
Refill copper zones before upload
Fill all zones and save the board so the copper you see is the copper we build.
Specifying part numbers
Which symbol field names CircuitHub reads manufacturer part numbers from.
KiCad nightly builds
Check support before uploading a design created with a nightly build.
Missing layers in the preview
Understand why the KiCad layer preview might not show every layer.
Before you upload
CircuitHub reads your board file and your schematic files separately, so both must be saved and up to date. Two steps in KiCad are easy to forget:
1. Synchronize the board with the schematic
Whenever you change anything in the schematic editor that affects components (values, part numbers, footprints, descriptions, added or removed symbols), push the change into the board before uploading:
- In the PCB editor choose Tools → Update PCB from Schematic… (
F8) and apply the update. - Save the board file.
Component values are always taken from the board file. If you edit a Value field in the schematic and upload without updating the board, CircuitHub imports the old value. Checking the schematic file on its own will not reveal this, because it is the board file that is out of date.
2. Refill copper zones
After any change in the board editor, choose Edit → Fill All Zones (B) and save the board before uploading. CircuitHub generates the fabrication data from the board file you upload, so it must already contain current copper fills; stale or missing fills may be manufactured as they are. See KiCad fill zones.
Where your BOM data comes from
To build your bill of materials CircuitHub combines data from both files, matched by reference designator:
| BOM field | Source |
|---|---|
| Value | Always the board file (the footprint's Value field). |
| Description | The schematic (the symbol's Description field). If it is empty there, the board file's Description field is used instead. |
| Manufacturer / distributor part numbers | Custom symbol fields whose names we recognize, such as ManufacturerPartNumber or MPN. See Specifying part numbers in EDA tools. |
| Footprint | The board file. |
Part numbers are never read from the Description field. Put them in a dedicated field instead.
For KiCad 4 and 5 projects only the board file is read for BOM data: the Description comes from the footprint, and fields you add to symbols in legacy .sch schematics are not imported. Supply part numbers for those projects in a CSV BOM.
Required files
For KiCad version 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10:
- One project file, where the name ends in
.kicad_pro. - One board file, where the name ends in
.kicad_pcb. - One or more schematic files, where the names end in
.kicad_sch.
For KiCad version 4 and 5:
- One board file, where the name ends in
.kicad_pcb. - One symbol library cache file, where the name ends in
-cache.lib. - One or more schematic files, where the names end in
.sch.
Optional BOM
For all versions of KiCad you can also additionally upload a BOM in either .csv or .tsv that conforms to the supported format.
Single design
For all versions of KiCad only upload files related to a single design at a time, supplying files from different designs would lead to ambiguities during import and is therefore not allowed.
Multiple schematics
When uploading multiple schematic files only one of the files may be a root schematic file and all the others must be sub-schematic files referenced by the root schematic, see the KiCad article about hierarchical schematics.
Symbol library cache
KiCad 4 and 5 create the symbol library cache file when you edit your design's schematics, and contain information about all the symbols used in your design. For KiCad 6 this file is not required, since the new file format includes all the required information.