How to use Scratch 3 with WeDo 2.0 and when it falls short
Scratch 3 is a free way to code WeDo 2.0 on Windows, Mac, Chromebook and Android. It needs Scratch Link on computers and does not run on iPad or Linux.
By RoboGuru Team 4 min read
Yes, you can program LEGO WeDo 2.0 with Scratch 3, and it is free. On Windows and macOS you install a small helper called Scratch Link, then add the WeDo 2.0 extension in the Scratch editor. On Chromebooks and Android tablets the Scratch app handles the connection itself. Scratch does not support WeDo 2.0 on iPad or Linux.
If those limits do not affect you, Scratch is a sensible first choice. If they do, a dedicated app such as RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0 may suit you better. This guide covers both.
Key facts
- Scratch 3 has an official WeDo 2.0 extension, and LEGO lists Scratch as a third-party option for WeDo 2.0 (Scratch help, LEGO third-party support).
- On computers it needs Scratch Link, available for Windows 10 version 1709 and later and for macOS (Scratch Wiki, Mac App Store).
- On ChromeOS and Android, the Scratch app includes the connection (Scratch help).
- There is no official support for iPad or Linux.
- Scratch is free.
Which devices does Scratch support for WeDo 2.0?
| Device | Works with Scratch and WeDo 2.0? | What you need | | -------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | Windows PC | Yes | Windows 10 version 1709 or later, Scratch Link, Chrome or Edge | | Mac | Yes | Scratch Link, a supported browser | | Chromebook | Yes | The Scratch app | | Android tablet | Yes | The Scratch app | | iPad | No | Not supported | | Linux | No | Not officially supported |
Sources: Scratch help, Scratch Wiki.
How do I connect WeDo 2.0 to Scratch 3?
Step 1: Install Scratch Link (computers only)
On a Windows PC or a Mac, install Scratch Link and start it. It runs quietly in the background and acts as the bridge between your browser and the hub’s Bluetooth connection (Scratch Wiki). On a Chromebook or Android tablet, skip this step and install the Scratch app instead.
Step 2: Open the editor
Open the Scratch 3 editor in Chrome or Edge, which are the recommended browsers, or open the Scratch app.
Step 3: Add the WeDo 2.0 extension
Click the Add Extension button in the bottom-left corner and choose LEGO Education WeDo 2.0.
Step 4: Wake the hub and connect
Press the green button on the Smarthub so its light flashes white. In Scratch, click Connect, choose your hub and wait for the light to turn blue.
Step 5: Test it
Drag a “turn motor on” block into the scripts area and click it. If the motor spins, you are ready to code.
If the hub does not appear, see our Bluetooth checklist. With Scratch, the most common causes are Scratch Link not running and the hub already being connected to another app.
What can you do with WeDo 2.0 in Scratch?
The WeDo 2.0 extension gives you general-purpose blocks for the motor, the tilt sensor, the motion (distance) sensor and the hub light (Scratch help). You combine them with Scratch’s sprites, sounds and events. That is a real strength: children can make a model react to something on screen, or turn a tilt sensor into a game controller.
What Scratch does not give you is the WeDo 2.0 classroom material. There are no WeDo projects, no building instructions and no documentation tool inside Scratch. Teachers who relied on the guided projects in LEGO’s app can still use LEGO’s teacher guide PDFs alongside Scratch (LEGO curriculum page).
Where does Scratch fall short?
iPads
This is the biggest gap. Many primary schools use iPads, and Scratch has no way to reach the WeDo 2.0 hub on iPadOS. Now that LEGO’s app is retired (see our timeline), a new or reset iPad has no official WeDo 2.0 software at all.
Linux
Scratch Link has no Linux version. An unofficial project, pyscrlink, fills the gap but needs command-line setup. More in our Linux guide.
Setup on school computers
On Windows and macOS, Scratch Link has to be installed on every machine and running before each lesson. In many schools that means a request to IT, and children cannot fix it themselves if the helper is not running.
One app at a time
A hub can only be connected to one app at a time. If a pupil has Scratch open in one browser tab and tries another app, or a hub is still connected from the last lesson, the connection fails until the first one is closed.
When is a dedicated app the better fit?
Scratch is free and well supported, and if your class uses Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks or Android tablets and IT is happy to install Scratch Link, it may be all you need.
A dedicated app makes more sense when:
- You use iPads or Linux. Scratch does not cover them.
- Your devices are mixed. One app across all of them is simpler to teach.
- You want an app made for WeDo 2.0 rather than a general coding tool with an extension.
RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0 is an independent, paid replacement for the retired official app. It works with the WeDo 2.0 Smarthub from set 45300, uses block-based programming and runs on iPhone and iPad, Android, a Web editor, Windows, macOS and Linux. See the download page or how it compares with the official app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Scratch with LEGO WeDo 2.0?
Yes. Scratch 3 has a free WeDo 2.0 extension. On Windows and macOS you need the Scratch Link helper installed and running; on ChromeOS and Android you use the Scratch app.
Does Scratch work with WeDo 2.0 on an iPad?
No. Scratch Link is not available for iPad, and there is no official way to connect Scratch to the WeDo 2.0 hub on iPadOS. Linux is not supported either.
Is Scratch a full replacement for the WeDo 2.0 app?
For coding, it can be. It gives you general motor and sensor blocks, but it does not include the WeDo 2.0 projects, building instructions or documentation tools from LEGO’s app.