How to Add Python Packages in Arduino AppLab (No pip install needed)

If you’re building Python apps with the Arduino UNO Q and Arduino AppLab, you might wonder how to add third-party packages. You don’t run pip install manually – it’s even easier than that.

Just use a requirements.txt file

All you need to do is create a file called requirements.txt in your project and list the packages you want. AppLab handles the rest automatically on the next run.

Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. In the left-hand sidebar of Arduino AppLab, click on your main Python file to highlight it
2. Click the + (Add File) button next to Files
3. Name the new file requirements.txt
4. Type the name of the package you want (e.g., arrow). You can optionally specify a version, but the package name alone works fine.

What happens when you run the app

The first time you run after adding requirements.txt, AppLab will automatically install the listed packages.

Check the Python console → you’ll see it downloading and installing them.
On every subsequent run, AppLab detects that requirements are already installed and skips the install step. Fast and clean.

Under the hood, AppLab uses a tool called uv to manage package installation.