Swift Playgrounds is an app for iPad and Mac computers that helps teach people to code in the Swift language using interactive 'books'. We've created a book that interacts with the micro:bit wirelessly, helping you to learn the fundamentals of code while having fun with your micro:bit.


 Swift Playgrounds works on iPads with iOS 11 and newer on iPad Air, Air 2 and 5th-gen iPad, iPad Mini 2, 3, 4 and all iPad Pros and also on Mac computers running macOS 10.15.3 or later.


Download the Swift Playgrounds app


iOS App


macOS App


Get the 'Intro to the BBC micro:bit' book


You can add the "Intro to the BBC micro:bit" Swift Playground book by subsribing to the URL https://microbit.org/swift-playgrounds/feed.json

1. Go to the Playground app and scroll to "Get a Playground". Tap the "See all" button.


2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap on "Enter a Subscription URL"





3. Enter the URL 
https://microbit.org/swift-playgrounds/feed.json
into the Add subscription text field and tap "Subscribe"





4. Confirm subscription by tapping on "Subscribe" again.





5. The Playground will now appear under the heading "micro:bit" in the My Playgrounds menu.





Prepare your micro:bit

The micro:bit will communicate with the iPad wirelessly using Bluetooth Low Energy. As a result you will need to download a 'hex' file and drag it on to your micro:bit (this is called 'flashing'). On a computer with a USB port:
  1. Connect your micro:bit to your computer using USB
  2. Download the latest Bluetooth control hex file
  3. Drag-and-drop the file to your micro:bit to copy it
  4. Your micro:bit is now ready to be used for Swift Playgrounds

Using the Playground

The app contains all the instructions you need to get coding. Once you've downloaded the book on your iPad and have prepared your micro:bit, open the micro:bit book and tap 'Let's Start Coding'. Tap 'Pair micro:bit' to begin pairing your micro:bit with your iPad.