Allow users to configure the number of displayed points in the Arduino Serial Plotter via the IDE interface

[F4HTB]

Describe the request

Currently, the Arduino IDE Serial Plotter displays a fixed number of data points (50 by default).
While it is technically possible to modify this value by editing internal JavaScript files (e.g. changing useState(50) in main.*.chunk.js), this approach:

Requires administrator rights

Is not feasible in managed or institutional environments

Is fragile and breaks on IDE updates

As a result, most users cannot adjust this parameter.

Proposed enhancement consist to Add an option in the Arduino IDE interface that allows users to configure the number of points displayed in the Serial Plotter, for example:
A numeric input field or slider in the Serial Plotter settings
A preference in the IDE settings (global or per project)

Describe the current behavior

In the current Arduino IDE, the Serial Plotter displays a fixed number of data points, set to 50 by default.

This value is not configurable through the IDE interface or settings. There is no option available to the user to change the number of displayed samples, either globally or per session.

How to reproduce

Open the Arduino IDE (2.x).

Upload a sketch that continuously outputs numeric values over the serial port (e.g. Serial.println() in a loop).

Open Tools>Serial Plotter.

Observe that the plot always shows the most recent 50 points, regardless of the data rate or user needs.

Restarting the IDE or reopening the Serial Plotter does not allow changing this number.

Additional observation

The only known way to change this behavior is to manually edit an internal JavaScript file in the IDE installation directory (e.g. modifying useState(50) in a bundled main.*.chunk.js file). This requires administrator privileges and is not viable in managed or institutional environments, and the change is lost on IDE updates.

Arduino IDE version

2.7

Operating system

Windows

Operating system version

11

Additional context

No response

Issue checklist

• I searched for previous requests in the issue tracker
• I verified the feature was still missing when using the latest nightly build
• My request contains all necessary details

[per1234]

Hi @F4HTB. Thanks for taking the time to submit an issue.

I see we have another report about this at #803.

It is best to have only a single issue per subject so we can consolidate all relevant discussion to one place, so I'll go ahead and close this in favor of the other.