How to Make an 8×32 Scrolling LED Display Using MAX7219 and Arduino Nano

Introduction

Scrolling LED displays are widely used in offices, shops, notice boards, study tables, and electronic projects to show messages in a smart and professional way. Using a MAX7219 LED display module makes this task very easy because it handles all the LED control internally and communicates with the microcontroller using just a few wires.

In this project, we will learn how to make an 8×32 scrolling LED display using MAX7219 and Arduino Nano. I am using four 8×8 MAX7219 displays connected together, which finally becomes an 8×32 LED matrix display. The text will scroll smoothly across the display, and you can easily change the message and speed from the code.

This project is beginner-friendly, low cost, and very useful for learning Arduino display control. Later, the same display can also be modified to change text using a mobile phone.

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How the MAX7219 LED Display Works

Each MAX7219 display module contains:

• 8 rows
• 8 columns
• Total 64 LEDs

So, one module becomes an 8×8 LED matrix.
In this project, I connected 4 modules together, which makes it an 8×32 scrolling LED display.

The MAX7219 chip simplifies the wiring and reduces the load on the Arduino. Instead of controlling 64 LEDs individually, Arduino only sends data through a few control pins.

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Components Required

• MAX7219 LED Matrix Display (8×8) × 4
• Arduino Nano (Arduino Uno or ESP32 can also be used)
• Type-B USB cable
• Connecting jumper wires
• Laptop or PC with Internet connection
• 3D printed enclosure (optional but recommended)

Note: ESP32 wiring and code uploading process is slightly different. In this project, I am using Arduino Nano for simplicity.

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Understanding MAX7219 Input Pins

The MAX7219 display module has 5 input pins:

1. VCC – Power supply
2. GND – Ground
3. DIN – Data input
4. CS – Chip select
5. CLK – Clock input

These pins are used to send data from Arduino to the display.

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Circuit Connections (Arduino Nano + MAX7219)

Connect the wires as follows:

MAX7219 Pin	Arduino Nano Pin
VCC	5V
GND	GND
DIN	D11
CS	D10
CLK	D13

Make sure all connections are tight and correct. Wrong wiring may cause display issues or no output.

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Connecting Arduino to Laptop

1. Connect the Type-B USB cable to the Arduino Nano
2. Plug the USB cable into your laptop or PC
3. Make sure your PC is connected to the internet, because we need to install a library

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Installing Required Library

The MAX7219 display works using a special library.
Follow these steps carefully:

1. Open Arduino IDE
2. Go to Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries
3. A library manager window will open
4. In the search bar, type MD_MAX
5. Find MD_MAX72XX library
6. Click Install (latest version)

Within a few seconds, the library will be installed successfully.

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Including the Library

After installation:

1. Go to Sketch → Include Library
2. Scroll down
3. Confirm that MD_MAX72XX is listed

This means the library is ready to use.

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Selecting Example Code for Scrolling Text

The library already provides many example codes.
To use scrolling text:

1. Go to File → Examples
2. Scroll down to MD_MAX72XX
3. Click on MD_MAX72XX_Message_Serial

After clicking, a complete ready-to-use scrolling text code will open.

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Selecting Board and Port

Before uploading the code:

1. Go to Tools → Board
2. Select Arduino Nano
3. Go to Tools → Port
4. Select the port where Arduino is connected

Now your Arduino is ready for uploading.

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Uploading the Code

1. Click on the Upload button
2. Wait for a few seconds
3. Once upload is complete, the display will start working

You will see text scrolling on the LED display.

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Fixing Display Orientation Issues

Sometimes, the text may appear:

• Upside down
• Mirrored
• Scrolling from bottom to top

This happens because different MAX7219 modules use different hardware layouts.

Solution: Change Hardware Type

In the code, find the hardware type and change it from:
PAROLA_HW
Try one of these options instead:

• GENERIC_HW
• ICSTATION_HW
• FC16_HW

There are mainly four hardware types used in MAX7219 displays.
Change one type, upload the code again, and check the display.

👉 One of them will definitely work perfectly.

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Changing Text and Speed

Inside the same code:

• You can change the scrolling message
• Adjust the scrolling speed

After editing:

1. Upload the code again
2. The new text will start scrolling

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Final Output

Now your 8×32 MAX7219 scrolling LED display is fully ready.
To give it a professional look, I used a 3D printed enclosure.
The final display looks:

• Clean
• Professional
• Perfect for office desks, study tables, or notice boards

NOTE: If you want to order the complete enclosure for this MAX7219 scrolling display, then you can contact me here 👉 Contact

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Future Modification

Using the same MAX7219 display:

• We can modify the circuit
• Add Bluetooth or WiFi
• Change the scrolling text using a mobile phone

This makes the project even more powerful and smart.

👉WATCH COMPLETE PROJECT ON YOUTUBE

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Conclusion

This MAX7219 scrolling display project is a perfect combination of simplicity and professional output. With minimal wiring, easy library support, and Arduino Nano, anyone can build this display at home. It is an excellent project for beginners as well as electronics enthusiasts who want to create smart visual displays.

If you build this project, you will not only learn display control but also gain confidence in working with libraries, hardware types, and real-world Arduino applications.