If you’ve ever wanted to learn PLC programming, welcome! This is the very first lesson in a new series where we’ll go from complete beginner to building real PLC programs using Siemens TIA Portal.
Before we can write our first line of ladder logic, we need one thing: the software.
In this lesson, I’ll show you how to register for a Siemens account, download TIA Portal directly from Siemens, and install everything correctly so you’re ready for the next lessons.
Whether you’re a student, electrician, automation engineer, or simply curious about industrial automation, this series is designed to help you learn one step at a time.
Watch the Video
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you’ll know how to:
- Create a Siemens account
- Register on the Siemens Industry Online Support portal
- Understand why account activation can take 2–3 days
- Download TIA Portal directly from Siemens
- Install the software correctly
This lesson focuses entirely on getting your development environment ready. Once that’s done, we’ll move on to creating our first PLC project.
Step 1: Register on the Siemens Portal
The first thing you’ll need is a Siemens account.
Head over to the Siemens registration page and create a free account. The registration process is straightforward and only takes a few minutes.
One thing to keep in mind is that your account isn’t activated immediately. In most cases, Siemens takes around 2–3 days to approve and activate new accounts.
It’s a good idea to register as early as possible so you don’t have to pause your learning later.
Step 2: Download TIA Portal
Once your account has been activated, log in to the Siemens portal.
You’ll find the official download link in the description of the accompanying YouTube video.
For this course, we’ll be downloading DVD-1, which is split into multiple parts. Make sure you download every required file before starting the installation process.
Downloading everything first will make the installation much smoother.
Step 3: Install TIA Portal
After all download files are complete, launch the installer and follow the installation wizard.
The installation can take some time depending on your computer’s specifications, so be patient.
Once it’s finished, restart your computer if prompted.
Congratulations—you now have one of the most widely used industrial automation development environments installed on your PC.
Why TIA Portal?
TIA Portal (Totally Integrated Automation Portal) is Siemens’ engineering platform used to program PLCs, configure HMIs, set up drives, and commission industrial automation systems.
It’s used worldwide in manufacturing plants, production lines, and industrial facilities.
Learning TIA Portal is a valuable skill if you’re planning a career in:
- Industrial Automation
- PLC Programming
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Manufacturing
- Robotics
What’s Next?
Now that TIA Portal is installed, we’re ready to start programming.
In the next lesson, we’ll create our very first project and explore the TIA Portal interface together.
From there, we’ll gradually build real PLC programs while learning the fundamentals of industrial automation.
Follow the Complete PLC Programming Series
This article is part of an ongoing beginner-friendly PLC programming course.
Upcoming lessons include:
- Creating your first TIA Portal project
- Understanding the software interface
- PLC hardware overview
- Digital inputs and outputs
- Ladder Logic basics
- Timers and counters
- Practical automation projects
If you don’t want to miss future lessons, consider bookmarking this page or subscribing to the YouTube channel.
See you in Lesson 2!