In this postal service we are going to solve Arduino software and driver related problems which are driving some beginners crazy and we will also address some of the issues related to Arduino hardware.

We will see:

  • Why your Arduino is not detected by your estimator?
  • Solutions for not detection of Arduino boards.
  • Driver Download Link.
  • How to install the driver.
  • Troubleshooting Arduino lath and IDE.

You landed on this page considering yous could not upload your sketch to Arduino or it is not even detected by your trusty computer. Here we will discuss the possible issues why your Arduino board is not detected or why you couldn't upload the sketch/code and we will see the recommended solutions.

Let'due south starts with a common issue.

Why your Arduino is non detected by your estimator?

This is a very common event faced by nigh Arduino beginners and sometimes even who has intermediate experience with Arduino. Your IDE will non show the connected Arduino board and you device managing director will say "unknown USB device", when you try to fix with windows tools you will still end up not fixing the issue.

Arduino unknown USB device
Arduino unknown USB device

To find out why the Arduino boards are not detected, let's inspect the Arduino board's USB to serial converter chip.

A USB to serial converter module is utilized on all Arduino boards to uploading sketches to the microcontroller and also for serial communication between the reckoner and the primary microcontroller.

Here is an Arduino UNO clone with ATmega16U2 controller which is used as USB to serial converter, the same converter is also utilized on genuine Arduino boards.

Arduino with Atmega16U2
Arduino with Atmega16U2

The clones which utilize ATmega16U2 as USB to serial converter for the microcontroller won't accept whatsoever issues with detection.

At present permit'due south inspect another Arduino board clone, which doesn't use ATmega16U2 for USB to serial conversion.

Arduino with CH340G chip
Arduino with CH340G chip

The above Arduino board is SMD type; this board has exactly aforementioned specification equally genuine Arduino UNO. Equally you tin see there is a difference in the USB to serial converter chip. This is called CH340G USB to series converter bit.

You tin can see this on cheap Chinese Arduino clones; this chip will not exist detected neither by your calculator nor the IDE. You accept to install CH340G driver to your reckoner merely and then your computer volition recognize the device and able to upload sketches.

You lot can also discover this CH340G chip even on Arduino nano clones as illustrated beneath:

Arduino Nano with CH340G chip
Arduino Nano with CH340G chip
  • Download CH340G Driver:

You lot tin can download the CH340G driver for these kinds of Arduino boards: Click Here

How to install CH340G Driver to windows Computer:

  • Download the CH340G bulldoze from the given link.
  • At present double left-click on this icon:

  • It will ask for administrator permissions, click Yep.
  • Now it will prompt you with 3 options: Install, uninstall and help.
  • Click on Install.
CH340G driver Installation
CH340G driver Installation
  • Click Install, once the commuter installed it says "Driver Install Success".
Arduino CH340G Driver Installation
Arduino CH340G Driver Installation
  • Restart your computer later installation (Important).

NOTE: Some users notified that Arduino clones which apply CH340G scrap are not working properly on USB 3.0. Please comment if yous face like issue.

By now bulk of the bug would accept been solved with Arduino boards. Now permit's discuss another issues faced by arduino enthusiasts.

Program/sketch non uploading solutions:

These are the possible explanations why you are not able to upload sketches to Arduino and their solutions.

  • Incorrect COM port selected:

Almost beginners make this error, they select incorrect COM port. Each estimator has different COM port numbers and you accept to select the correct one for your PC. If your Arduino lath sport ATmega16U2 scrap it volition show you to which COM port number your board is connected to and select that one.

If your Arduino board sport a CH340G chip, information technology won't show yous the connect COM port number and you have endeavour each of them that is displayed.

  • Selected wrong board at tools carte:

Y'all accept to select the right board proper noun. If you choose Arduino Nano for Arduino Uno, you code will non get uploaded.

  • Selected wrong processor:

Y'all should select the right microcontroller IC number at tools carte, otherwise the code volition not get uploaded.

  • Tx and Rx pins are continued to your circuit:

Whenever you are uploading a code to your Arduino board, make certain that Tx and Rx pins are non connected anywhere else in the circuit. Once you finish uploading the lawmaking, y'all may reconnect the Tx and Rx pins to your excursion. The Tx and Rx (pin number 0 and ane) are the pins where the code gets uploaded to the microcontroller.

  • Lacking USB cable:

A defective USB cablevision tin can make your Arduino board undetectable on your calculator, not even detectable on your device manager and likewise may cause frequent disconnection from your PC. If you lot find yourself in this circumstance, please replace the USB cable that connects to your computer and Arduino board.

  • Defective USB port:

A dusty / rusted USB port on your computer may crusade frequent disconnections or may forbid uploading of the code altogether, this could be because the rusted USB lines may not establish proper physical contact with the USB cable.

Always connect your Arduino board to a good USB port of your computer and brand certain that USB port on the Arduino board also has no concrete defects. If problems arise from a particular USB port, don't use that again.

  • Inspect for physical damages on Arduino board:

Grab a magnifying drinking glass and take a closer look at the traces and solder joints in the lath, specially on USB to series converter chip and microcontroller IC, if you observe any, effort to bridge them by soldering it. If you discover any physical damage on whatsoever of the components, such as cracks or burn marks, yous may demand to replace the component or replace the whole lath.

At that place could be problems with microcontroller IC or with other components which are non visually audit-able / visible or replaceable, in such instance replacing the whole board is the just solution.

  • Try Reinstall the Arduino IDE:

Download a fresh copy of IDE from the official website of Arduino and install it to your estimator. Re-installing the latest / aforementioned version of Arduino IDE may solve some installation issues with your computer.

There could be situations where the newer IDE didn't piece of work well with your Arduino board, if so please try roll backing to the previous version which you have been using earlier.

  • Try to upload a sketch from another computer:

This is the final troubleshooting step if yous can't get your Arduino board to piece of work. Connect your board to another computer (with proper drivers) which is known for uploading Arduino sketches without whatever issues. If the issue still persist, your board has some problem and please supplant your board.

By now you should be able to find problems with your Arduino and able to fix it.

If you have any further questions, please annotate beneath, you volition get a guaranteed reply from united states of america.

My nick proper noun is blogthor, I am a professional electronics engineer specialized in Embedded Organisation. I am a experienced programmer and electronics hardware developer. I am the founder of this website, I am too a hobbyist, DIYer and a abiding learner. I love to solve your technical queries via comment department.