Required USB driver for your kit

For your computer to recognise the board over USB, a driver for the CH340C USB-to-serial chip is required. Without it, no port (COM port) will appear in the programming software.

Windows

Download driver (CH341SER.ZIP)

If the link does not open, enter this address in your browser:

https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/ch341ser_zip.html

Installing in four steps

  1. Download CH341SER.ZIP and unzip it.
  2. Run SETUP.EXE from the unzipped folder (administrator rights required).
  3. Click INSTALL and confirm the success message.
  4. Connect the board via USB – it now appears in Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT) as USB-SERIAL CH340 (COMx).

Tip: On Windows 10 and 11 the driver is often installed automatically via Windows Update. So connect the board first and see what happens. Only if no COM port appears do you need to install it as described above.

macOS

Connect the board without a driver first. If no port appears, install the manufacturer's macOS driver:

https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH34XSER_MAC_ZIP.html

Linux

The driver is already part of the kernel, so no installation is needed. If access is denied, add your user to the dialout group and log in again.

Still no port detected?

Check the USB cable: many cables are charge-only and carry no data lines. Use a cable that also transfers data, and plug it directly into the computer rather than through a USB hub.