Finally, select the driver file named 'FTDI USB Drivers', located in the 'Drivers' folder of the Arduino Software download. Note: the FTDI USB Drivers are from Arduino. But when you install drivers for other Controllers, such as Xadow Main Board, Seeeduino Clio, Seeeduino Lite, you need to download corresponding driver file and save it. Arduino bootloader (Windows & Mac OSX) The STM32 Blue Pill is pre-flashed with Arduino bootloader which allows you to download the sketch through the Type-C connector. NOTE: Using JLink / ST-Link dongle or USB to 3.3V TTL adapter to program the board will erase this bootloader.
Created on: 2 April 2016
Arduino software is needed to program Arduino boards and must be downloaded from the Arduino website and installed on a computer. This software is known as the Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Drivers must be installed in order to be able to program an Arduino from the Arduino IDE. This article shows how to download and install the Arduino IDE software and drivers on a Windows 10 computer.
Downloading Arduino for Windows 10
Go to the Arduino Software download page where you will find two downloads for Windows – Windows installer and Windows ZIP as shown in the image below.
Selecting an Arduino Software Download
You can choose either of the two Windows options, but I prefer to use the ZIP file because it keeps the Windows system cleaner. The Windows Installer version of the software will download an installer which will install the software into the Windows system. The Windows ZIP file allows you to unzip the Arduino IDE to any location of your choice and easily remove it if you want by simply deleting the unzipped folder.
This installation guide uses the Windows ZIP file, so download the ZIP file and proceed to the installation step below. After clicking the download link, you will have the option of making a donation to Arduino or just downloading the file for free.
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Installing Arduino Software on Windows 10
After downloading the Arduino Windows ZIP file, simply double-click it and then copy the folder from inside the zip file to the desired location. I prefer to copy it to my desktop.
To avoid any confusion: the file that is downloaded is a file and not a folder, although it is called a 'Compressed (zipped) Folder' in Windows.
Running the Arduino IDE
Open the folder that you extracted from the zipped file and double click arduino.exe in the folder to start the Arduino IDE software. If you can not see file extension (the .exe on the file name), turn them on in the file manager by clicking View → File name extensions.
If you want to create a shortcut to the Arduino IDE on your desktop, start dragging the arduino.exe file to the desktop and hold down the Ctrl + Shift keys before dropping it on the desktop. This will create a shortcut to the Arduino IDE instead of moving the file to the desktop.
Arduino Nano Usb Driver Mac
Make sure that you have not moved the arduino.exe file by looking at the name of the file on your desktop which should contain the word 'Shortcut' at the end. You can rename this shortcut to just Arduino or Arduino IDE.
Installing Arduino Drivers in Windows 10
When you plug an Arduino board into a Windows 10 computer, a driver should automatically be installed for it. The driver configures the Arduino as a virtual COM port which can be seen in the Device Manager.
Arduino Usb Driver Com Port
Open the Device Manager window by right-clicking the Windows 10 start button in the lower left of the screen and then selecting Device Manager on the menu that pops up.
In Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT) and you should see a COM port which will be your Arduino as shown in the image below. If you have other COM ports on the PC, then unplug the Arduino to see which COM port disappears from the device manager, then plug the Arduino back in and see which port appears – this will be the Arduino port, e.g. COM4 in the image below.
The drivers that come with the Arduino software can be installed instead of the default Windows 10 driver, which is explained next.
Arduino Usb Driver Mac Download
Arduino Virtual COM Port Number in Windows 10 Device Manager
Installing Arduino Drivers
In the Device Manager, right-click the COM port that was identified as the Arduino (the Arduino must be plugged into the computer first). Select Update Driver Software... from the menu that pops up.
Updating Arduino Driver in Windows 10
In the dialog box that opens, select Browse my computer for driver software.
Browse for Arduino Driver Software
In the next dialog box, make sure that Include subfolders is checked and then click the Browse... button.
Browse for Driver
In the dialog box that pops up, navigate to the drivers subfolder of the Arduino folder that you unzipped earlier. Click the drivers folder to select it and then click the OK button.
Select the Arduino drivers Folder
Back in the Update Driver Software dialog box, the correct path to search for the drivers is set. Click the Next button to start the driver installation.
Start the Arduino Driver Installation
In the Windows Security dialog box that pops up, click Install.
Confirm the Arduino Windows 10 Driver Install
After the driver has been installed, a dialog box will appear that shows that the driver has been successfully updated and will display the Arduino COM port number.
Arduino Driver Installation / Update Finished
Finally back in the Device Manager, the COM port is now identified as an Arduino when the Arduino driver from the Arduino IDE folder is installed.
COM Port is Identified as Arduino in Device Manager
Arduino Software
TheCH340 driver chip is a USB converter chip, which converts USB to serial UART interface or to printer interface. In UART mode, CH340 provides common MODEM interface signals, to expand UART interface of computer or upgrade common serial communication devices to USB directly. The CH340 chip is used by a number of Arduino compatible boards NodeMCU and Some USB to TLL Converters to provide USB connectivity, you may need to install a driver to be able to detect your device to your PC. But don’t worry, it’s not that complicated as it sounds.
Other Alternative to CH340 are CP2102 and FTDI. But the cost for these are more making your device costly. All three, Arduino UNO SMD, NodeMCU and USB to TTL converter, nearly get your work done.
Now here is the step by step illustration to install CH340 drivers on the Windows and Linux system.
Windows
(CH340 Datasheet and Software Chinese)
- Download the Windows CH340 Driver
- Unzip the file
- Run the installer from the folder that you unzipped.
- In the Arduino IDE when the CH340 is connected you will see a COM Port in the Tools > Serial Port menu, the COM number for your device may vary depending on your system.
Linux
Drivers are almost certainly built into your Linux kernel already and it will probably just work as soon as you plug it in. If not you can download the Linux CH340 Driver (but we’d recommend just upgrading your Linux install so that you get the “built in” one).