If your board is not detected by Arduino IDE – Arduino Help Center

Learn what to do if your Arduino board is missing from the board selector or from the Tools > Port menu in Arduino IDE.

Note

If you’re using Arduino Cloud Editor, see If your board is not detected by Arduino Cloud Editor.

Troubleshooting steps

1. Disconnect and reconnect your board

Disconnect and reconnect your board to reset its power.
Check for any system notifications that may prompt you to grant USB device permissions, and allow them if they appear.
If the Tools > Port menu is open, close and reopen it to refresh the list of available devices.

2. Check board connection

A common reason for a board not being detected is an issue with the USB connection. Follow the instructions below to ensure a proper setup:

Use a Data USB Cable: Connect your board with a data USB cable, not a charging-only cable.
Test the USB Cable: Confirm the cable is working by testing it with another device or trying a different cable.
Connect directly: Connect the board directly to your computer instead of through a USB hub.
Try a Different USB Port: If the board is still not detected, try a different USB port on your computer.
Check power: Verify that at least one LED on your board lights on.
Disconnect jumper cables: Remove any jumper cables connected to the board’s pins, as they may interfere with detection.

3. Try a bootloader reset if your board supports it

If the board is still not detected, it might be stuck in a state where it cannot communicate on the port. For some boards (such as those in the MKR Family and newer Nano boards), pressing the RESET button twice in quick succession will activate bootloader mode. Follow the steps below to perform a bootloader reset:

Find the reset button on the board.
Press the button two times in quick succession.
An on-board LED will fade in and out, indicating that the board is in bootloader mode.
Check the board selector or Tools > Port again to see if your board is now detected.

4. Check for “Unknown” or incorrect board name

Unknown Devices: If the board selector in Arduino IDE displays “Unknown” devices, refer to If there are “Unknown” devices in the board selector or without a board name in the Tools > Port menu instead.
Incorrect Board Identification: If Arduino IDE incorrectly identifies your board with a generic name or as a different board type, see If Arduino IDE detects a different board than the one you’ve connected instead.

5. Check for additional system information

If Arduino IDE is not displaying a port for your board, you can use a dedicated software utility to confirm whether the board is recognized by your computer:

Windows

Open the Device Manager by searching for it in the start menu. You can also try right-clicking the Start button and choosing Device Manager.
In the Device Manager, open the Other Devices section.
Review the list of devices.

macOS

Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight. Search for the System Information app and open it.
Select the Hardware > USB section.
Review the list of USB devices.

Linux

Use a device manager of your choice, such as hardinfo.

To install and use hardinfo, follow these steps:

Open Terminal and run sudo apt install hardinfo.
Wait for the installation to complete, then run the hardinfo command.
Check Devices > USB Devices
Review the list of USB devices.

Here are some cases to look out for:

If you’re using a classic Nano, and it’s recognized by your computer as “USB Serial Port” or another generic name, the FTDI drivers may be missing. To solve the issue, follow install the FTDI drivers.
If you’re using an UNO (Rev3 or earlier) or Mega board, missing or corrupted USB-to-Serial firmware may cause your computer to recognize the board as one of the following:
- Unknown Device
- Composite Device
- ATmega16u2 DFU
- Atmega8U2 DFU
To solve the issue, flash the USB-to-serial firmware.

Still need help?

Visit the Installation & Troubleshooting category in the Arduino forum.
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