Fix avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

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FIX AVRDUDE: STK500_RECV(): PROGRAMMER IS NOT RESPONDING | SOLVED
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_recv(): error message from Arduino IDE

Is this some kind of joke? Who is AVR Dude, and what does he have against me trying to upload a sketch to my Arduino? If you’re getting this error when trying to upload code to your Arduino board – it can be REALLY frustrating!

I wish I could say this happens because of 1 single problem – but this error pops up for many reasons… In this lesson we are going to go through a “laundry list” of possible solutions. We’ll start at the most common and easiest, and move on to more detailed troubleshooting tasks if those don’t work.

By the end of this lesson, AVR Dude should be hitting the road, and your code will be loading on your Arduino board.

SO WHO IS THIS AVR DUDE AND WHAT IS AVRDUDE: STK500_RECV() ERROR?
AVRDude is a utility used by the Arduino IDE. It stands for AVR Downloader Uploader and it allows you to load your code onto your Arduino board. The avrdude: stk500_recv() error is caused by a generic connection error between your computer and the Arduino, and can result from many different issues.

Many thanks to “The Guy with The Hat” from the Arduino Stack Exchange for compiling a great list of fixes that we’ll walk through in detail here. So let’s start with our laundry list…

POTENTIAL FIXES

Try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable. Yes – that simple!


Your Arduino board should have a reset button on it. Press the reset button and see if you can upload without the avrdude: stk500_recv() error.


Close the Arduino IDE, and reopen it again – believe it or not, this can work!


Make sure you have the right Arduino board selected. In the Arduino IDE, go to Tools - Board, and from the lists select the Arduino board you are using.
select Arduino Board from Arduino IDE


select Arduino Port from Arduino IDE
If you’re not sure which is the right port, simply take note of all the ports listed, disconnect your Arduino board from the USB cable, and then check the port menu again. Whichever port is missing, is the port your board was Arduino was using.


The Receive (RX) and Transmit (TX) pins on the Arduino (pins 0 and 1) are used when uploading sketches on your Arduino board. If you have any connections to those pins, pull them out before you upload to the board.


If you have an Arduino shield attached to your Arduino board, remove the shield and try uploading again. This is related to the last step, as the shield may have a circuit interfering with the transmit and receive pins.
STILL GETTING AVRDUDE: STK500_RECV() ERROR?
Time to start troubleshooting! If none of the easy stuff works fret! We still have some options to try! What we’ll do is try to figure out the point of failure.

It could be the Arduino Board, the computer, or the USB cable.

TEST THE USB CABLE
Try using a different USB cable and see if you can upload without the avrdude: stk500_recv() error. I know this seems like an unlikely failure point, but you might be surprised how often USB cables fail.

TEST ANOTHER ARDUINO BOARD

TEST A DIFFERENT COMPUTER

CONTINUED…

[shuwei]

There is another reason. When you use Arduino Nano, try to select a different "Processor" ATmega328P, ATmega328P (Old Bootloader), and upload again. Even if I buy Arduino Nano in 2021, I still have to choose the old bootloader to use it.

[mr.techsavveygammer]

bro hats off u saved from losing a science fair competition thanks a lot u are a legend god bless

[dremstor]

After the explanation and solutions, the narrations are the best! 😂 keep doing it it guys!

[suneathhossain]

Worked for me. I had TX and RX pins connected.
Thanks man! Take love.

[aljazskvarca]

Very helpful! I have Arduino nano. It did not work . I wen't under tools>processors and selected the old bootdrive. Now it works.

[michaelvorenkamp]

I hate myself. I did all of this, or so I thought. Turns out I was just mindlessly clicking the stupid bluetooth option on the top of the list because I was on autopilot. Thank you for helping me defeat avrdude!

[alejandrocontreras]

Dude, you just saved my project! thanks a lot!

[Dragon_Flamez]

Thank you so much bro. When I saw DONE UPLAODING my soul left me for a second

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Two brand new Nanos with two brand new USB cords... both recognized by Windows. None of these steps fixed the issue. Neither of my Nanos can be uploaded to via the IDE. What a terrible first Arduino experience!

[juanvaldez]

Reinstalling the IDE software did the trick in my case. I let the Arduino connected while installing and detected the correct port. Thank you.

[tmonkey]

another tip:

make sure that the cable is fully inserted into the arduino board, the power might already be transmitted even if its not fully inserted but the data will be not
and if your cable doesnt go all the way in you have to try with another cable

[aisharaza]

after struggling for a month or so, your video saved my life, the best solution ever found to fix this error code.thanks a lot

[MassimilianoCuba]

DUDE YOU JUST SAVE MY PROJECT!!! GOD BLESS YOU 😭😭😭😭 THANKS A LOT!

[abdelrahmanemoji]

i got nervous when you said "it is last easy thing that you can try" but it worked luckily

[rafalkunz]

I only had to change the Processor from “ATmega328P” to “ATmega328P (Old Bootloader) which is not in the video

[rasselmaennchen]

OMG I LOVE YOU. My problem was that I had 2 wires in the TX and RX, but no other board was connected, so I thought it doesnt matter. Saved me so much time :)

[Kakazzzii]

Thank you sir you just saved me from a big frusturation i love youuu

[alexsanderkavun]

Thank you, the last option worked. I just saw it here for the first time

[ChikombaBlessed]

Thank you, my guy. checking and changing the board worked for me

[kenaqshal]

Thanks man, your suggestion to unplug TX and RX port work like a charm!