Troubleshooting 10 Common Errors in the Arduino IDE

Working with Arduino can be an exhilarating experience. The ability to turn your creative ideas into a working prototype is a truly satisfying feeling.

However, while the Arduino IDE is an incredibly user-friendly software package for coding, it's common to encounter errors and bugs that can be frustrating. Maybe your code won't compile, your sketch won't upload, or your serial monitor is spitting out gibberish. Whatever the issue may be, it can be frustrating and demotivating, especially if you're new to the Arduino platform.

We’ve summed up a list of troubleshooting ideas that can help you get your project up and running fast.

What Are the Most Common Errors While Using Arduino?

Errors can range from simple syntax errors to more complex hardware issues. Hardware errors are not very common when using Arduino. These errors can be particularly frustrating, as they often require physical inspection of the hardware components to diagnose and fix. On the other hand, software issues are quite common.

Here are some common errors that you may encounter when using the Arduino IDE.

1. Serial Port Not Found

This error message indicates that the computer is unable to detect the Arduino board. This can be caused by a variety of issues, such as a faulty USB cable, an incorrect COM port setting, or a damaged board. To resolve this issue, try reconnecting the board or changing the COM port setting in the IDE.

Some cheaper Arduino clones use the CH340 USB to Serial converter chip instead of the standard FTDI (FT232RL) chip used by official Arduino boards. Note that there are pros and cons of using Arduino clones in your projects. Unlike the standard Arduino boards, the drivers for the CH340 chip are not included in the IDE setup file.

To use a CH340-based Arduino board, you must download and install the driver for the chip separately. For more info, refer to the guide to installing CH340 drivers on the SparkFun website.

2. Programmer Not Responding

You will see this error message in the serial monitor when trying to upload your sketch:

        avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

To fix this error, there are several troubleshooting steps that you can follow:

Ensure that the correct board and port settings are selected.
Make sure that the USB cable is properly inserted into both the Arduino board and the computer.
Check if the board's firmware is up-to-date. Sometimes outdated firmware can cause communication issues with the computer.
Try resetting the Arduino board or power-cycling it by disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable.

If these don't work, try uploading the sketch from a different computer or using a different USB cable.

3. Permission Denied

If you encounter this error when attempting to upload a sketch to your Arduino, it indicates that the IDE doesn't have permission to read/write to the serial port. This occurs mostly for Ubuntu users.

You'll see this error message in the serial monitor:

        avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "/dev/ttyACM0": No such file or directory

To fix this, type the following command in the terminal:

        sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyACM0

This will allow all users to read from and write to the /dev/ttyACM0 serial port device. Keep in mind that the specific device name may vary depending on your system configuration. If you are on Windows, try running Arduino IDE in administrator mode.

4. Timeout Communicating With the Programmer

A timeout error in the Arduino IDE can occur when the IDE is unable to communicate with the Arduino board within a specified time limit.

        avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeoutavrdude: stk500v2_getsync(): timeout communicating with programmeravrdude: stk500v2_command(): failed miserably to execute command 0x11avrdude: stk500v2_disable(): failed to leave programming mode

This error message occurs when the Arduino board does not receive data from the computer within a specified time frame. It is pretty common with Chinese clones. This can be caused by a slow or unreliable connection, a faulty USB cable, or incorrect baud rate settings.

There are two possible solutions:

Install the Arduino bootloader again before uploading your sketch.
Hold down the reset button while the code is compiling and release it a split second before the code starts uploading.

While neither of these is ideal, you can try a more hardware-based fix from the video tutorial above. If that doesn't work, it's time you bought a new board.

5. Invalid Device Signature

You'll see this error message in the serial monitor:

        Avrdude: Yikes! Invalid Device SignatureDouble-check connections and try again, or use -F to override this check.

This error occurs when uploading code to a different board than the one selected in the Arduino IDE. It's usually caused by a device signature mismatch. To resolve this, select the correct board in the IDE or flash the latest Arduino bootloader to the board.

6. Board Not in Sync

Generally, when this error occurs, the Arduino board will be unable to receive uploaded code (even if the IDE indicates "Done uploading"), and the IDE will display this error message:

        avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00

Here are some troubleshooting steps that can help clear the error:

Verify that there are no devices, including shields, connected to digital pins 0 and 1 on the Arduino.
Check that the correct COM port and board have been selected in the Tools menu of the IDE.
Press the reset button on the Arduino board several times, then try uploading the code again.
Disconnect the Arduino from the PC and reconnect it.

The error message sync: resp = 0x00 is a general response that typically indicates an issue with the ATmega chip on the Arduino board.

7. Sketch Too Large

This error message appears when the size of the code exceeds the amount of available memory on the board. This can be caused by using too many libraries or by including unnecessary code. Try optimizing the code by removing unnecessary functions or libraries.

8. Library Not Found

This error message occurs when the IDE cannot locate a specific library required for the project. This can be caused by not installing the library correctly or using an outdated version. To resolve this issue, try reinstalling the library or updating it to the latest version.

9. Compilation Error

This error message appears when there are syntax errors in the code. This can be caused by missing brackets, semicolons, or incorrect function names. Carefully check the code for syntax errors and correct them.

10. Error While Uploading the Sketch

This error message occurs when the IDE is unable to upload the code to the board. This can be caused by an incorrect board type selected in the IDE, a broken bootloader, or a faulty USB cable. To resolve this issue, ensure that the correct board type is selected and that the USB cable is in good condition. If this error persists, you can try flashing a new bootloader to your board.

More Coding, Less Debugging

Arduino is a powerful platform for building innovative electronics projects. While it's a relatively easy tool to use, you may still encounter errors and issues along the way. By understanding the common errors and their causes, you can take steps to troubleshoot and overcome them.