CubeProgrammer does not acknowledge ST-Link v hardware [Black Pill]

XKSteve · ‎2026-01-30

Title edited to flag that this relates to a Black Pill

After much too much time searching and following advice from for the most part, outdated forum posts I have been unable to resolve my issue with win 11.

I have a windows 11 machine (Microsoft Surface) up to date as of 28th January 26.

ST Link Utility installed and woking

StCubeProgrammer 2.21.0 and working (apart from not seeing the STLink v2.0 hardware).

Both installed as Administrator.

Cube Programmer however refuses to acknowledge the STLink v2 when connected even though the driver reports it is working and indeed it shows up in Device Manager. I did try reinstalling and the other common resolve I see is to switch to Shared Enabled in the right hand panel.

The odd bit is it just works on my Mac M2 Tahoma without any issues and displays the correct serial number

I would like to get it working on my Surface laptop as well as all my programming is normally done on that machine (XGecu T48).

Here are some screen shots.

Any suggestions as to what to do to get CubeProgrmmer to see the ST-Link v2.0 hardware on Windows 11.

TDK · ‎2026-01-30

Looks connected to me. It reports a target voltage. Can’t do that without it being detected. Connect button can be clicked.

Fake ST links often have a bogus serial number but may otherwise work okay.

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XKSteve · ‎2026-02-06

Thanks TDK, I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.

This project is turning into a nightmare for me, supplier issues, orders cancelled by supplier, lost parcels, fakes etc....

Anyway. I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards and a STlinkv2 from Mouser in the USA as I figure they having such a good repartition, the items MUST all be genuine products.

Before I go further could someone please kindly confirm that I have this set up correctly please before I connect genuine items from Mouser (due in a couple of days)

Please note STlink in the pictures is, I now believe, FAKE.

Kind regards Steve

Andrew Neil · ‎2026-02-06

@XKSteve wrote:
I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.

Did you see How to recognize a genuine ST-LINK/V2 versus a cloned one ?

In particular, look at the rear of the ST-Link.

@XKSteve wrote:
I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards Kind regards Steve

Note that any coloured "Pill" board is not an ST Product, and is likely to contain a fake STM32 - especially if it's an STM32F1, but there are also clone F4s; eg, see this thread.

The best way to avoid these kinds of issues and frustrations is to use a genuine ST board; eg, a Nucleo or Discovery.

PS:

I think this diagnostic tool only covers STM32F103C8T6 clones - not F4 - but there might be something similar out there...?

PPS:

This post suggests at least two STM32F4 clones

#STM32F4Clone #STM32F1Clone #STM32Clone

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

XKSteve · ‎2026-02-06

@Andrew Neil wrote:
@XKSteve wrote:
I think your fake assumption might well be on the money.
Did you see How to recognize a genuine ST-LINK/V2 versus a cloned one ?
In particular, look at the rear of the ST-Link.

@XKSteve wrote:
I have ordered new (5) Black pill boards Kind regards Steve
Note that any coloured "Pill" board is not an ST Product, and is likely to contain a fake STM32 - especially if it's an STM32F1, but there are also clone F4s; eg, see this thread.
The best way to avoid these kinds of issues and frustrations is to use a genuine ST board; eg, a Nucleo or Discovery.

PS:
I think this diagnostic tool only covers STM32F103C8T6 clones - not F4 - but there might be something similar out there...?

Yes I saw that article you mentioned and that is what lead me to believe it's a fake.

Obviously I understand that black pills are dev boards that have STM32F411 MCUs on a board but I am trying to build an Open source project designed by someone who used these Black Pill F411 chipped boards so don't have the option for Nucleo etc.

All I want to do is install their code on these boards.

Using one of those really fake ST-LINK devices (mini thing) I am able to communicate and read / write to the Pill successfully on my Mac but not the Windows. I darn't connect this (pictured earlier) ST Link V2 in case it fries my black pills.

Connections are simply VCC, GND, DIO and SCLK.

So from what you're saying the ST Link v2 (Genuine) does not work with STM32F411. So that's another bunch of wasted time and money.

Andrew Neil · ‎2026-02-06

@XKSteve wrote:
Obviously I understand that black pills are dev boards that have STM32F411 MCUs

You missed the point: they quite likely do not have an STM32F411 MCU on them - instead, they have a non-ST clone of the STM32F411.

@XKSteve wrote:
I am trying to build an Open source project designed by someone who used these Black Pill F411 chipped boards so don't have the option for Nucleo etc

The code should still build for a genuine ST chip.

@XKSteve wrote:
So from what you're saying the ST Link v2 (Genuine) does not work with STM32F411.

Not at all.

A genuine ST-Link will certainly work with the whole range of genuine ST chips.

It's the ST software tools (CubeProgrammer, CubeIDE) which recognise your fake chips, and refuse to connect to them.

This was discussed at length recently in this thread (focussing on the F1 Blue Pill, but the principles are the same).

Edit: Sorry, I meant this thread !

You should be able to use 3rd-party tools; eg, Keil has support for (some of) the clones ...

Edit: added link for "3rd-party tools"

@XKSteve wrote:
I daren't connect this (pictured earlier) ST Link V2 in case it fries my black pills.

It's unlikely to cause any damage - other than to your mental health ...

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

XKSteve · ‎2026-02-06

@Andrew Neil

I think (hope) these are genuine as the three I already have from Mouser have very good markings (attached) and they are the ones recommended by the developer. STM fakes apparently have bad markings and I have seen these in person.

The ST-Link recommended by the dev is the one that is shown in your reply to the fake identification post

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus/how-to-recognize-a-genuine-st-link-v2-versus-a-cloned-one/ta-p/49471

This was the one I tried first but would not work on Windows. So I decided to buy the ones listed on Mouser and Farnell (here in the UK). Both companies are very well respected distributors and Authorised by STM. I opted for Mouser as they have some SMD chips I wanted at a good price. The documentation says it will work on STM32's so I again assume support STM32F411 MCUs.

My mental health is already trash at this point.. Having designed and built many projects using Arduino (Atmel32) and Raspberry Pi I can't believe how difficult and frustrating this project has been, so little has gone right for me and I am only trying to do it right.

Andrew Neil · ‎2026-02-06

@XKSteve wrote:
I think (hope) these are genuine

We can but hope.

It might be worth getting a Nucleo - if everything goes swimmingly with that, but still no joy on the Pills, it would suggest that the problem is in the Pills ...

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked.
A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work.

AScha.3 · ‎2026-02-06

Ok, it shows the serial "bad" , but what happens if you click connect ?

+

Did you try "firmware upgrade" st-link ?

If you feel a post has answered your question, please click "Accept as Solution".

XKSteve · ‎2026-02-06

Umm good question :)

WINDOWS

1st ST-LInk I brought. (a mini red one)

Reports no ST-Link Detected

2nd ST-Link I brought. (a mini blue one)

The CubePrg Read button goes dim, the log says UR connection mode is defined... etc and then it hangs the software.

3rd ST-Link I brought (the Big white one (pictured above)) does have a serial number ???? of sorts! genuine number, who knows?

Reports no ST-Link Detected

MAC

1st ST-LInk I brought. (red one)

Works but it trashed the black pill (ST LINK and Black Pill fakes)

2nd ST-Link I brought. (blue one)

Works as expected but not FULLY tested as it is a fake and I can not afford another trashed Black Pill given they are £15.00 each from Mouser so not tried to program via it.

3rd ST-Link I brought

Is seen but won't connect to pill... so I scoped the pins (pin 1 dead, pin 7 is has a noisey signal and goes low on read and then stays there, pin 9 is high and stays high on read. Pins 12 and 13 are shorted together and two Gnds are not connected at all so as expected it's also a fake and it has the rear label as shown in:

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-boards-and-hardware/how-to-verify-st-link-v2-original-or-fake/td-p/301470

Going to wait and see what comes via FedEx next week when everything will be from a respected source.