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Amel NASRI
Amel NASRI
ST Technical Moderator
Mar 2, 2023 1:01 PM UTC

How to recognize a genuine ST-LINK/V2 versus a cloned one

To answer the questions like "Is my ST-Link/V2 genuine? Where to find a genuine ST-Link/V2? Why my device isn't recognized?" and other related ones, please refer to the following:

Where to find a genuine ST-Link/V2

ST-Link official in-circuit debuggers and programmers are available from standard STMicroelectronics distributors. Both STLINK-V3MINIE and STLINK-V3SET are usually available in volume, while the availability leadtime of ST-LINK/V2 may temporarily increase.

How to recognize a genuine ST-Link/V2

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Should a ST-Link/V2 clone properly work with any ST tool or FW?

ST resources are dedicated to support genuine ST-Link products. We are not committed to ensure that clones are properly working with the firmware that we are delivering.

How to re-use the ST-Link section from a STM32 Nucleo board

For reference, the pricing of STLINK-V3MINIE probe and of selected Nucleo boards is around 10$, i.e half the price of ST-LINK/V2.
The embedded ST-Link from a Nucleo-64 board may seamlessly be used to program and debug an external STM32 application. The related settings are described in the User Manual of the Nucleo-64 board UM1724 in the paragraph covering the embedded ST-Link/V2-1.
 

    5 replies

    Andrew Neil
    Andrew Neil
    Super User
    Jul 31, 2024 10:08 AM UTC

    Note that anything looking like this is a fake/clone - even if it does have an "ST" logo on it:

    AndrewNeil_0-1722419957735.png 

       AndrewNeil_1-1722420112805.png

     

     

     

    There are many of these fakes/clones which all look identical, but they do not have consistent pinouts - the pinouts can be different, even when bought from the same place!

    AndrewNeil_2-1722420232052.pngAndrewNeil_3-1722420257252.png

    The above collected from a couple of previous posts:

    https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/blue-pill-stm32f1-board-gets-programmed-through-arduino-ide-but/m-p/668483/highlight/true#M242662

    https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/debug-problem-with-clone-st-linkv2/m-p/661306/highlight/true#M240845 

     

    PS:

    Example of a lookalike fake ST-Link:

    https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-boards-and-hardware/is-this-a-genuine-st-link/m-p/867869/highlight/true#M29139

     

    #FakeSTLink #CloneSTLink

    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.
      BarryWhit
      BarryWhit
      Lead
      Aug 18, 2024 4:50 PM UTC

      The clones also don't break out (without manual modding) the SWO pin needed for the "Serial Wire Viewer" (SWV) functionality in CubeIDE, which is very very useful while developing.

      "- If someone's post helped resolve your issue, please thank them by clicking ""Accept as Solution"".- Please post an update with details once you've solved your issue. Your experience may help others."
        Andreas Bolsch
        Andreas Bolsch
        Lead III
        Aug 18, 2024 7:56 PM UTC

        And RST is SWIM reset, not SWD reset signal. Moreover there are clones around which have totally weird pull-up/pull-downs on SWDIO and/or SWCLK. Causes communication to target to cease sporadically:

        https://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/515218

        Probably the manufacturer just took a reel of resistors without knowing anything about the functionality of the circuit.  

          avinash_elec
          avinash_elec
          Associate III
          Jun 20, 2025 2:36 PM UTC

          How do they get the firmware of ST link? Is it freely available? 

          Andrew Neil
          Andrew Neil
          Super User
          Jun 20, 2025 2:49 PM UTC

          @avinash_elec No - the firmware is closed source. See:

          https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-boards-and-hardware/st-link-source-code/m-p/711023/highlight/true#M20893

           

          But there are some Open-Source alternatives:

          https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-boards-and-hardware/st-link-source-code/m-p/711105/highlight/true#M20897

          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.
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