I have had a problem where the IDE (version 1.8.5) won't upload to Nanos. Only had this problem since updating the IDE and have not found a solution to it.
As a workaround, I have been using xLoader.
This is how I have done it, so should be the same or very similar for others on a Windows machine. I am using Windows 10 Pro x64.
- Open the Arduino IDE and the sketch you want to upload with the nano attached.
- Verify the sketch using the verify button (tick at top left of IDE window).
- Leave the Arduino IDE open - do not close it
- Open xLoader
- Navigate to
C:\Users\[yourname]\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_[some number]\ - You should see two hex files with the name of the sketch.
- Select the file without 'bootloader' at the end.
- Then select your board and COM port in xLoader
- Press 'Upload'
XLoader will then verify if the sketch has uploaded or not.
The Arduino IDE will delete the files when you close it because they are temporary files. If you want to keep them then you will have to copy them somewhere.
I have searched the internet and spent a long time checking, reinstalling, and trying other workarounds and this is the simplest I have found.
XLoader is available here:
No need to install, just extract it where you want to.
Hope this helps.