# Can't program arduino pro mini **URL:** \ **Category:** Uploading\ **Created:** [November 9, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323 "2024-11-09T20:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bartek\_bawer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bartek\_bawer](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/bartek_bawer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/1 "2024-11-09T20:44:33Z")
I can't program my arduino pro mini with ftdi232 (tried 2 diffrent ftdi's). The sketch compiles fine, but when I try to upload it, it does nothing, then it says it tried 10 time and can't upload. The arduino could be bricked, but power led lights up and when I press reset button, the led does blink in correct pattern, also it doesn't heat up, so I don't tnik it is broken. Is it damaged or what? ---
**Author:** ![PaulRB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paulrb/32/216330_2.png) [@PaulRB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/PaulRB)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/3 "2024-11-09T20:51:43Z")
> [@bartek\_bawer](#): > > when I try to upload it Show us how you connected everything: post a schematic. Also tell us every setting/option you selected. Also have you tested your USB-serial adapters using the loop-back test? ---
**Author:** ![sonofcy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sonofcy/32/1283617_2.png) [@sonofcy](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sonofcy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/4 "2024-11-10T04:11:19Z")
Have you changed the Processor values? ![Screenshot 2024-11-09 at 16.33.29](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/1/5/0/150ab7fad9981d936caa870aa96cfe5132657790.png) ---
**Author:** ![bartek\_bawer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bartek\_bawer](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/bartek_bawer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/5 "2024-11-10T13:14:02Z")
![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/1/e/f/1ef3366d6ceac05f6305500dc6ef3c2f9ab00eed.png) ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/c/6/a/c6ac360fab167851e6634a8e62972695cc0117a8.jpeg) I also checked connections between ftdi and arduino (with multimeter). Every single one is good and doesn't short to any other. ---
**Author:** ![sonofcy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sonofcy/32/1283617_2.png) [@sonofcy](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sonofcy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/6 "2024-11-10T13:16:25Z")
Have you set the processor? It may need to be changed to 168 either 3.3 or 5 but try them all. ![Screenshot 2024-11-09 at 16.33.29](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/1/5/0/150ab7fad9981d936caa870aa96cfe5132657790.png) ---
**Author:** ![jim-p](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/jim-p/32/922840_2.png) [@jim-p](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/jim-p)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/7 "2024-11-10T13:20:15Z")
Is the FTDI jumper set to 5V? ---
**Author:** ![bartek\_bawer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bartek\_bawer](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/bartek_bawer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/8 "2024-11-10T16:16:32Z")
Jumper is set on 5V. Already tried all the processor options ---
**Author:** ![sonofcy](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sonofcy/32/1283617_2.png) [@sonofcy](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sonofcy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/9 "2024-11-10T16:21:18Z")
When you try a processor option, give it a few cycles, it can be flaky. Also make sure the voltage selected by the processor and the FTDI are set the same. If none of that works with the cheap clone, you may have been unlucky and got a bad one or a fake. I have a bunch and got lucky, they all work. ---
**Author:** ![david\_2018](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/david_2018/32/1013044_2.png) [@david\_2018](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/david_2018)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/10 "2024-11-10T16:22:45Z")
Are you certain the pro mini has the bootloader? ---
**Author:** ![jim-p](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/jim-p/32/922840_2.png) [@jim-p](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/jim-p)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/11 "2024-11-10T16:28:42Z")
Does you FTDI board have 5 or 6 output pins? ---
**Author:** ![bartek\_bawer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bartek\_bawer](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/bartek_bawer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/14 "2024-11-10T17:13:20Z")
The ftdi connector has 6 pins. How would I check if it has a bootloader ---
**Author:** ![jim-p](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/jim-p/32/922840_2.png) [@jim-p](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/jim-p)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/15 "2024-11-10T17:28:20Z")
I'm out of suggestions. The errors you posted seem to indicate a bad connection between the FTDI and the Pro mini or that the FTDI is bad. If you soldered on the headers to both boards, I would check the solder joints. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/cant-program-arduino-pro-mini/1320323/16 "2025-05-09T17:28:43Z")
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