# ESP32 port not being detected **URL:** \ **Category:** Uploading\ **Created:** [November 20, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443 "2025-11-20T19:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ayeshamalik2006](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ayeshamalik2006/32/1246761_2.png) [@ayeshamalik2006](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ayeshamalik2006)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/1 "2025-11-20T19:41:58Z")
– ESP32 C3 Mini Not Detected in Arduino IDE\*\* **Board:** Espressif ESP32 C3 Mini 1 > **[ESP32-C3 DevKitM-1 WiFi+Bluetooth 5.0 IOT Module in Pakistan](https://electrobes.com/product/esp32-esp32-c3-wifibluetooth-5-0-internet-of-things-dual-type-c-development-board-core-board-esp32-c3-devkitm-1-for-arduino/)** > > ESP32 / ESP32-C3 WiFi+Bluetooth 5.0 Internet Of Things Dual Type-C Development Board Core Board ESP32-C3-DevKitM-1 Mini compact ESP board. Buy in Pakistan **IDE:** Arduino IDE (latest) windows 11 **Problem:** When connected, the ESP32 does **not show any COM port** in the Arduino IDE. Only “USB Serial” appears under _Other Devices_ in Device Manager. Arduino boards work fine on the same IDE. **Steps Taken:** - Tried both USB-C ports on laptop. - Installed CH340 drivers (no effect). - Checked Device Manager: only “USB Serial” appears. - Pressed and held the BOOT button while connecting the board(no effect) **Questions:** - Should I be connecting via COM port or USB? - How to make the ESP32 show up correctly in Arduino IDE? - Are additional drivers or settings required for ESP32 C3 Mini 1? I know the problem isnt in my computer or anything because when my arduino UNO COM shows up just fine (diff data cable) close up board image below: ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/2/5/a/25a50cf69ea86563e927fec690904f946eb908c6.jpeg) ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/2/5/a/25a50cf69ea86563e927fec690904f946eb908c6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kmin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/kmin/32/1147370_2.png) [@kmin](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/kmin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/2 "2025-11-20T20:04:47Z")
Try with the other usb-port, labeled USB. ---
**Author:** ![BitSeeker](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/bitseeker/32/1241632_2.png) [@BitSeeker](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/BitSeeker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/3 "2025-11-20T20:59:06Z")
Could you show a photo of the other side of the board please? Also can you confirm that your USB cable is a data cable and not just a charging cable? Have you tried a different USB cable? Regarding your COM or USB question, I believe it should come up on a COM port, but if you look in the IDE under Tools -\> Port, does it show as a USB port? BTW, I beleive these boards have either a CH343 or CP2102 UART. The CH343 is a newer chip with a different driver, so the CH340 driver is not going to help here. The topside photo should hopefully help determine which variant you have. ---
**Author:** ![sterretje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sterretje/32/391294_2.png) [@sterretje](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sterretje)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 5:41am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/4 "2025-11-21T05:41:28Z")
I've moved your topic to a more suitable location on the forum. I don't know much about ESP32 boards. So I might be putting you on the wrong foot. > [@ayeshamalik2006](#): > > Installed CH340 drivers (no effect). From one of the pictures in the link that you did provide the IC circled in red does not seem to be a WCH CH340. ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/5/b/3/5b316c54aed9327b2f91245b2887fe40815eaf7b.jpeg) It might be a Silabs CP210x in which case you need the driver for that. > [@ayeshamalik2006](#): > > Checked Device Manager: only “USB Serial” appears. You should be able to find the USB VID/PID in device manager (details tab, hardware ids). ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/b/6/d/b6d079dabd5550b22bb67ff11d8e1fdaca64c4bf.png) ---
**Author:** ![GolamMostafa](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/golammostafa/32/239011_2.png) [@GolamMostafa](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/GolamMostafa)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/5 "2025-11-21T05:46:26Z")
Follow the steps of this link: [Installing ESP32 in Arduino IDE (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux) | Random Nerd Tutorials](https://randomnerdtutorials.com/installing-the-esp32-board-in-arduino-ide-windows-instructions/) ---
**Author:** ![ayeshamalik2006](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/ayeshamalik2006/32/1246761_2.png) [@ayeshamalik2006](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ayeshamalik2006)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/6 "2025-11-29T17:38:17Z")
i did try that it didnt work ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2025, 11:26am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/7 "2025-12-02T11:26:10Z")
Hi @ayeshamalik2006. > [@ayeshamalik2006](#): > > Only “USB Serial” appears under _Other Devices_ in Device Manager It is excellent troubleshooting technique to check Device Manager. It was not certain from your description that you verified that the device you saw in Device Manager was produced by the "ESP32 C3 Mini" board (as opposed to being some unrelated device that happens to be present on your system. In order to verify it truly is from the board, please try this troubleshooting procedure and then report the results: * * * ❗ This procedure is not intended to solve the problem. The purpose is to gather more information. * * * 1. Disconnect the USB cable of the Arduino board from your computer. 2. Open the [Windows **Device Manager**](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/open-device-manager-a7f2db46-faaf-24f0-8b7b-9e4a6032fc8c). 3. Select **View \> Devices by type** from the **Device Manager** menus. 4. Open the " **View**" menu. 5. If there is a **✓** to the left of the " **Show hidden devices**" menu item, click on " **Show hidden devices**" to disable it. 6. Take note of the contents of the " **Other devices**" and "**Ports (COM & LPT)**" sections of the Device Manager tree. 7. Connect the Arduino board to your computer with a USB cable. 8. Select **Action \> Scan for hardware changes**" from the **Device Manager** menus. Now please [reply](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-new-user-guide/96331#replying-11) here on this forum topic with the answers to the following questions: - Did you see any new device appear in the **Device Manager** tree after following those instructions? - If you did see a new device, where is it located in the tree, and what is it named? You can repeat steps 5-8 multiple times if you are not sure. ---
**Author:** ![codeguy42](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/codeguy42/32/1126625_2.png) [@codeguy42](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/codeguy42)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/8 "2026-04-10T03:00:06Z")
I have a different ESP device but have the same problem with the CP210x driver. I downloaded, installed per directions. I did the diagnosing actions you describe here. My device list does not have a "Port" or "Ports (COM & LPT)" section. Turning on "Show hidden devices" gave several new items but right click did not show any new devices. I did this with the ESP connected and disconnected. Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![sterretje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/sterretje/32/391294_2.png) [@sterretje](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sterretje)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/9 "2026-04-10T04:21:18Z")
> [@codeguy42](#): > > Any advice? If the operating system does not recognise the board it might be a bad cable. ---
**Author:** ![codeguy42](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/codeguy42/32/1126625_2.png) [@codeguy42](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/codeguy42)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/10 "2026-04-10T19:53:32Z")
The cable involved was previously used successfully. I had a previously working setup with a Windows 10 computer, same ESP32(s), same cable. I replaced the computer (now Windows 11), am now attempting to get exactly the same setup working with the new computer. ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/11 "2026-04-11T04:49:05Z")
Hi @codeguy42. > [@codeguy42](#): > > My device list does not have a "Port" or "Ports (COM & LPT)" section. Please try this troubleshooting procedure and then report the results: * * * ❗ This procedure is not intended to solve the problem. The purpose is to gather more information. * * * 1. Disconnect the USB cable of the Arduino board from your computer. 2. Open the [Windows **Device Manager**](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/open-device-manager-a7f2db46-faaf-24f0-8b7b-9e4a6032fc8c). 3. Select **View \> Devices by type** from the **Device Manager** menus. 4. Open the " **View**" menu. 5. If there is a **✓** to the left of the " **Show hidden devices**" menu item, click on " **Show hidden devices**" to disable it. 6. Take note of the contents of the " **Other devices**" section of the Device Manager tree. 7. Connect the Arduino board to your computer with a USB cable. 8. Select **Action \> Scan for hardware changes**" from the **Device Manager** menus. Now please [reply](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-new-user-guide/96331#replying-11) here on this forum topic with the answers to the following questions: - Did you see any new device appear in the " **Other devices**" section of the device tree after following those instructions? - If you did see a new device, what is it named? You can repeat the procedure multiple times if you are not sure. > [@codeguy42](#): > > Turning on "Show hidden devices" gave several new items Note that this setting causes items to be shown in the device tree for devices that were recognized by your computer in the past, but are not currently detected. We are only interested in the devices that are actually connected to your computer and successfully recognized at the time of the experiment, so these additional "hidden devices" are irrelevant. Furthermore, they might cause confusion. This is why I recommend leaving that setting off while performing this experiment. ---
**Author:** ![codeguy42](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/codeguy42/32/1126625_2.png) [@codeguy42](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/codeguy42)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/12 "2026-04-21T03:14:55Z")
I'd already done that (see above). Reboot of Windows 11 computer and connecting everything with different hardware brought it to life. After restoring all of the "failed" components back together in original config, it all worked. Not sure where the problem was but I now have success. ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/esp32-port-not-being-detected/1415443/13 "2026-04-21T03:31:39Z")
I'm glad it is working now. Thanks for taking the time to post an update. Regards, Per