03 - Driver Installation on Windows

# CH340K Driver Installation Guide for Lonely Binary ESP32-S3 ## Introduction Your **Lonely Binary ESP32-S3 N16R8** has two USB ports: - **Main USB Port (Right):** Uses native USB CDC - no driver needed - **Backup UART Port (Left):** Uses CH340K USB-to-Serial chip - requires driver installation  This guide will help you install the CH340K driver for the backup UART port on both Windows and Mac. ## Understanding the Two USB Ports ### Main USB Port (Right Side - Labeled "USB") - **Technology:** Native USB CDC (Communications Device Class) - **Driver:** Built into Windows and Mac by default - **Setup:** Plug and play - no driver installation needed - **Use Case:** Primary programming and communication ### Backup UART Port (Left Side - Labeled "UART") - **Technology:** CH340K USB-to-Serial converter chip - **Driver:** Requires manual installation - **Setup:** Need to install CH340K driver - **Use Case:** Backup programming, alternative communication, debugging ## When Do You Need the CH340K Driver? ### You Need the CH340K Driver If: - You're using the **left USB port** (labeled "UART") - Arduino IDE shows the port but upload fails - Serial communication doesn't work - You get "port not found" or "upload failed" errors - You want to use the backup port for programming ### You Don't Need the CH340K Driver If: - You're using the **right USB port** (labeled "USB") - The main port works fine for your needs - You're on Mac and the main port works automatically ## Windows Installation Guide ### Step 1: Download the CH340K Driver **Official WCH Driver** 1. Go to [WCH Official Website](https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html) https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html 2. Download the latest version for Windows 3. Look for "CH341SER.EXE" or similar ### Step 2: Install the Driver 1. **Close Arduino IDE** and any other programs that might use the port 2. **Disconnect your ESP32-S3** from your pc 3. **Run the downloaded installer** as Administrator: - Right-click the installer file - Select "Run as administrator" - Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control 4. **Follow the installation wizard:** - Click "Install" or "Next" - Wait for installation to complete - Click "Finish" when done ### Step 3: Verify Installation 1. **Open Device Manager:** - Press `Windows + X` - Select "Device Manager" 2. **Check for CH340K:** - Look under "Ports (COM & LPT)" - You should see "USB Serial Device (COM X)" or "CH340K (COM X)" - The "X" will be a number like COM3, COM4, etc. 3. **Test in Arduino IDE:** - Open Arduino IDE - Go to Tools → Port - You should see the new COM port listed ## Summary ### Key Points: - **Main USB port:** No driver needed, works automatically - **Backup UART port:** Requires CH340K driver installation - **Mac users:** Remember to allow accessory connection and extension permissions - **Windows users:** Run installer as Administrator - **Both platforms:** Restart after driver installation --- ## Support If you encounter any issues, please go to [https://lonelybinary.com](https://lonelybinary.com) and click the Support button located in the bottom right corner. Our team is ready to assist you. [](https://lonelybinary.com) or contact us at office@lonelybinary.com --- Your Lonely Binary ESP32-S3 now has two fully functional USB ports for programming and communication! 🚀