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Associate III
July 20, 2025
Solved

STM32F103RBT6 MCU not detected by programmer – BOOT0 pin tied to GND on custom PCB

  • July 20, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 704 views

Hello everyone,

I have designed a custom PCB using STM32F103RBT6 and I’m facing a serious issue:
The MCU is not getting detected by the programmer.

Symptom:

When connecting via SWDIO, SWCLK, 3.3 V, and GND, both STM32CubeProgrammer and ST‑Link Utility fail to detect the target.

Power rails are verified: 3.3 V present at VDD pins, proper decoupling capacitors placed close to supply pins.

No shorts observed on the board.


Important hardware details:

Boot0 pin (on my design) is directly tied to GND by mistake – I’m wondering if this could block programming or reset behavior.

NRST pin has a 10 kΩ pull‑up to 3.3 V as recommended.

BOOT0 is pulled low (GND) on the board without Resistor, any problem?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
schematic snippet attached.

1000453134.jpg

1000452490.jpg

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best answer by STOne-32

Dear @asking ,

VDDA must be connected to VDD and also VBAT not left unconnected. Recommended to connect To VDD and 100nF capacitor  if no battery is present .

R1 to be removed on NRST pin we already have internal pull-up to VDD tied internally . Just keep the 100nF cap . Can you check theses points and let us know . If possible also a picture of the Package marking  .

Hope it helps you ,

STOne-32

2 replies

Tesla DeLorean
Guru
July 20, 2025

What voltage do you have on VDDA / AREF ?

Needs this for Power-On-Reset

Inspect voltage at NRST, is it clamped Low by the device?

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askingAuthor
Associate III
July 20, 2025

VDDA i am using TL431B using 10K on ground and 2.2K on positive side. Getting 3.041V and same is supplied to VDDA. 

 

NRST pin I have 10K pull up resistor tied to 3.3V.

STOne-32
STOne-32Best answer
Technical Moderator
July 20, 2025

Dear @asking ,

VDDA must be connected to VDD and also VBAT not left unconnected. Recommended to connect To VDD and 100nF capacitor  if no battery is present .

R1 to be removed on NRST pin we already have internal pull-up to VDD tied internally . Just keep the 100nF cap . Can you check theses points and let us know . If possible also a picture of the Package marking  .

Hope it helps you ,

STOne-32

askingAuthor
Associate III
July 21, 2025

Measured Voltage is 3.329V on pull up with resistor and without resistor. Also i have connected VDD to VBAT, still controller is not responding to programmer same error.

 

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