Arduino Counterfeit Fake CH340G chips driver issues

Important : These messages do not indicate that the CH340G chip is fake as it can't be detected automatically. These messages are only intended to catch your attention about potential issues linked to fake CH340G chips.

If your arduino is not recognized anymore by simhub or you can't use it you might be victim of a fake CH340G chip.

Recently (April 2023) a driver update delivered through windows update is breaking some fake CH340G chips (this chip is used to emulate an USB serial port to communicate with the Arduino main MCU).

In the context of SimHub use, a warning will appear in two cases when a CH340G chip is detected:

• In the arduino setup tool when a CH340G serial port is selected :

• In simhub in case a device with this chip model is scanned and not recognized as a valid SimHub sketch.

Am I concerned by this warning ?

You are concerned if :

• Your Arduino was programmed previously with the simhub sketch and is using the CH340G chip and is suddenly not working.
• Your Arduino can't be programmed anymore with the simhub sketch setup tool or the Arduino IDE and is using the CH340G chip.

You are not concerned if :

• The serial port using this chip is intended for a different use than SimHub. In such case it's highly recommended to exclude it from scanning using the scan options : https://github.com/SHWotever/SimHub/wiki/Troubleshoot-other-hardware-Serial-ports-conflicts . (Note : To clear the information message simply restart SimHub)

How to recognize a fake CH340G chip ?

• The device will appear as a CH340 in the device manager :

• Most of the counterfeit chips are coming unlabeled (it's a rectangular 16 pins chip) :

• The driver 3.8.2023.2 (11/02/2023) or later is not working (anymore) for your Arduino :

How to workaround issues with fake chips :

Rollback to an older driver :

Unfortunately since the incompatible driver is delivered through windows update it is harder to keep an older driver installed :

• Recommended : Block windows drivers update so the newest driver won't get installed automatically : https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-stop-automatic-driver-updates (note: while this is required to be able to install and keep the older ch340g driver but this will affect any of your future devices)

• Reinstall an older driver here : 01/30/2019, 3.5.2019.1 CH341SER driver

Buy an arduino(or arduino clone) using genuine chip.

The easiest way is to use genuine chips, it won't give you such issues.

Arduino Clone = Fake chips ??

It was important for me to make a focus about not doing any shortcuts about Arduino clones.

Most clones are using perfectly genuine Chips. An Arduino clone is using the open source Arduino sources (board design ...) and is perfectly genuine. Unfortunately some manufacturers are using fake chips to save a few cents and offer "cheaper" clones than legit clones, but this should not discourage you from buying more affordable arduino clones than their Arduino sold counterparts. Obviously buying Original Arduinos directly from the Arduino company will ensure you all the chips are genuine.