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How to Resolve CH340G USB Device Not Working in Linux

How to Resolve CH340G USB Device Not Working in Linux

The CH340G USB-to-serial chip is commonly used in various devices for serial communication. When this chip doesn't work on a Linux system, it can be due to several reasons, such as missing Drivers , improper permissions, or system configuration issues. Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you resolve this issue in a clear and easy-to-follow manner.

Possible Causes:

Missing or Incorrect Drivers Linux might not automatically load the correct driver for the CH340G chip. Kernel module s Not Loaded The CH340G driver may not be part of the kernel or may not have been loaded. Permission Issues Insufficient permissions for accessing the USB device may block access. Incorrect USB Port or Cable The USB port or cable might be faulty, causing communication issues. Conflicts with Other Devices Other USB devices may be interfering with the CH340G chip.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Check for CH340G Detection

First, check if the system recognizes the CH340G device.

Plug in the USB device and open a terminal. Run the following command to list the connected USB devices: lsusb If you see an entry like 0403:6001, this indicates the CH340G chip is detected by the system. If not, the issue may be hardware-related (e.g., faulty USB port or cable). 2. Install the Driver (If Necessary)

Most modern Linux distributions come with the CH340G driver pre-installed. If your system doesn't recognize the device, you can manually install the driver.

First, check if the ch341 module is loaded: lsmod | grep ch341 If it’s not loaded, you can load the module manually: sudo modprobe ch341 If the module is not available, you can install the driver. On many distributions (like Ubuntu), run: sudo apt update sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential Then, download and compile the driver: Visit the official CH340G driver page or find a reliable source on GitHub. Extract the files, and follow the instructions in the README or INSTALL file to compile the driver. 3. Check Permissions

Sometimes, the issue is with device permissions. By default, regular users may not have permission to access the USB device.

To check the permissions of the serial device, run: ls -l /dev/ttyUSB* The device should be owned by the user dialout. If it is owned by root or another user, you can add your user to the dialout group: sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER After executing this command, log out and log back in for the changes to take effect. 4. Check the dmesg Logs

The dmesg command can provide detailed information about what’s happening when you connect the device.

Run: dmesg | tail -n 20 Look for any error messages related to the CH340G device. This can help identify if there are issues related to USB power, driver loading, or permissions. 5. Try Different USB Port or Cable

If the above steps don't work, the issue could be with the USB port or cable.

Try plugging the device into a different USB port on your computer. If you have another USB cable, try using it to rule out the possibility of a faulty cable. 6. Test with a Different Linux Distribution

If you’re using a customized or less common Linux distribution, it might lack built-in support for the CH340G. You can try booting from a live USB of a popular Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora to test if the issue persists. This will help you confirm whether the issue is related to your specific distro.

7. Update Your System

Ensure your Linux system is up to date. Updates often include kernel improvements, bug fixes, and driver updates that could resolve compatibility issues with the CH340G chip.

Run the following command to update your system: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade 8. Check for Conflicting Devices

In rare cases, other USB devices might conflict with the CH340G. Disconnect other USB devices and test the CH340G device again. If it works without other devices connected, reconnect them one by one to identify the conflict.

Conclusion:

By following the steps above, you should be able to resolve the issue of the CH340G USB device not working in Linux. Start by checking if the device is detected, install or reload the driver, fix permission issues, and test different cables and ports. If none of this works, consider testing on a different Linux distribution to rule out distro-specific issues.

If the problem persists even after following these steps, it may be a hardware issue with the USB device or your computer’s USB ports.