nRF Connect for DesktopDesktop tool

Cross-platform development software for Nordic Products

nRF Connect for Desktop is a cross-platform tool framework for assisting development on nRF devices. It contains many apps to test, monitor, measure, optimize and program your applications.
nRF Connect for Desktop is designed to be used with our development kits and dongles. The apps will detect which kit you connected to your computer and upload the needed firmware. 



nRF Connect for Desktop Apps


Bluetooth Low Energy app iconBluetooth Low Energy

This is an easy-to-use cross-platform application for Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity testing. It supports auto-detection of connected development kits and firmware uploads, as well as supporting Bluetooth Low Energy security features.

You can scan for Bluetooth Low Energy devices that are advertising and discover their services, maintain the connection and the connection parameters, pair the devices, and change the server setup for your local device. It also offers a detailed log for troubleshooting purposes.

Direct Test Mode app iconDirect Test Mode

Perform tests with Bluetooth Low Energy devices as specified in the Bluetooth Core Specification.

Configure your connected devices as transmitters or receivers and test them. The app lets you adjust settings like the channel, transmit power, and packet length.

LTE Link Monitor app iconLTE Link Monitor

The nRF91 Series uses an AT command API modem control for running the firmware in the application core. LTE Link Monitor is a modem client application that monitors the modem/link status and activity using AT commands. You can find the documentation for the nRF91 Series AT Commands here.

Power Profiler app iconPower Profiler

This App operates in conjunction with our Power Profiler Kit. It lets you read, analyze and export measurements from the Power Profiler Kit.

The PPK2 supports dynamic current measurements from 200nA up to 1 A and can be used to supply a connected board as well as measure its current.

Programmer app iconProgrammer

The Programmer app lets you program Nordic SoCs. You can drag and drop your files and read, write or erase the device.

RSSI Viewer app iconRSSI Viewer

The RSSI Viewer lets you scan the 2,4 GHz spectrum.

Toolchain Manager app iconToolchain Manager

Manage nRF Connect SDK and toolchain versions on Windows and Mac.

Automatic Updates

All nRF Connect for Desktop apps

Bluetooth LE

Cellular

Power Measurement

Toolchain Management

 

Choose platform and version

Choose your Desktop platform and select version (latest released version recommended)

Selected version
4.0.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Changelog:

4.0.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Changelog:

  • Fixed issue where older Thingy53 devices programming failed due to timeout.
  • Fixed issue where external J-Link programmer not listed when not connected to device.

4.0.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Changelog:

Added

  • Drag and drop an app package file onto the app list in order to install a local app.
  • Warn about outdated app versions.
  • Hotkey `Ctrl+W` or `Cmd+W` closes the current window.

Changed

  • Installing and updating apps does not block the app list.
  • Only download icons and release notes on startup if “Check for updates at startup” is enabled.

Fixed

  • Apps were unable to load in the case of special characters in the path.

3.12.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 0eed29cb63b8c74d4fcee2b661bb7a1640c1f5d2bcd77bc021f88b1e15305db9

Changelog:

Added

  • Save crash logs to file.
  • macOS: Support for using Universal JLink (Intel and Apple Silicon)

Fixed

  • macOS: Froze a few seconds after launch wusage statistics was enabled.

3.11.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 7f0d30f489daff44590d4e141cad07c5b3d9e4f2b7fddbfacff805190030777b 

Changelog:

Added

  • Supports the nRF5340 Audio DK (PCA10121).

Changed

  • Speeds up app launches.
  • Layout in the launcher: Reduced app icon sizes and by default show 5 apps.

Fixed

  • Returned spinner while loading apps (removed during 3.11.0).
  • Some issues when programming and erasing devices in the Programmer app.

3.11.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 185a27fa9f76930e386d4506027f53b304df5e24aa46e43fb611274ca29021f7

Changelog:

Added

  • Enable preselecting a device by serial number when launching from the command line.

Changed

  • Better reliability in China. The app list is not loaded from GitHub any longer but from developer.nordicsemi.com, which should be easier to reach from China.
  • Users get notified if their installed JLink version is different to the JLink version bundled with nRF Connect for Desktop.

Removed

  • Support running apps with the old look & feel.

3.10.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 87D86C72020F4F48951FD464D649DC963C5F809F9FDEDAD90DF93E80A7C68598

Changelog:

Added

  • Functionality to turn on extensive logging from the `About` pane to aid in support-cases.

  • Partial readout of device information from readback-protected devices.

Changed

  • Bundle newer version of J-Link (758b).

Fixed

  • Cancelling update of nRF Connect for Desktop no longer freezes the app.

3.9.3 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 734DEBEA1DB5512B4BB42103A7DFD487A55944BE696436F8CB4EA75EDAF8D8B0

Changelog:

  • Selecting device no longer prompts firmware upgrade when the firmware on the device is the same as the bundled firmware.

3.9.2 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: EFCB1EE2DD902BBAF4306FC86ECE32BAC69CCD23610A0831126E0D99DAC190BC

Changelog:

  • Switching focus after selecting the `About` pane caused incorrect or missing details in `Application` card.
  • Some disabled buttons (e.g. in the `About` pane) had no borders and were hard to see.
  • Windows: Disconnected devices sometimes still showed up in the list of devices.
  • Windows 11: Thingy:91 programming was broken by sporadic wakeups of the kernel.
  • macOS: Thingy:91 detection broken when a nRF52 firmware version older than 1.6.0 is used. In these cases, please upgrade to the latest firmware from the Thing:91 product page

3.9.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: B2901E75C20D89DAFB7AE8053C5C8BF380A8A7A738F2810AB360081B516A8131
  • Fixed keyboard shortcuts to focus search field were not working after clicking on filter.
  • Fixed on macOS: When switching to another app while the splashscreen was displayed, "APPS" was focused.
  • Updated nrf-device-lib to v0.3.20, changes and fixes are as follows:
    • Fixed issue where ongoing JLink OB firmware upgrade would break enumeration.
    • Upgrade nrfjprog to 10.15.1.
    • Support mcuboot and modem trait on devices with external SEGGER JLink.

3.9.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 730E7F532D82548CC086E9281B171C85AC75D3CC01F1B4E41A27EA0959143490
 

 

Release changelog:

Added

  • Keyboard shortcuts to focus search field: `ctrl + e` or `cmd + e`.

Changed

  • Search and filter header is now sticky when scrolling.
  • While starting the launcher, all apps used to be shortly shown until a previously set filter was applied. Now the filter is applied immediately.
  • nRF Connect for Desktop icon on Windows and Linux.

Fixed

  • While offline, uninstalling apps would make it look like they are still installed until the next start of the launcher.
  • Make enumeration more robust in `nrf-device-lib-js`, which should reduce  the frequency in which `EnumerateWorker json error` errors happen.
  • Increase timeout for the rare occasion when enumeration takes a long time. 

3.8.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: B2901E75C20D89DAFB7AE8053C5C8BF380A8A7A738F2810AB360081B516A8131
  • Replaced underlying low-level libraries by integrating nrf-device-lib and updated pc-ble-driver to make communication with devices much more reliable
  • Added link to documentation in About pane in some apps (e.g. in Programmer)
  • Added progress indicators for app installation and upgrade in app launcher
  • Added showing version numbers of currently not installed apps in app launcher
  • Added about pane with version, documentation and license information in app launcher
  • Fixed a hibernation crash issue on Windows

3.7.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

SHA256: 5AC854AB9C430D0F7AED794BDA00E8F1F9026ED6686B94E70A1975C1F7123885

  • Added warning when launching outdated apps which are still using the old app architecture.

  • Added setting user data directory through command line switch --user-data-dir or environment variable NRF_USER_DATA_DIR.

3.7.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Added recovery assistance for when the application encounters an error
  • Added ‘Restore Default’ button in the ‘About’ pane in the apps which have the ‘About’ pane
  • Added app version in title bar (previously only the version of the launcher was shown)
  • Added links to product page for Power Profiler Kit 2 and updated links for nRF5340 Development Kit
  • Updated styles in the ‘About’ pane
  • Created shortcut in ‘~/.local/share/applications’ for Ubuntu

3.6.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Updated to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.7.6, including bundled nrfjprog v10.12.1 and JLink 6.88a
  • Updated with small visual enhancements to apps using the new design
  • Fixed that the other apps showed no release notes anymore after updating an app

 

3.6.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Upgraded Electron to version 8
  • Fixed app loader animation

3.5.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • Updated design for new apps
  • Added usage statistics
  • Fixed JLink device enumeration issue

3.4.2 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Changelog:
  • Updated pc-ble-driver-js to 2.7.2 #452 See changes https://github.com/NordicSemiconductor/pc-ble-driver-js/releases/tag/v2.7.2
  • "Update all apps” sometimes showed an error message (even though it worked correctly). #451

3.4.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Added support for nRF52805 SoC
  • Updated to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.7.3, including bundled nrfjprog v10.9.0 and JLink 6.80a

3.4.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • Added app filter and button to update all apps
  • Updated pc-ble-driver-js to 2.7.1 with SoftDevice 5 support
  • Fewer requests for entering proxy credentials when needed
  • Enhanced error messages
    • Links in messages are clickable.
    • If an app source is removed from the server, users are assisted in removing it from client.
  • Made retrieval of release notes more reliable, by not retrieving them from GitHub Releases anymore but our own server instead

3.3.1 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • Added support for nRF52820
  • Added support for modem UART DFU
  • Updated to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.7.0, including bundled nrfjprog v10.7.0 and JLink 6.62b

3.3.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Added support for nRF5340, nRF52833, and MCUboot DFU
  • Updated to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.6.0, including bundled nrfjprog v10.5.0 and JLink 6.54c
  • Updated icon colors
  • Fixed bug where app was opened in unreachable location

3.2.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Launcher has a new look
  • Installation and launch of apps are now unified on the same page
  • Added ability to show release notes for apps in launcher
  • Faster startup

3.1.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • Updated to pc-ble-driver-js v2.6.1 with electron 5 support
  • Updated to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.5.8, including bundled nrfjprog v10.3.0 and electron 5 support
  • Fixed shortcut generation on macOS
  • Fixed libusb errors and multiple event handlers

3.0.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • Update to React Bootstrap 4 - React Bootstrap is a fundamental dependency for nRF Connect for Desktop, used for UI components and layout.
    The update is a breaking change, requiring all apps to be updated.
    There are no changes to features of nRF Connect for Desktop, only minor visual differences.
  • Update to pc-nrfjprog-js v1.5.4, including bundled nrfjprog v10.2.1

2.7.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

Release changelog:

  • support for pc-nrfjprog-js v1.5.1, including nrfjprog v10.1.1 with DFU programming
  • support for system report generation
  • support for bundled nrfjprog libraries on Windows
  • support for copy-to-clipboard to source URL and make it selectable

2.6.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Added new way of distributing apps such as official, internal, etc, by introducing support for multiple app sources
  • Updated to Command Line Tools v9.8.1
  • Added support for displaying multiple serialports and board version of a device
  • Fixed links in LogViewer to open urls in browser

2.5.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Updated connectivity firmware from SoftDevice v3.0 to v3.1 for better compatibility with SoftDevice 6.1
  • Support for upgrading bootloader on nRF52840 dongle 
  • Support for Programmer app update
  • Updated electron to 2.0
  • Updated jest to 23.4.1
  • Support to relaunch app when encountering libusb error
  • Exposed start & stop watching device API

2.4.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Added support for Nordic Semiconductor PCA10059 nRF52840 dongle
  • Device selector component updated to support USB devices
  • Updated pc-ble-driver to support SD API v3 on nRF52840 devices

2.3.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Automatic updates now also supported on Linux
  • AppImage release artifact for Linux
  • Segger RTT support
  • Fixed issue with lookup of J-Link serial numbers from Windows registry
  • Fixed issue with side panel not visible on narrow screens
  • Stability fixes in Bluetooth LE driver

2.2.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Desktop shortcuts for installed apps
  • Fixed issue with JLink library not being found when installed in custom location on Linux/macOS

2.1.0 Windows 32-bit and 64-bit

 

  • Improved support for proxy servers
  • New settings screen that allows turning off checking for updates at startu
  • Make it easier for users to install apps manually
  • Allow apps to filter ports in the serial port selector