Connect the Arduino Board to the Arduino Software

1. Open the Arduino software on the computer.
2. Maximize the Arduino software window.
3. In the menu bar, go to Tools>Port> and click the COM# with “Arduino/Genuino Uno” next to it.

STEM Connections

You will be using the Arduino software to create and send a computer program to the Arduino board to make your LED blink. There are many different types of Arduino boards for a range of applications. The default Arduino board, under the Tools menu, that the Arduino software is connected to is Arduino Uno. Every time you connect a new Arduino Uno board to your computer, the computer assigns it a new COM# so be sure to check that your port is connected to the right COM# each time you start using a new computer or new Arduino board.

No COM# with (Arduino/Genuino Uno)

1. Check to make sure that the USB is plugged all the way in tfoor both the Arduino board and the USB port of the computer.
2. Click out of menu bar and try again (sometimes it takes a while for your computer to connect to the Arduino board).
3. Try unplugging and re-plugging the USB cable
4. Try restarting the Arduino software
5. Try a new Arduino Uno board
6. Try a different USB cable
7. Try a different computer

1. Any time you connect something (whether it’s an external mouse, keyboard, etc.) to your computer, your computer assigns it a unique COM#, or like a virtual door number, to know where to send different pieces of information. Connecting your Arduino Uno board to your computer is no different and the information we are wanting to make sure the Arduino board receives from the computer is the uploaded code.
    
2. Another way to look at it is to think of writing code for Arduino is a lot like texting. Ask the students, “how many of you have ever texted before?” This should be a very relatable analogy. Next, ask your students, “what is the first thing you do when you want to text somebody?” When you send a text, the first thing you need to do is open the Messages App. When you write code for Arduino, the first thing you need to do is open the Arduino software.
    
3. Keeping with the texting analogy, ask, “what would you do next if you were texting?” While many students will tell you to start writing your text, the next thing you would do is select the person you want to send your message to. When writing code, the next step is to select the port where you will upload your code.