FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

reavertm — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:28:13 GMT

To workaround, create symlink in /usr/local/bin/ to nrfutil binary, wherever it is (in ex ~/.nrfutil/bin/nrfutil). Essentially vscode plugins needs to see nrfutil as installed system-wide.

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

bw_N3RD — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 22:24:43 GMT

Hello, I am have the same issue as the others in this thread, and unable to resolve. It is not clear to me how the menu in step 3 is accessed, as the screen shot looks cropped. Is there a reference guide/material that provide all the details in one place to fix this issue?

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

reavertm — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 04:57:14 GMT

I modified `west` script to dump environmrnt and it seems NRF Connect VSCode plugin actively removes any PATH overrides from user's .bashrc and instead tries to construct PATH manually from system + toolchain + SDK.

So if nrfutil is NOT installed system-wide, but for instance in ~/.nrfutil/bin, it will never be located by VSCode.

Where do I report this bug?

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

reavertm — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 03:52:46 GMT

Adding nrfutill to PATH doesn't work for me because... nrfutil is already in PATH.

`west` command fails to find nrfutil when executed from VSCode GUI (ACTIONS->Flash, but works just fine when executed manually from Toolchain shell (Manage Toolchains->Open Terminal Profile).

So I classify it as a bug in vscode plugin - it likely runs `west` command (the one that flashes) in wrong shell env or sth.

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

ivnn — Mon, 26 May 2025 16:18:53 GMT

Ubuntu

nano ~/.bashrc

and add a line to the eof with full path to nrfutil location

export PATH=$PATH:/home/nrfutil_location

then apply changes

exec bash

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

RafalPCB — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 13:17:21 GMT

I did that but it wasn't working. What worked is typing ./nrfutil install device

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Knut Eldhuset — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:53:42 GMT

Note that there are additional steps after downloading nrfutil:

"After downloading the nrfutil executable, it is recommended to move it to a folder that is in the system's PATH. On macOS and Linux, the downloaded file will also need to be given execute permission by typing chmod +x nrfutil or by doing this in a file browser (this is typically a checkbox found under file properties)."

Regards,
Knut

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

RafalPCB — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:12:43 GMT

Hello,

I get thus when i type it:

rafal@Rafals-MacBook-Pro-M4 Apps % nrfutil install device
zsh: command not found: nrfutil
rafal@Rafals-MacBook-Pro-M4 Apps %

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Knut Eldhuset — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:39:51 GMT

Please try to install the "device" command by running nrfutil install device.

Regards,
Knut

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

RafalPCB — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:22:45 GMT

Hello, I've put nrfutil in the tolchains folder. Now I get this error. I type in device install but its says nrtutil command not found. VS on M4 mac 2.9SDK 54l15 DK

Flashing build54DK to 54L15 DK1
west flash -d /Users/rafal/Documents/Nordic_Boards/Apps/build54DK --skip-rebuild --dev-id 1057731392

-- west flash: using runner nrfutil
-- runners.nrfutil: reset after flashing requested
-- runners.nrfutil: Flashing file: /Users/rafal/Documents/Nordic_Boards/Apps/build54DK/merged.hex
Error: nrfutil command `device` not found. See `nrfutil list` for full list of installed commands, `nrfutil search` for installable commands, and `nrfutil install` for installation of new commands.

Caused by:
    Subcommand nrfutil-device not found
-- runners.nrfutil: Board with serial number 1057731392 flashed successfully.
 *  Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it.

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Ziyao Zhou — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 04:57:13 GMT

Thanks a lot!!!

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

frank.lee — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 01:53:17 GMT

I also encountered the same issue. Here is a temporary solution:

Download the nrfutil.exe and place it in the same directory as 'west':

\ncs\toolchains\2d382dcd92<is your toolchain>\opt\bin\Scripts

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Knut Eldhuset — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 07:53:50 GMT

The download page can be found through the link in my other reply, but here is a direct link: https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Development-tools/nrf-util

Regards,
Knut

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Ziyao Zhou — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 01:03:45 GMT

I encountered the same problems and I cannot use pip to install it, could you please give me some advice:)

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

666 — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:25:02 GMT

It‘s workding,need to restart vs code and execute nrfutil install device.

RE: FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH

Knut Eldhuset — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:21:22 GMT

nRF Util can be found here: docs.nordicsemi.com/.../recommended_versions.html

Regards,
Knut