Visual Studio Code: Unable to find worker executable / Unable to flash target

Question

Hi all Coming back to an nrf52840 project after some weeks, VScode nRF extension do not work anymore. Trying to recover a board (nRF52840DK) gives error: 08:52:50] nrfutil-device recover --serial-number 001050261677 --json [08:52:51] Error: One or more recover tasks failed: * 1050261677: Unable to find worker executable: Custom { kind: NotFound, error: "Failed to find file plugin-probe-worker. Looked for file in , , /home/vsts/.cargo/registry/src/eu.files.nordicsemi.com-aeee3781a8ecf169/target/release/plugin-probe-worker and /home/developer/.vscode/extensions/nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.9.754-linux-x64/platform/nrfutil/bin/plugin-probe-worker" } (Generic) Trying to flash a binary to the target gives error: Executing task: nRF Connect: Flash:

(active) Flashing to nRF52840 DK west flash -d /home/developer/work//build --domain --dev-id 1050261677 -- west flash: rebuilding [0/10] Performing build step for '' ninja: no work to do. [1/10] Performing build step for 'mcuboot' ninja: no work to do. [4/10] cd /home/developer/work//build/_sysbuild && /home/developer/ncs/tool[7/9] cd /home/developer/work//build/_sysbuild && /home/developer/ncs/toolc[8/9] cd /home/developer/work//build/_sysbuild && /home/developer/ncs/toolchains/7cbc0036f4/usr/local/bin/cmake -E true -- west flash: using runner nrfutil -- runners.nrfutil: reset after flashing requested FATAL ERROR: required program nrfutil not found; install it or add its location to PATH Validating the toolchain gives no errors: [09:09:41] =========== Toolchain validation report for nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.0.2 =========== Package Using the nRF Connect SDK v3.0.2 at /home/developer/ncs/v3.0.2 No issues were detected with the toolchain. Versions: Visual Studio Code: 1.104.0 nRF Connect for VS Code Extension Pack: 2025.4.4 nRF Connect for VS Code: 2025.9.754 nRF DeviceTree: 2025.8.140 nRF Kconfig: 2025.9.123 nRF Terminal: 2025.8.103 Any idea what's wrong here? Thanks! -- Kind regards

Vidar Berg · Accepted Answer

Please run the 'JLinkConfig' executable and check if there are any updates available for the J-link OB FW on the DK. It might also be worth upgrading the Jlnk v.8.60 as the text suggests, but I'm not convinced it would make any difference.

radio200000 · Answer

Just about an hour ago I started JLinkExe and it instructed me to update the firmware on the debugger. This solved the problem of not being able to flash (and also board recovery via CLI) works now. 
 Extension is still broken though.

Vidar Berg · Answer

That's one problem solved, at least. Regarding the issue with the extension, could you please double check the the extension got updated to 2025.9.7 9 8 and that it's not on 2025.9.789 still? This release did fix the issue on my end so I don't understand why it did not fix it in your case.

Visual Studio Code: Unable to find worker executable / Unable to flash target

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