nrfutil cannot recognize J-Link, preventing flashing with nrfutil and preventing VS Code from recognizing the device.

[zero]

Dear Support Team,
I have downloaded the latest version of VS Code;

I have also installed the latest version of the nRF Connect for VS Code Extension Pack;

The J-Link version is v8.78;
The SDK and toolchain are v3.1.1;
However, the nRF54L15-DK device is not displayed under CONNECTED DEVICES in VS Code (I have verified that the development board is functioning correctly).

Below are the nrfutil log and the vs code nrf-connect-support-20251204030657.jsnoc file. Please help analyze the cause. Thank you.

0447.logs.zip

// IMPORTANT: The following data can contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.
// If you do not want others to see this information, make sure to remove it before sharing the data.

// For help and support, visit Nordic Semiconductor's DevZone at https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/.

{
  "platform": {
    "os": "win32",
    "osVersion": "Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019",
    "osKernel": "10.0.17763",
    "vscode": "1.106.3",
    "electron": "37.7.0",
    "node": "v22.20.0",
    "appName": "Visual Studio Code",
    "appHost": "desktop"
  },
  "system": {
    "date": "2025-12-04T03:06:57.593Z",
    "vscodeRoot": "d:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\resources\\app",
    "nrfConnectForDesktopInstalled": true,
    "vscodeUptime": "00:03:45",
    "osUptime": "74:35:27",
    "cpu": "Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6246R CPU @ 3.40GHz"
  },
  "workspace": {
    "name": "无标题 (工作区)",
    "workspaceFile": "1764749064613",
    "folders": [
      "d:\\nordic\\myApps\\hello_world",
      "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0"
    ]
  },
  "sdks": [
    {
      "version": "v3.1.1",
      "path": "d:\\ncs\\v3.1.1"
    },
    {
      "version": "v0.9.0",
      "path": "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0"
    }
  ],
  "activeBuild": "/nordic/myApps/hello_world/build/hello_world",
  "apps": [
    {
      "workspace": "d:\\nordic\\myApps\\hello_world",
      "uri": "d:\\nordic\\myApps\\hello_world",
      "buildConfigurations": [
        {
          "id": "/nordic/myApps/hello_world/build",
          "name": "build",
          "boardId": "nrf52840dk/nrf52840",
          "type": "Sysbuild",
          "isChild": false,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          },
          "sdk": "d:\\ncs\\v3.1.1",
          "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.1"
        },
        {
          "id": "/nordic/myApps/hello_world/build/hello_world",
          "name": "build/hello_world",
          "boardId": "nrf52840dk/nrf52840",
          "type": "Zephyr",
          "isChild": true,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          },
          "sdk": "d:\\ncs\\v3.1.1",
          "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.1"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "workspace": "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0",
      "uri": "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0\\nrf-bm\\samples\\peripherals\\uarte",
      "buildConfigurations": [
        {
          "id": "/ncs/nrf-bm/v0.9.0/nrf-bm/samples/peripherals/uarte/build",
          "name": "build",
          "boardId": "bm_nrf54l15dk/nrf54l15/cpuapp/s115_softdevice",
          "type": "Sysbuild",
          "isChild": false,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          },
          "sdk": "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0",
          "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.0"
        },
        {
          "id": "/ncs/nrf-bm/v0.9.0/nrf-bm/samples/peripherals/uarte/build/uarte",
          "name": "build/uarte",
          "boardId": "bm_nrf54l15dk/nrf54l15/cpuapp/s115_softdevice",
          "type": "Zephyr",
          "isChild": true,
          "isStale": false,
          "taskBindings": {
            "build": [],
            "pristineBuild": [],
            "flash": [],
            "eraseAndFlash": []
          },
          "sdk": "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0",
          "toolchain": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.0"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "toolchains": [
    {
      "version": "3.1.1",
      "path": "d:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2",
      "displayName": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.1",
      "compilerTools": [
        "Zephyr SDK (arm) 0.17.0",
        "Zephyr SDK (riscv) 0.17.0"
      ]
    },
    {
      "version": "3.1.0",
      "path": "d:\\ncs\\toolchains\\b8b84efebd",
      "displayName": "nRF Connect SDK Toolchain v3.1.0",
      "compilerTools": [
        "Zephyr SDK (arm) 0.17.0",
        "Zephyr SDK (riscv) 0.17.0"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "connectedDevices": [],
  "tools": {
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin\\arm-zephyr-eabi-gcc.exe": "0.17.0",
    "D:\\Program Files\\SEGGER\\JLink_V876\\JLink.exe": "8.76",
    "D:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\nrfjprog.exe": "10.24.2",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\nrfutil": "8.1.1",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\cmake": "3.21.0",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Scripts\\west.exe": "1.4.0",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\python.exe": "3.12.4",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\ninja.exe": "1.10.2",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\gperf.exe": "3.1",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\dtc.exe": "1.4.7",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\gn.exe": "2223",
    "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\mingw64\\bin\\git.exe": "git version 2.37.3.",
    "debugger (arm)": "d:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin\\arm-zephyr-eabi-gdb.exe",
    "debugger (riscv)": "d:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin\\riscv64-zephyr-elf-gdb.exe"
  },
  "nrfutil": {
    "nrfutil-device": {
      "version": "2.13.1",
      "binPath": "c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.9.798-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-device",
      "jlinkInfo": {
        "description": "This version of SEGGER J-Link is different from the J-Link version that was used to test nrfutil device commands",
        "expectedVersion": {
          "version": "JLink_V8.60",
          "versionFormat": "string"
        },
        "name": "JlinkARM",
        "version": "JLink_V8.76",
        "versionFormat": "string"
      }
    },
    "nrfutil-sdk-manager": {
      "version": "1.6.2",
      "binPath": "c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.9.798-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-sdk-manager"
    }
  },
  "environment": {
    "westEnv": {
      "HOME": "C:\\Users\\S1154869",
      "HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
      "HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\S1154869",
      "PATH": "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\mingw64\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Scripts;d:/ncs/toolchains/c1a76fddb2\\opt/nanopb/generator-bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\nrfutil\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.9.798-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\lib\\nrfutil-sdk-manager;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\unify_builder;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\utils;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\scripts;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\7z;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\utils;.;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\msys\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\Scripts\\;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;C:\\Program Files\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;D:\\Program Files\\TortoiseSVN\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\mingw64\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\Program Files\\TortoiseGit\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Git\\cmd;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;D:\\DevTools;",
      "ZEPHYR_BASE": "d:\\ncs\\v3.1.1\\zephyr",
      "ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",
      "ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR": "d:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk",
      "PYTHONPATH": "D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Lib;D:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Lib\\site-packages"
    },
    "inherited": {
      "HOME": "C:\\Users\\S1154869",
      "HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
      "HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\S1154869",
      "Path": "c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\unify_builder;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\utils;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\scripts;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\7z;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\utils;.;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\msys\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\Scripts\\;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;C:\\Program Files\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;D:\\Program Files\\TortoiseSVN\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\mingw64\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\Program Files\\TortoiseGit\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Git\\cmd;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;D:\\DevTools;",
      "PATH": "c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\unify_builder;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\utils;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\scripts;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\7z;c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\cl.eide-3.26.1\\res\\tools\\win32\\utils;.;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\.eide\\bin\\builder\\msys\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\Scripts\\;D:\\Program Files\\Python313\\;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;C:\\Program Files\\Citrix\\HDX\\bin\\;D:\\Program Files\\TortoiseSVN\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\mingw64\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\Program Files\\TortoiseGit\\bin;D:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\S1154869\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Git\\cmd;D:\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;D:\\DevTools;"
    }
  },
  "terminal": {
    "defaultProfile": null
  },
  "config": {
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
      "ozonePath": "",
      "applications": [
        "d:\\ncs\\nrf-bm\\v0.9.0\\nrf-bm\\samples\\peripherals\\uarte"
      ],
      "applicationOptions": {},
      "kconfig": {
        "interface": "kconfig"
      },
      "west": {
        "env": {
          "$base": "terminal"
        }
      },
      "boardRoots": [],
      "taskBindings": {},
      "debugging": {
        "flash": true,
        "bindings": {},
        "justMyCode": false
      },
      "activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true,
      "flash": {
        "softreset": false,
        "erase": false,
        "recover": false
      },
      "enableTelemetry": false,
      "thirdpartyIntegration": {},
      "toolchainManager": {
        "indexURL": null,
        "installDirectory": "D:\\ncs"
      },
      "nrfutil": {
        "home": null
      },
      "defaultOpenAction": "ask",
      "terminalProfile": {
        "shell": null
      }
    },
    "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
      "terminalMode": "character",
      "localEcho": false
    },
    "marus25.cortex-debug": {
      "variableUseNaturalFormat": true,
      "liveWatchRefreshRate": "300",
      "armToolchainPath": null,
      "armToolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",
      "gdbPath": null,
      "objdumpPath": null,
      "JLinkGDBServerPath": null,
      "openocdPath": null,
      "pyocdPath": null,
      "PEGDBServerPath": null,
      "stutilPath": null,
      "stlinkPath": null,
      "stm32cubeprogrammer": null,
      "enableTelemetry": true,
      "dbgServerLogfile": null
    }
  },
  "extensions": {
    "internal": {
      "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect": {
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        "path": "c:\\Users\\S1154869\\.vscode\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2025.9.798-win32-x64",
        "isActive": true
      },
      "nordic-semiconductor.nrf-terminal": {
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    "external": {
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      "ms-vscode.js-debug-companion": "1.1.3",
      "ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table": "1.0.10",
      "cl.eide": "3.26.1",
      "mcu-debug.debug-tracker-vscode": "0.0.15",
      "mcu-debug.memory-view": "0.0.28",
      "mcu-debug.peripheral-viewer": "1.6.0",
      "mcu-debug.rtos-views": "0.0.12",
      "mhutchie.git-graph": "1.30.0",
      "MS-CEINTL.vscode-language-pack-zh-hans": "1.106.2025111209",
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    }
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}

BR,

Zero

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi Zero,

I see from the log that one J-Link device is found. Can you run the command "nrfutil device list" and share the result here? If you do not see ny device then, can you check with a different USB cable in case there is a problem with the cable? Also please verify that the on/off switch on the DK is so that it is on, and that you see an active LED on the DK (the LED for the onboard debugger).

[zero]

Hi，

Einar Thorsrud said:

Can you run the command "nrfutil device list" and share the result here?

Einar Thorsrud said:

If you do not see ny device then, can you check with a different USB cable in case there is a problem with the cable? Also please verify that the on/off switch on the DK is so that it is on, and that you see an active LED on the DK (the LED for the onboard debugger).

I have already replaced the USB cable with one that is known to be working, and I have also confirmed that the development board is receiving power properly.

BR,

Zero

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi Zero,

Thank you. However, it does not seem to be the right log file. It looks like you are running nrfutil from a nRF Connect SDK toolchain? If so, the path is different. Can you try to run the command "nrfutil device list --log-level trace" again and see if there is a log file at D:/ncs/toolchains/c1a76fddb2/nrfutil/home/logs/nrfutil-device.log ? If so, can you share that? If not, an option could be if you can install nrfutil outside of the toolchain and run it there, and use the path I referred to in my previous post?

[zero]

Hi，

As shown in the attachment, the file can be obtained by unzipping it.

3716.logs.zip

BR,

Zero

[Einar Thorsrud]

Thank you, Zero. It looks like this may be caused by a bug in nrfutil, but we are still working on narrowing it down.

Are you running in a virtual machine (VM)? Also, are there any other factors about your environment that is worth mentioning?

[zero]

It can be considered a virtual machine, except that it runs Windows 10.

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

I see. Virtual machines can be problematic, and nrfutil (which is also used by nRF Connect for VS Code) is no longer tested on Windows 10 (see Supported operating systems). I recommend using Windows 11 on a physical machine.

[zero]

Hi,

For confidentiality reasons, we can only use this "cloud desktop" virtual machine and cannot switch to a physical Windows 11 machine. Please help analyze how to solve this problem.

BR，

Zero

[Einar Thorsrud]

I see. Then I suggest you first test with Windows 11 in the VM, as Windows 11 is fully supported. There are still no guarantees that it will work there though, as virtual machines is not directly supported (there are multiple vendors of virtualization and it can be configured in different ways, so it is difficult for us to support all combinations).