Help needed with Pristine build in vs code

[Vishveshwaran]

I mean like when ever i click pristine build in the vs code i am getting this below error 

"Unable to build: SDK not found. Ensure that a valid SDK is used for the build configuration."

but the build is getting done when it is done in the terminal 

[Edvin]

Hello,

Can you please generate and upload the support information in nRF Connect for VS Code? It is generated by clicking this button:

Does that list v3.1.1 under "sdks", like this:

  "sdks": [
    {
      "version": "v3.2.1",
      "path": "c:\\ncs\\v3.2.1"
    },
    {
      "version": "v3.2.0",
      "path": "c:\\ncs\\v3.2.0"
    },
    {
      "version": "v3.1.1",
      "path": "c:\\ncs\\v3.1.1"
    },
    {
      "version": "v3.1.0",
      "path": "c:\\ncs\\v3.1.0"

If not, can you please try to run the following command? (does require a standalone installation of nrfutil):

nrfutil sdk-manager toolchain launch --terminal --ncs-version v3.1.1 (this will open a new window, use this one for the rest of the commands)

cd into the root folder of ncs v3.1.1, e.g. c:\ncs\v3.1.1

run "west update" and wait for it to finish. Does it indicate any errors? When this is done, close VS Code and relaunch it. Does it work now? If not, can you generate the support information once more, and upload this as well?

Best regards,

Edvin

[Vishveshwaran]

// IMPORTANT: The following data can contain sensitive or confidential information about your environment.
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{
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"electron": "37.3.1",
"node": "v22.18.0",
"appName": "Antigravity",
"appHost": "desktop"
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"date": "2026-01-13T03:59:34.538Z",
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"C:\\Program Files\\SEGGER\\JLink_V876\\JLink.exe": "8.76",
"C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\nrfjprog.exe": "10.24.2",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\nrfutil": "8.1.1",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\cmake": "3.21.0",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Scripts\\west.exe": "1.4.0",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\python.exe": "3.12.4",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\ninja.exe": "1.10.2",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\gperf.exe": "3.1",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\dtc.exe": "1.4.7",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\gn.exe": "2223",
"C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\mingw64\\bin\\git.exe": "git version 2.37.3.",
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"debugger (riscv)": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin\\riscv64-zephyr-elf-gdb.exe"
},
"nrfutil": {
"nrfutil-device": {
"version": "2.15.6",
"binPath": "c:\\Users\\vishv\\.antigravity\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2026.1.1242-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-device",
"jlinkInfo": {
"name": "JlinkARM",
"version": "JLink_V8.76",
"versionFormat": "string"
}
},
"nrfutil-sdk-manager": {
"version": "1.9.3",
"binPath": "c:\\Users\\vishv\\.antigravity\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2026.1.1242-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\bin\\nrfutil-sdk-manager"
}
},
"environment": {
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"HOME": "C:\\Users\\vishv",
"HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
"HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\vishv",
"PATH": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\mingw64\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Scripts;c:/ncs/toolchains/c1a76fddb2\\opt/nanopb/generator-bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\nrfutil\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\arm-zephyr-eabi\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk\\riscv64-zephyr-elf\\bin;c:\\Users\\vishv\\.antigravity\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-connect-2026.1.1242-win32-x64\\platform\\nrfutil\\lib\\nrfutil-sdk-manager;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files\\mosquitto;C:\\Users\\vishv\\miniconda3;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Launcher\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\GitHubDesktop\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.13_qbz5n2kfra8p0\\LocalCache\\local-packages\\Python313\\Scripts;C:\\nrf-tools;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Antigravity\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin",
"ZEPHYR_TOOLCHAIN_VARIANT": "zephyr",
"ZEPHYR_SDK_INSTALL_DIR": "c:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\zephyr-sdk",
"PYTHONPATH": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Lib;C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2\\opt\\bin\\Lib\\site-packages"
},
"inherited": {
"HOME": "C:\\Users\\vishv",
"HOMEDRIVE": "C:",
"HOMEPATH": "\\Users\\vishv",
"Path": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files\\mosquitto;C:\\Users\\vishv\\miniconda3;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Launcher\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\GitHubDesktop\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.13_qbz5n2kfra8p0\\LocalCache\\local-packages\\Python313\\Scripts;C:\\nrf-tools;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Antigravity\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin",
"PATH": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\iCLS\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Intel\\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\\DAL;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files\\mosquitto;C:\\Users\\vishv\\miniconda3;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Nordic Semiconductor\\nrf-command-line-tools\\bin\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Launcher\\;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\GitHubDesktop\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.13_qbz5n2kfra8p0\\LocalCache\\local-packages\\Python313\\Scripts;C:\\nrf-tools;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Antigravity\\bin;C:\\Users\\vishv\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin"
}
},
"terminal": {
"defaultProfile": null
},
"config": {
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"ozonePath": "",
"applications": [],
"applicationOptions": {},
"west": {
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"$base": "terminal"
},
"verbose": ""
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"boardRoots": [],
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"bindings": {
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"${workspaceFolder}/build/ECG_NRF52DK": "Launch build"
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"justMyCode": false,
"focusOnNrfDebug": true
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"activeAppFollowActiveEditor": true,
"flash": {
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"erase": false,
"recover": false
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"enableTelemetry": true,
"thirdpartyIntegration": {},
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"sdkManager": {
"region": "default"
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"nrfutil": {
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"defaultOpenAction": "ask",
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"topdir": "C:\\ncs\\v3.1.1",
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"path": "C:\\ncs\\toolchains\\c1a76fddb2"
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"path": "c:\\Users\\vishv\\.antigravity\\extensions\\nordic-semiconductor.nrf-kconfig-2026.1.230-universal",
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"tomoki1207.pdf": "1.2.2"
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}

this is the whole thing which i got,  after that the west update dint work actually it is not returning any errors also 

[Edvin]

Can you please show me a screenshot of the window where you generate your build configuration:

i.e. this one:

Best regards,

Edvin

[Vishveshwaran]

This is the Build configuratioin window

Regards
Vishva

[Edvin]

Is it possible to choose v3.1.1 from the dropdown menu on top? The one named "SDK"?

If so, try that, and see if that solves it. If it is not an option, try installing that SDK via the VS Code extension:

Best regards,

Edvin

[Vishveshwaran]

done 

Regards
Vishva 

[Edvin]

... And? Did it work? Does it recognize the SDK version after this?

BR,
Edvin

[Vishveshwaran]

• As i was saying, im using nrf connect for vs code for the past 6 months i did all these before itself, my sdk wasn't found in the previous screen shot since i was using a dedicated project file which was isolated from the original sdk version thats why it couldn't find that, i do have the sdk and the build is still doable when i run the west build commands in the nrf terminal. But pristine build in the ui isn't working.

[Edvin]

Ok, the nRF Connect for VS Code plugin will only work if you are using an NCS release, as far as I know. So unfortunately, if you are using standalone Zephyr, it will probably not work. The reason is that the plugin needs to know where NCS is located, to select the correct SDK to build with your application. If you can't point to the SDK, it doesn't know what to do.

It is possible to have the SDK isolated from the application folder, but it still needs to be an NCS release. You can also modify the source files in the SDK, such as merging particular pull requests and using the main branch instead of a stable release.

What are you trying to use? Zephyr (without NCS)? 

Best regards,

Edvin

[Vishveshwaran]

Yes that is what happened, the ncs folder got disconnected from the nrf extension alone, but still works with the workspace as i told the terminal based build is working.  I am using an official release only of the NCS which do have the zephyr