Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

RE: Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

Vidar Berg — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:37:12 GMT

As the log says, the hex file was flashed successfully. It would not have been able to complete the verification step otherwise. Next step should probably be to debug the FW to figure out why the display is not functioning.

RE: Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

tycho — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:58:09 GMT

I just updated the board.cmake file with an nRF5340 JSON config file I found:

nrf5340dk_qspi_nrfutil_config.json

{

"firmware_config": {

"peripheral": "QSPI"

"pins": {

"sck": 17,

"csn": 18,

"io0": 13,

"io1": 14,

"io2": 15,

"io3": 16

"flash_size": 8388608,

"sck_frequency": 8000000,

"address_mode": "MODE24BIT",

"readoc": "READ4IO",

"writeoc": "PP4IO",

"pp_size": "PPSIZE256",

"sck_delay": 128,

"rx_delay": 2,

"page_size": 4096

}

It says it successfully flashed to the nRF5340:

WARNING: Specifying runner options for multiple domains is experimental.
If problems are experienced, please specify a single domain using '--domain <domain>'
-- west flash: using runner nrfutil
-- runners.nrfutil: mass erase requested
-- runners.nrfutil: reset after flashing requested
-- runners.nrfutil: Flashing file: /Users/bigal/Projects/Tycho-Watch/app/build/merged_CPUNET.hex
-- runners.nrfutil: Connecting to probe
-- runners.nrfutil: Erasing non-volatile memory (ERASEALL)
-- runners.nrfutil: Programming image
-- runners.nrfutil: Verifying image
-- runners.nrfutil: Reset
-- runners.nrfutil: Board(s) with serial number(s) 1057701224 flashed successfully.
-- west flash: using runner nrfutil
-- runners.nrfutil: mass erase requested
-- runners.nrfutil: reset after flashing requested
-- runners.nrfutil: Flashing file: /Users/bigal/Projects/Tycho-Watch/app/build/merged.hex
-- runners.nrfutil: Connecting to probe
-- runners.nrfutil: Erasing non-volatile memory (ERASEALL)
-- runners.nrfutil: Programming image
-- runners.nrfutil: Verifying image
-- runners.nrfutil: Reset
-- runners.nrfutil: Board(s) with serial number(s) 1057701224 flashed successfully.

But the nRF5340 never resets and boots (watch touch display is unlit and unresponsive).

RE: Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

Vidar Berg — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:47:18 GMT

It may be best to just update the board.cmake file in this case. That will make it work across all projects. I can use the thingy53 board as a reference: https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-zephyr/blob/d088ff9107d68dc49e21a402b708ab50aca1e847/boards/nordic/thingy53/board.cmake#L4.

RE: Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

tycho — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:58:07 GMT

I'm programming a custom board with nRF5340 which requires external QSPI memory. Should I be changing board.cmake or CMakeLists.txt (as in the first link you posted)? Bearing in mind I'd like to be able to click the nRFConnect VS Code extension flash button in the actions panel.

I've got a nrf54l15dk_spi_nrfutil_config.json in /nrf/tests/subsys/dfu/dfu_extra/boards directory of my project. Do I use that in the CMakeLists.txt macro (as in the first link)?

RE: Device error: No programmer is defined for the xip memory (0x10000000..0x20000000)

Vidar Berg — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:29:51 GMT

Hello,

nrfutil supports programming of external SPI/QSPI flash as well (see https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/nrf/app_dev/bootloaders_dfu/qspi_xip_split_image.html#programming_using_a_different_spi_mode and https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nrfutil/page/nrfutil-device/guides/programming_external_memory.html). But what is your target device? Are you targeting the nRF54L15 on the nRF54L15 DK, or are you only using the DK to program an nRF5340 on a custom board? Your board.cmake file suggests the latter, and the error indicates that your hex file includes code or data intended for external QSPI memory.

Best regards,

Vidar