Installing CH340G/CH34G/CH34X Mac OS X Driver for Arduino-Compatible Clones and Serial-to-USB Cables

If you are using devices that utilize the CH340G, CH34G, or CH34X chipset, this article provides guidance on how to install the latest macOS Sierra/High Sierra-compatible driver. This driver is commonly found in Arduino-compatible clones and serial-to-USB cables.

Before proceeding with the installation, it’s important to note that this driver is not compatible with macOS Mojave 10.14 or later. If you have a newer macOS version, it already includes a CH34x driver developed by Apple. Installing both drivers simultaneously can create conflicts and result in non-functional serial ports. Additionally, if you encounter issues with serial communication while using Apple’s driver, make sure to set the data rate to 460,800 bps or lower.

Installation Steps

1. Unplug any CH34* devices.
2. Unload the old drivers, if they are running, using the following commands:
3. sudo kextunload /Library/Extensions/usbserial.kext
4. sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/usb.kext
5. Remove the old driver by running one of the following commands, depending on your installation:
6. sudo rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/usb.kext
7. sudo rm -rf /Library/Extensions/usbserial.kext
8. Double-click on the CH34x_Install_V1.5.pkg file and follow the installation prompts. There is no need to reboot.
9. Instead of rebooting, you can force quit the installer after it completes.
10. Load the new driver using the command: sudo kextload /Library/Extensions/usbserial.kext
11. Plug in your device, and it should now be listed under the /dev directory. Examples:
12. /dev/cu.wchusbserial1410
13. /dev/tty.wchusbserial14210 (for driver version 1.5)

Installation via Homebrew-Cask

If you prefer to install the driver using Homebrew-Cask, you can follow these commands:

1. Open Terminal and run the following commands:
2. brew tap adrianmihalko/ch340g-ch34g-ch34x-mac-os-x-driver https://github.com/adrianmihalko/ch340g-ch34g-ch34x-mac-os-x-driver
3. brew install --cask wch-ch34x-usb-serial-driver

Troubleshooting

In case your device does not show up under /dev, check the “Security and Privacy” section in System Preferences for any notices about blocked software.

It’s worth noting that disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) is no longer necessary as the current drivers are properly signed by the OEM. If you are experiencing problems, they are most likely unrelated to SIP. However, if you had previously disabled SIP, especially if you did so completely, it is strongly encouraged to fully re-enable SIP. For instructions on how to re-enable SIP, you can refer to Apple’s official documentation.

If, after following the installation instructions, your device is still not recognized or you cannot install the driver, you may need to disable System Integrity Protection. Here is how you can do it:

1. Reboot your Mac into Recovery Mode by restarting your computer and holding down Command+R until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
2. Open Terminal (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal).
3. In the Terminal window, type csrutil enable --without kext to disable SIP or csrutil disable to fully disable it, and press Enter.
4. Restart your Mac.

We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the installation process of the CH340G/CH34G/CH34X Mac OS X driver. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.

Regards,
Blake Bradford

References:
– CH340G/CH34G/CH34X Mac OS X Driver Repository
– OEM Driver Version 1.5 Download
– Apple’s Documentation on System Integrity Protection
– Adrian Mihalko’s Website