How to change the VID / PID of an Arduino Nano?

Changing the VID / PID of an Arduino Nano depends entirely on which USB interface chip your Nano uses. This is not a software setting you can change from a sketch; it is defined by the USB firmware of the USB-to-serial chip.

Below is a clear decision path → implementation steps → risks and procurement implications.

1. First: Identify which Arduino Nano you have (this decides everything)

There are three common Nano variants in the wild:

Nano type	USB chip	VID/PID changeable?	How
Original Nano	FT232RL	Yes	Reprogram EEPROM
Clone Nano (most common)	CH340 / CH341	No (practically)	Fixed in silicon
Newer Nano (ATmega328P + ATmega16U2)	ATmega16U2	Yes	Flash USB firmware

Most cheap Nano boards use CH340 → VID/PID cannot realistically be changed.

2. How to check which USB chip you have (don’t skip this)
On Windows

1. Plug in Nano
2. Open Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT)
3. Check device name:
4. USB Serial Converter → FT232
5. USB-SERIAL CH340 → CH340
6. Arduino USB Serial → ATmega16U2

On Linux / macOS

lsusb

Example:

0403:6001  → FTDI (FT232)
1a86:7523  → CH340
2341:0043  → Arduino VID (16U2)

3. Case A — Nano with FT232RL (VID/PID CAN be changed)
What you need

• FTDI drivers installed
• FT_Prog (FTDI official utility, Windows)

Step-by-step

1. Install FT_Prog
2. Plug in Nano
3. Open FT_Prog → Scan and Parse
4. Navigate to:

USB Device Descriptor

1. Change:

• Vendor ID
• Product ID

1. Program device
2. Unplug and replug

Important warnings

• Do NOT use a VID you do not own
• Changing VID/PID may break drivers
• Windows may require driver reinstallation

Procurement note

If you need custom VID/PID for a product, FT232 is acceptable only for low volume / internal tools. For shipping products, VID licensing matters.

4. Case B — Nano with CH340 / CH341 (VID/PID NOT changeable)
Reality check

• VID/PID is hard-coded
• No EEPROM
• No official flashing tools
• Internet “guides” claiming success are wrong or misleading

Your options

Option	Result
Try to flash	Impossible
Mask VID/PID in OS	Hacky
Replace USB chip	Not realistic
Use different Nano	Correct approach

Procurement implication

If you need VID/PID control, do not buy CH340-based Nanos.

5. Case C — Nano with ATmega16U2 (VID/PID fully programmable)

(Some “official-style” Nanos or custom boards)

What you need

• ISP programmer (USBasp / AVRISP / another Arduino)
• DFU or ISP flashing tools
• Custom USB firmware

High-level steps

1. Put ATmega16U2 into DFU or ISP mode
2. Modify USB descriptors in firmware:

#define USB_VENDOR_ID  0xXXXX
#define USB_PRODUCT_ID 0xYYYY

1. Compile
2. Flash firmware
3. Replug device

Advantages

• Full USB control
• Can implement HID, CDC, composite devices

Risks

• Easy to brick USB interface
• Requires firmware + USB knowledge

6. Why Arduino sketches cannot change VID/PID

Your ATmega328P sketch never talks USB.

USB is handled by:

• FT232 → external IC
• CH340 → external IC
• ATmega16U2 → separate MCU

So:

Serial.begin();

cannot affect VID/PID.

7. When do you actually NEED to change VID/PID?

Valid reasons:

• Custom PC software binding
• USB driver matching
• Composite USB device
• Product branding

Invalid reasons:

• “Just curiosity”
• Fixing driver problems
• Bypassing OS permissions

8. Best practice recommendations (engineering + purchasing)
If you just want Arduino compatibility

Do NOT change VID/PID

If you need custom VID/PID

Use:

• Arduino with ATmega16U2
• Native USB MCU (ATmega32U4, RP2040, STM32, ESP32-Sx)

If you’re building a product

• Do NOT ship with Arduino VID
• Buy your own VID or use USB-IF PID programs

9. Quick decision summary

Your Nano has…	Can you change VID/PID?	Recommended action
FT232	Yes	Use FT_Prog carefully
CH340	No	Replace board
ATmega16U2	Yes	Flash custom firmware

Final takeaway

Changing Arduino Nano VID/PID is a hardware decision, not a software trick.

If VID/PID control matters:

• Choose the right USB interface chip
• Decide this before procurement
• Don’t try to “fix it later in firmware”