Arduino Nano uploading gives error: avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding I have a Arduino Nano (Sainsmart) that I'm trying to upload a sketch to. Under the Arduino IDE, the device selected was Arduino Nano w/ ATmega328. 

However uploading the sketch gives me the error

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding


I tried both USB ports (/dev/tty.usbserial &amp; /dev/cu.usbserial) but the same error persist. The Arduino is connected to a Macbook Air via the USB cable, and the PWR LED indicator light on the Arduino is turned on and the L indicator LED blinks. There was no problem uploading to a Arduino Uno.

Retried after installing the latest FTDI drivers (MAC OSX, x64, v2.2.18, FTDIUSBSerialDriver_10_4_10_5_10_6_10_7.mpkg) from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm. However that did not help.

What could have gone wrong?
Know this is old but I ran onto it during my search for Nano(V3)'s not uploading so thought might help someone else.  Problem is the bootloader - Arduino IDE BUT I Found an easy solution (right under my nose). 

I realized that my nano's had been uploading just fine then I had finally updated the Arduino AVR Boards from 1.6.20 to 1.6.21.  I didn't think there was any problems because it still showed my Nano and ATmega328 etc in the board manager after the change. 

But the new boards manager has a new ATmega328 processor choice for the Nano. I changed processor: In the Arduino IDE select TOOLS > PROCESSOR > pulldown menu from ATmega328P to  "ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)".

Since then, I have uploaded many programs to several different Nano's V3 (Prolofic interace Chipset) without issue.