What’s the Difference between St-Link V2 and V3?
Catalog
What is St-Link?
How many versions of ST-Link are there?
What is St-Link V2?
What is St-LinkV3?
Selection & Installation
How to connect ST Link V2 to STM32 Cube IDE?
How to connect ST Link V2 to STM8?

ST-Link is a series of in-circuit debuggers and programmers developed by STMicroelectronics, a leading semiconductor manufacturer. It is widely used in the embedded systems industry for programming and debugging STM32 and STM8 microcontrollers.
There are two main versions of ST-Link: V2 and V3. Let's explore the differences between them.
ST-Link V2:
ST-Link V2 is the earlier version of the debuggers, and it has been widely used and appreciated by developers for many years. It supports various features like flash programming, debugging, and virtual COM port functionalities. It has a USB interface for connection with the PC and allows for firmware updates.
Some key features of ST-Link V2 include:
1. USB 2.0 Full Speed interface.
2. Support for JTAG and SWD protocols.
3. Compatibility with STM32 and STM8 microcontrollers.
4. Multiple debug interfaces (5-pin SWD, 4-pin JTAG).
5. Flash memory programming and erasing.
6. Virtual COM port functionality.
ST-Link V3:
ST-Link V3 is the newer version of the debugger, and it comes with some significant improvements and additional features. It provides higher performance and enhanced capabilities compared to its predecessor.
Some key features of ST-Link V3 include:
1. USB 2.0 High Speed and USB Type-C interfaces.
2. Support for JTAG, SWD, and Serial Wire Viewer (SWV) protocols.
3. Compatibility with a wide range of STM32 microcontrollers.
4. Single debug interface (6-pin SWD).
5. Flash memory programming and erasing.
6. Real-time memory access and trace.
7. Firmware updates through USB.
8. Ethernet-based debugging (STDC).
Selection & Installation:
To connect ST Link V2 to STM32 Cube IDE, you need to follow these steps:
1. Connect the ST-Link V2 to your PC using a USB cable.
2. Open STM32 Cube IDE and go to "Run" -> "Debug Configurations."
3. Select "ST-LINK (OpenOCD)" as the debug probe.
4. Click on "ST-LINK/SWD" to enable the ST-Link connection.
5. Choose the target microcontroller and other necessary settings.
6. Click on "Debug" to start the debugging session.
To connect ST Link V2 to STM8, you can follow these steps:
1. Connect the ST-Link V2 to your PC using a USB cable.
2. Install the ST-Link drivers if not already installed.
3. Open the ST Visual Programmer software provided by STMicroelectronics.
4. Select the "ST-LINK" tab and choose the appropriate connection interface.
5. Connect the ST-Link V2 to the STM8 microcontroller using the SWD or SWIM interface.
6. Select the target microcontroller and other necessary settings.
7. Click on "Program" to start the programming process.
In conclusion, both ST-Link V2 and V3 are powerful debuggers and programmers used for STM32 and STM8 microcontrollers. While ST-Link V2 is the earlier version with reliable performance, ST-Link V3 offers improved features and enhanced capabilities. When selecting between the two versions, consider your specific requirements and the compatibility with your target microcontroller.












