Upload methods

Mass Storage

STLink

/img/Warning-icon.png Deprecated since core version > 1.5.0

Requires a ST-Link/V2 device connected to the PC over USB and to the board via the SWD interface.

/img/Tips-icon.png Several boards manufactured by ST integrate ST-Link: Nucleo, Discovery, Eval.

Be sure that the necessary driver for Windows is installed (available here) and the ST-Link adapter is updated to the latest firmware (application to upgrade the firmware).

Only 3 pins are required for basic programming and debugging of the STM32 MCU devices (4 if the board is powered by the programmer) using Serial Debug Wire (SWD):

GND
SWDIO
SWCLK
3.3V (optional)

/img/Important-icon.png Avoid wired 3.3V to the target board if it is already powered by an other source (external supply, USB,..) else you may damage the board, programmer, USB port or external supply.

Refers to ST-Link V2 user Manual and the board documentations (User Manual, schematics,...) to ensure connect to the right pins.

Serial

/img/Warning-icon.png Deprecated since core version > 1.5.0

BMP (Black Magic Probe)

STM32CubeProgrammer

/img/Warning-icon.png Since core version > 1.5.0

SWD

Serial

DFU

HID Bootloader 2.2 (HID BL)

This is a driverless USB bootloader for STM32F10x and STM32F4xx MCUs and is based on HID protocol. No special USB drivers are needed, even on Windows.

The bootloader is installed at 0x8000000 address. On STM32F103, the bootloader consumes only 2 kB of flash memory (0x800). The user code area starts at 0x8000800

The STM32F4xx MCUs have built-in DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) but you can also use HID BL for uploading firmwares.

The advantage of using HID BL instead of the DFU bootloader is that the entire firmware update process is automatic. You do not have to press any button or set any PCB jumper.
The downside is that the F4 HID BL firmware is larger than the F1 version, consuming 16kB (0x4000) of available flash memory.

The hid-flash tool is available on Windows, Linux and MacOS.

Details of HID bootloader v2.2 (and newer) hid-flash tool as well as ready-to-use binary files can be found at the GitHub repository: https://github.com/Serasidis/STM32_HID_Bootloader

Maple DFU Bootloader

/img/Warning-icon.png Since core version > 1.5.0

Extract from the legacy wiki page about bootloaders (http://wiki.stm32duino.com/index.php?title=Bootloader):

In order to simplify the upload process leveraging the USB device, Leaflabs developed a custom DFU bootloader that needs to be uploaded in the MCU at address 0x08000000 via one of the standard STM upload methods (ST Link or standard STM serial bootloader); this custom bootloader is called the original Maple bootloader. Leaflabs' documentation about the original Maple bootloader can be found here: http://docs.leaflabs.com/static.leaflabs.com/pub/leaflabs/maple-docs/latest/bootloader.html

stm32duino.com guys modified the original Maple bootloader in order to:

enable support for STM32F103 non-Maple boards (blue pill and other generic boards)
fix issues found in the original Maple bootloader
reduce the bootloader size so that enlarging the memory available to user sketches
remove the option to upload to RAM

This modified version of the Maple bootloader is known as STM32duino-bootloader or also bootloader 2.0. Details about the STM32duino-bootloader as well as ready to use binary files can be found in the GitHub repository: https://github.com/rogerclarkmelbourne/STM32duino-bootloader

Notes:

Maple devices (including clones) generally come with the original Maple bootloader preloaded.
Generic STM32F103 boards on the other side come with no custom bootloader installed.
Maple bootloader 2.0 consumes 8KB of flash.
Maple bootloader original consumes 20kb of flash and some of the SRAM.