Mac + Uno + avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

I just bought an arduinomonkey nano board from Amazon and ran into this exact problem. I am running Arduino software version 1.0.5 and mac osx version 10.9.4.

I tried many different suggestions (like holding reset as you upload) and none of the worked reliably. In all the documents it states that for Mac no updated USB drivers are needed however, I just downloaded the updated drivers from: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm (2.2.18)

after downloading and launching the FTDI..._10_4_.... file. After it installed, went back to the arduino IDE and uploaded a sketch...it worked perfectly!

One more reason to fail : wrong bootloader

Recently purchased an Arduino nano and when tried to upload Blink for testing purposes it failed. Because the board was manufactured previously to Jan 2018 just selecting Processor > "ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)" solved the problem (https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoNano#toc4)

I had same problem with Ardunio Leonardo board. I notice that I forgot to set my board version from IDE. After selecting correct board (Tools --> Board --> Ardunio Leonardo) problem solved.

What fixed it for me was:

• Disconnect the USB cable from the Arduino
• Try to upload your program
• This will fail and the Arduino app will ask you which USB port to use.
• I did this twice
• Then plug in the USB cable to the Arduino
• Upload you program... succes!

Note: Shortly before I installed the drivers mentioned by Mikhail.

Setup: Mac OS 10.9.5, Arduino.app 1.0.6, Arduino Duemilanove