STM32F401CCU6 datasheet, pinout & reference manual

STM32 Blue Pill vs Black Pill Microcontroller Boards

STM32F401CCU6

STM32F401CCU6 is a well-balanced ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller, offering good performance at an affordable cost. It’s perfect for medium-complexity embedded projects like IoT nodes, sensor gateways, or battery-powered systems. You get 256KB Flash and 64KB SRAM, plenty for typical control applications. It packs essential peripherals like USART, I²C, SPI, a 10-channel 12-bit ADC, multiple PWM channels and timers, plus a handy USB 2.0 interface for device-mode operations. Its low-power modes make battery operation easy, and the voltage range (2.0V-3.6V) covers most scenarios. Development is smooth with CubeMX or CubeIDE, thanks to ST’s robust ecosystem.

STM32F401CCU6 Pinout Diagram

The STM32F401CCU6 pins are highly versatile, letting you use USART, I²C, SPI, ADC, and PWM all within just a few pins. When using it, double-check each pin’s default function via STM32CubeMX or CubeIDE to avoid conflicts. Also, make sure not to disable debugging pins (PA13, PA14) accidentally, as you’ll lose debugging access. For USB, PA11 and PA12 must be connected correctly. As for the BOOT0 pin, using a jumper makes switching between main Flash and Bootloader mode easier. If needed, I can also help you convert your table into HTML format for easier uploading.

STM32F401CCU6 Equivalent STM32 Chip

If STM32F401CCU6 feels limited in speed or memory, you can switch directly to STM32F411CEU6. It doubles the speed and memory while staying pin-to-pin compatible. For cost-sensitive projects, STM32F103C8T6 is a popular cheaper alternative, but remember it’s Cortex-M3-based—no DSP/FPU, less memory, and CubeMX projects aren’t directly portable. Another interesting upgrade is STM32G431CBT6 from the G4 series. It’s faster, more efficient, and pin-compatible, but you’ll need to adjust or rewrite parts of your code due to architecture differences.

STM32F401CCU6 Minimum System Circuit

This schematic shows the minimal system circuit of STM32F401CCU6. It’s straightforward and suitable for beginners or mass production. The clock section has two crystals: a 25MHz for the main 84MHz system frequency and a 32.768KHz for RTC. Crystal capacitors should match your supplier’s recommendations. The BOOT0 pin uses a jumper to choose between Flash or system Bootloader startup, and NRST has a simple reset circuit with capacitor and resistor. All GPIO pins are available for easy expansion. Remember to disable the internal HSI oscillator when using an external crystal and connect PA11/PA12 properly for USB use.

STM32F401CCU6 Bootloader Wiring

From your photo, entering Bootloader mode is easy: connect BOOT0 to 3.3V using a jumper, then press reset (NRST pin). The chip will boot into system Bootloader mode, allowing you to flash firmware via USART1 (PA9/PA10) through a USB-to-serial module. The RC522 module seen in the picture uses SPI and is just for testing, not related to flashing. After flashing, move BOOT0 back to GND and reset again so your code runs properly. If you’re using ST-Link instead, you won’t even need to worry about BOOT0 settings.

STM32F401CCU6 Schematic

The STM32F401CCU6 uses an ARM Cortex-M4 core with FPU, running up to 84MHz. It’s great for signal processing and floating-point operations. With 256KB Flash and 64KB SRAM, it covers most typical applications. It supports various clock sources, including external crystals and internal RC oscillators, and the RTC has independent battery backup. Communication options are plentiful: three USARTs, three SPIs, three I²Cs, plus USB OTG FS (remember PA11/PA12 connections!). Timers and ADC (12-bit, 16 channels) offer good flexibility. Ensure you connect a capacitor to the VCAP1 pin for stable operation. Using CubeMX for pin assignment will be easy if you refer directly to the pin layout.

STM32F401CCU6 Board

The STM32F401CCU6 board you’re using is quite handy, running at 84MHz with 256K Flash and 64K RAM, suitable for most projects. It comes with a Type-C port for power and USB serial communication (using PA11/PA12 pins). Built-in SWD pins match ST-Link for easy debugging. Buttons for BOOT0 and NRST help you quickly enter Bootloader mode. The clearly marked pins like A0-A7 (PA0-PA7) simplify your connections, and the board even integrates crystals for main frequency and RTC, saving extra work. Just refer to the pin labels when setting up GPIO in CubeMX.

STM32F401CCU6 Arduino Project Usage

To start using STM32F401CCU6 with Arduino IDE, make sure your IDE version is 1.8.x or 2.x. First, add the official STM32 support URL into Arduino IDE’s preferences, and install the STM32 board package. Select “Generic STM32F4 series” and choose “BlackPill F401CCU6”. Uploading via ST-Link is easiest and most reliable, but DFU bootloader via USB or serial upload (with correct BOOT0 setting) also works. Simple examples like blinking an LED or serial communication are easy to start with. For SPI devices like the RC522 module, standard libraries usually work fine, but double-check compatibility with the F401 chip before use.