Mac + Uno + avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is

Question

I'm trying to upload .hex file to Arduino. I don't have any problems with uploading code through an IDE (like blink example or any other). The port and board are correct.

So, the problem appears when I try to upload

avrdude -pm328p -carduino -P/dev/tty.usbmodemfd121 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:grbl_v0_8c_atmega328p_16mhz_9600.hex -v -v -v -v

avrdude: Version 6.1, compiled on Mar 23 2014 at 04:42:55
     Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
     Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

     System wide configuration file is "/usr/local/Cellar/avrdude/6.1/etc/avrdude.conf"
     User configuration file is "/Users/Mikhail/.avrduderc"
     User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

     Using Port                    : /dev/tty.usbmodemfd121
     Using Programmer              : arduino
     Overriding Baud Rate          : 57600
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: Send: 0 [30]   [20] 
avrdude: ser_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

What I tried:

• I have 4 Uno's at the table (original + free versions), the same issue.
• I have installed newest drivers from here, tried with and without them.
• tried with avrdude which comes with Arduino IDE (1.0.5 and nightly builds) and newest avrdude v.6.1 brew install avrdude
• different baud rates down to 9600
• tried to press reset after bytes are sent like suggested here

Answer 1

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)

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my Arduino Uno last night. After banging my head on the wall, I upgraded the Arduino IDE to 1.6.0.. I did this on a Mac OS X, simply by downloading 1.6.0 from the Arduino homepage.

After installing this and then selecting the proper board in my case something like: /dev/tty/usbmodem____ (Arduino Uno)

The error was cured and I could again upload programs without having to do any tricky reset button pressing, i.e. one second after the program uploads hold the reset button for 5 seconds.

Well this is what worked for me hope it works for others!