Application note

Introduction to USB hardware and PCB guidelines using STM32 MCUs

Rev 12 - June 2026

Introduction

STM32 microcontrollers include a group of products embedding a USB (universal serial bus) peripheral (see the table below for applicable products). Full-speed and high-speed operations are provided through embedded and/or external PHYs (physical layers of the open system interconnection model).

This application note gives an overview of the USB peripherals implemented on STM32 MCUs. It also provides hardware guidelines for PCB design, to ensure electrical compliance with the USB standards.

For more details, refer to the USB or OTG sections in the product reference manual.

Table 1. Applicable products

TypeSeries, lines, part numbers1
MicrocontrollersSTM32C5 series
STM32F2 series
STM32F4 series 2
STM32F7 series
STM32H5 series
STM32H7 series
STM32F0 series 3
STM32F1 series 4
STM32F302 line
STM32F303xD/xE/xB/xC products
STM32F373 line
STM32G0B0xx products
STM32G0C1xx products
STM32G4 series
STM32C071 line
STM32L0 series 5
STM32L1 series
STM32L4 series 6
STM32L4+ series
STM32L5 series
STM32U073 line
STM32U083 line
STM32U5 series
STM32U3 series
STM32WBA2x line
STM32WBA6x line
STM32WB35xx products
STM32WB55xx products
STM32N6 series
1 Check the product datasheet for supported part numbers.
2 STM32F410 is not supported.
3 STM32F030, STM32F0x1, STM32F038, STM32F098, and STM32F058 are not supported.
4 STM32F100 and STM32F101 are not supported.
5 STM32L0x0 is not supported.
6 STM32L4x1 is not supported.

General information

This document applies to STM32 microcontrollers which are based on Arm® cores.

Note:

Arm is a registered trademark of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries or affiliates) in the US and/or elsewhere.

The Arm word and logo are trademarks of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere. All rights reserved.

Table 2. Abbreviations and acronyms
AcronymDescription
ADPAttach detection protocol
BCDBattery charging detection
EMIElectromagnetic interference
ESDElectrostatic discharge
FSFull-speed
HBMHuman body model
HSHigh-speed
IECInternational electrotechnical commission
LPMLink power management
LSLow-speed
MCUMicrocontroller unit or microcontroller
OTGOn-the-go
PCBPrinted circuit board
PHYPhysical layer
SOFStart of frame
ULPIUTMI + low-pin interface
USBUniversal Serial Bus
UTMIUSB 2.0 transceiver macrocell interface

References

  • System Level ESD-expanded, JEDEC, September 2013.
  • Improve System ESD Protection While Lowering On-Chip ESD Protection, www.mobiledevdesign.com, February 2009.
  • USB 2.0 specification, revision 2.0, April 2000, available at www.usb.org.
  • On The Go and Embedded Host Supplement to the USB revision 2.0 specification, revision 2.0, July 2012 available at www.usb.org.
  • High Speed USB Platform Design Guidelines, available at www.usb.org.