Prolific USB to Serial Driver

USB DriverThis is the Prolific USB to Serial Driver. There are a number of Prolific Serial drivers for the PL2303 and these have been listed below. There is also the usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300 error. This is the Prolific usb-to-serial comm port. You can also see how to fix the error 10 issue from Prolific. There is also an explanation here (USB to RS232 Driver) which also uses a Prolific USB driver.  If the Prolific USB to serial drivers below do not work then see the USB to RS232 driver for more information as it uses more than one option. This is the Prolific pl2303 driver.

Prolific USB to Serial Driver

 

There is also an installation diagram ( FT232R USB UART Driver) which shows how to install and remove USB drivers on your computer. Note that we have updated the Prolific driver for the Prolific USB to serial driver which you now download below for Windows XP/7/8/10 listed below. This for the Prolific usb-to-serial comm port.

 

The Prolific Hardware ID

Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port – USB\VID_067B&PID_2303
Prolific USB-to-GPIO/PWM Port – USB\VID_067B&PID_2304
prolific usb-to-serial comm port
See also the Hardware ID’s.
usb vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300
usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300
pl2303 driver
You will note that the Hardware ID’s are different. The first identities the Prolific USB to Serial (USB\VID_067B&PID_2303) while the second is a Prolific USB to PWM Port (USB\VID_067B&PID_2304). Where it says below to check your hardware.

 

You will be able to see what hardware you have in your system by the hardware ID. This is the pl2303 driver as you can see below. There is also the Prolific USB to serial driver Windows 10 download right down below. The pl-2303 usb-to-serial driver is below.
pl-2303 usb-to-serial driver

Install the Prolific USB to Serial driver on Windows

  1. Double-click the PL-2303 Windows Driver Installer program;
  2. The Prolific driver will ask you to install the PL-2303 USB-to-Serial driver will be installed on your computer;
  3. The PL2303 Driver Installer program will now install the Prolific drivers;
  4. Now close the installer program when it is installed.

Check the Prolific USB to Serial driver on Windows

Now check the driver check for the “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port” device in Device Manager;

Prolific USB to Serial Driver

Check the “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port” driver version by right-clicking on the Prolific Port and then click on “driver” on the top to check the driver version that you have on your computer. The Prolific USB to Serial Driver date will show below as is shown on the picture below.

usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300

Error 10 on the Prolific USB to Serial driver

If you get an error that the Prolific USB to Serial Adapter is not working. Then you will need to uninstall the driver on your computer and remove the Prolific USB to Serial adapter from your computer. Report and connect the Prolific adapter again and then wait until it looks for the Prolific USB to Serial driver.

Direct the software to where you extracted the driver to and install the Prolific driver from there. (Note also then you will need to check with chipset you are using). This as certain Windows dont work on certain chipsets. See the latest driver the Windows 8 is NOT supported in HXA/XA chip versions.

prolific usb serial error 10

You will need to roll back your driver for the Prolific error 10 to stop. Download the older driver below which is the 2015 driver being version 1.12.0. As the drivers update older chipsets are excluded from the latest operating systems. Those are at their end of life. 

prolific usb serial error 10

prolific driver error

You can change the port settings on the Prolific USB to Serial Adapter settings as shown below. You will need to click on the port options on the top of the menu and then click on the advanced options which holds the advanced port options on the Prolific adapter as shown below.

 

Advanced Settings on the Prolific USB to Serial driver

prolific advanced settings

Note what each of these advanced port settings does as shown below:

USB Selective Suspend Idle Timer

This is the Idle Timer for the PL2303 chip to enter suspend mode and the default for this is 10 seconds. You can change this on the Prolific USB to serial adapter. Check your chip as this does not work on the PL2303SA chip. Also note that for the PL2303HXD/EA/RA, you need to write to OTPROM first.

Disable DTR/RTS INIT signal

By default this is enabled. This will disable the DTR/RTS pin initialisation signal during driver load to disable the serial mouse or modem from being detected. Check this setting if your Prolific USB driver is not detecting your serial modem or serial mouse. The Prolific USB to Serial Adapter normally has this enabled as stated before, however for troubleshooting it is always best to check the advanced settings.

Change DTR/RTS INIT Level Shift

The signal needs to be enabled as the default for this setting is TTL=HIGH as well as RS232=LOW.

Disable Device USB Serial Number in Windows Registry

This is very important if you have many devices. The default for this settings is enabled. If you check this it will ignore PL2303 device Serial Numbers. If you disabled this then each PL2303 device even with different USB serial numbers will be treated as same device. This is more for troubleshooting your serial devices.

See also  Primax Colorado 9600 Scanner USB Driver

Driver Buffer Size

This will set the buffer size of the serial device. The default settings for this is 4096.

pl-2303 usb-to-serial driver

Which Prolific PL2303 driver?

At the top of the page you can also see the driver hardware ID. These are

  • usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300
  • usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300 driver
  • driver usb\vid_067b&pid_2303&rev_0300
  • usb\vid_04e8&pid_6860&rev_0400&mi_00

These are all Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port hardware ID’s. You will note that the Prolific pl2303 driver ID above as they are the same hardware with different software versions. These tend to be people using the older operating systems. These hardware ID tags are from the 2015 versions of the hardware. These will be the PL2303HXA/XA/HXD/EA/RA/SA/TA/TB version chips.

The older driver below was the driver for the following Windows 32bit as well as 64bit versions: Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7, Server 2008R2 , Windows 8, Server 2012, Windows 8.1, Server 2012R2 and Windows 10. Likewise the older driver might be what you are going to use more than the latest one right as the bottom of the page.

Likewise technical support for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP driver stopped here. Windows 8/8.1/Server2012/Server2012R2 and Windows 10 are NOT supported with the PL2303HXA/XA chips. Mainly as these chips are no longer in production and had reached it end of life. Again check what chipset you are trying to get to work.

Operating Support (32bit/64bit)

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista / 7, Server 2008, Windows, 8 / 8.1, Server 2012, Windows 10

Chipset Support

PL-2303HX (Rev D) or HXD, PL2303TA, PL2303TB, PL2303EA, PL2303RA, PL2303SA

prolific usb-to-serial comm port

Operating Support (32bit/64bit)

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista / 7, Server 2008

Chipset Support

PL-2303H, PL-2303HX (Rev A) or HXA, PL-2303X or XA

prolific usb serial error 10

Prolific Error 10 Code

Likewise the chipsets PL2303H, PL-2303HX (Rev A), and PL-2303X is not supported for Windows 8 and above. Additionally this as they are at their end of life. If you try and run them on a higher operating system they will give your the error 10 code error in the device manager.

prolific usb serial error 10

You will see this common questions:

“Prolific usb-serial comm port has error code 10 running windows 8 64bit”

“Prolific usb to serial comm port+This device cannot start. (Code 10)”

“This Device cannot start (Code 10)”

“No driver installed for this device”

“Device driver was not successfully installed”

“This Device Cannot Start (Code 10) Issue”

*Likewise you will need to roll back the driver for the pl2303 driver error 10 to disappear. Additionally download the driver directly below. This is the 2015 driver which will work on older hardware. As stated each update leaves the older chipsets behind. In this version the chipsets PL2303H, PL-2303HX (Rev A), and PL-2303X as an example no longer work on Windows 8 and above.

 

Driver Update Changes

 

stop driver updates windows 10When Windows updates it might replace this driver with the latest driver. This will become a recurring issue unless you turn off the driver updates. To stop MS Windows from running the automatic driver updates. You will need to navigate to

Control Panel > System & Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings

Then choose “No (your device might not work as expected).”

Likewise the above will stop Windows from replacing the current driver automatically with the latest. This will stop the need for you having to reinstall the driver with the older driver that does work. Lastly this can be very annoying and frustrating.

driver download

 

Prolific USB to Serial Driver Download

(For PL2303 HXA, XA, HXD, EA, RA, SA, TA, TB versions)
Installer version & Build date: 1.12.0 (2015-10-07)

Prolific USB to Serial Driver

Installer version & Build date: 1.20.0 (2018-7-30)

Prolific USB to Serial Driver hardware usage

You will also note that the Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port drivers was used on the LENOVO ThinkPad T60 version 1951A24. There was also a ASUS com port card (ASUS BM1845 COM Port Card) as well as extensively used by HP with its HP USB to Serial Port Adapter.

The Prolific VID_067B&PID_2303 (PL2303 series) was the series of chipsets used. The chipsets was used on thier HP 280 G8 Microtower PC, HP 280 Pro G8 Microtower , HP 288 Pro G8 Microtower as well as the HP 290 G8 Microtower . You will note the Prolific USB to serial driver Windows 10 download below. This is the latest version. This is also a Prolific USB to serial driver Windows 10 64-bit driver. Its 32bit as well as 64bit.

 

The PL2303 Driver (December 2021)

Windows Automatic Update

Additionally the Windows 11 driver is available on the Windows updates. Prolific has used this under the Hardware ID of PL2303G_DLL_Win11_21H2_v5.2.2.0_20211213. This was updated in December 2021 as the latest update. Usually the system will update your drivers to the latest when Windows 11 updates the driver files. These will include the USB to Serial devices which this is. Even if it has another brand name, Windows will updated at it based on the hardware ID’s it reads. Much like the ASUS and HP brands the Prolific hardware ID will be used.

See also  USB to Serial Driver

Now under the Windows updates the hardware ID PL2303G_DLL_Win10_20H2_RS5_Win81_Win7_v5.1.3.0_20211213 is the driver certification for the Windows 7, Windows 8.1 as well as Windows 10 both 32bit as well as the 64bit version.

What is new?

  1. Usage of the Prolific hardware is USB 1.1/2.0/3.0 Host Controller compatible
  2. For use with devices using PL2303HX/X/EA/RA/SA/TA/TB version chips
  3. Also for use with devices using PL2303GC/GS/GB/GT/GL/GE, PL2323 version chips
  4. There should be a PL-2303 Windows Driver Installer v1.8.0 or above present
  5. Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit) Supported
  6. Also Windows 8/8.1 (32 & 64 bit) Supported
  7. Windows 10 (32 & 64 bit) Supported

Hardware Compatibility

  • Windows 11 is NOT supported in TA/TB chip versions
  • Windows 8 is NOT supported in HXA/XA chip versions (error code 10)
  • Also Windows 8 is supported only in following chip versions:
  • PL2303HXD (HX Rev D)
  • PL2303EA
  • PL2303RA
  • PL2303SA
  • PL2303TA
  • PL2303TB
  • PL2303GC (PL2303HXD replacement)
  • PL2303GB
  • PL2303GT
  • PL2303GE
  • PL2303GS

What PL2303 chipset do you have?

You will note again that the Prolific USB to serial driver will need you to look at the chipset as well as the operating system. Likewise note as you can see that Windows 8 does have its issues. So look at your pl2303 driver operating system version. The rtool in this driver cannot detect the HXA/XA chip in Windows 8 and above. This could very well be your problem when you cannot detect the hardware.

Checking your PL-2303 chip version

  • Note install the PL2303 Windows Driver Installer v1.8.0 or above
  • Plug in your PL2303 USB device, now go to the Device Manager to check the COM Port number
  • See in the directory and click on the PL2303CheckChipVersion tool and then set COM Port number.
  • Now click on the Check button to show you the PL-2303 chip version.

This will allow you to see what exact hardware version of the pl2303 device you have. There may be different brand names. The internal hardware however will be Prolific. As explained above ASUS as well as HP and others have used this chipset in their hardware.

prolific usb serial error 10

Note that the December 2021 driver which is the latest driver does not support PL-2303X or XA, PL-2303HX (Rev A)  or PL-2303H. Likewise these chipsets have been dropped for any support for Windows 8 or above. Lastly see the 2015 driver above which will still work for the older hardware. Lastly these will now give you are error 10 on the pl2303 driver.

prolific usb serial error 10

Common Issues

Likewise these are the most common issues with the Prolific. Additionally people don’t read the latest driver inserts. Likewise, these will tell you which chipsets are no longer supported. You will then need to roll back to solve the issues. So hopefully you have found your driver. Lastly this solves the error 10 problem with the latest Prolific drivers and you have learned something new.

In addition the Prolific usb to serial is very prolific (literally) devices that you find in many other equipment. There are drivers on this website for other drivers with issues. Use the search bar on the side to find the others if you don’t have a pl2303 device but a different chipset series. Likewise, there are a few on this website alone. Additionally download the latest driver below. If it fails on your device. Come back and download the older version in the middle of this page, the 2015 one. Till I see you then 🙂 See also the Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port as well as the Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port Driver.

 

driver download

Prolific 2303 USB to Serial Driver

Installer version & Build date:  Version 4.0.0 (2021/12/30)

(Windows XP / Vista / Win7 / Win8.1 / Win10 / Win11) 32bit & 64bit

 

pl-2303 usb-to-serial driver

new update

Windows 11 requires specific hardware and devices to work properly. First, you need a USB port on your computer, and it can be either USB 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, or 3.1.

The device you use should have chips with certain versions: PL2303GC, PL2303GS, PL2303GT, PL2303GL, PL2303GE, PL2303GR, or PL2323. There are different types of Prolific chips like PL2303HXD, PL2303EA, PL2303RA, and PL2303SA that are also supported.

For your computer’s operating system, it should be a 64-bit version of Windows 11 with build number 22000 21H1. If your device has specific ID and product Hardware ID’s like

  • VID_067B&PID_23A3
  • VID_067B&PID_23C3
  • VID_067B&PID_23D3
  • VID_067B&PID_23E3
  • VID_067B&PID_23F3
  • VID_067B&PID_2323
  • VID_067B&PID_2303

Likewise it means it’s compatible with Windows 11. These strings correspond to different types of Prolific USB Serial COM Ports and CDC Serial Ports.

 

driver download

Prolific 2303 USB to Serial Driver

Installer version & Build date:  Version 4.0.8 (2022/07/28)

(Windows XP / Vista / Win7 / Win8.1 / Win10 / Win11) 32bit & 64bit

– Windows 11 Certified WHQL Driver ( 22H2 versions)

pl-2303 usb-to-serial driver

 

Incoming Search Terms:

One thought on “Prolific USB to Serial Driver

Comments are closed.