PL2303 Driver Windows 11

Why Does the PL2303 USB-To-Serial Driver Not Work?

When connecting an external device to a computer, Windows installs the corresponding driver that helps it read the device. However, there are times when these drivers don’t work properly.

For instance, many users have reported that they see a yellow exclamation mark next to the Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port in the Ports (COM & LPT) section of the Device Manager. To fix this issue, here are some simple steps:

1. Download the Latest Driver:

The Prolific USB-to-Serial adapter cable connects your computer to devices with serial ports, like PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). When you connect this device, Windows automatically installs drivers that help it read the device. If the driver is outdated or corrupt, you’ll get a yellow exclamation mark in the Device Manager.

You can update your driver manually using the Windows Update feature. To do so, open the Settings app and click “Update & Security.” On the right side of the page, click the “Check for updates” option. This method is quick and easy, but it requires a bit of technical knowledge and patience to follow the steps.

Another safe and quick way to download the latest driver is by using a third-party tool. Driver Easy scans your system for outdated drivers and offers you an updated version in just a few clicks. It’s an effective and time-saving solution for all your driver issues. It can also detect and install the correct driver for your PL2303 Driver Windows 11. The best part is that it does so without any errors or crashes.

2. Update the Driver:

If you’re still having problems, the best way to resolve them is by updating the driver. You can download the latest driver from Prolific’s official website. To do so, hover over the Products Application tab and click on the SIO (Smart-IO) option. Then, choose the PL2303 USB-to-Serial Windows driver from the drop-down menu and follow the instructions displayed on the screen to install it.

You can also use your computer’s in-built driver management utility, i.e., Device Manager, to update the driver. To do so, press the Win key and X keys together to open up the Power User menu and then select the Device Manager option. Once the device manager opens up, expand the Ports section and then right-click on your Prolific PL2303 COM port and select the Update driver option.

You can also downgrade the driver to an older version if you find that the latest one doesn’t work well with your device. You can do this by opening up the Device Manager, expanding the Ports section, and then finding your Prolific PL2303 HXA driver. Right-click on it and select Roll Back Driver.

3. Roll Back the Driver:

It is possible that the recent upgrade to Windows 11 has installed a new driver for your Prolific USB to a serial device. However, the new driver may not be working well with your system. In such a situation, it is recommended to roll back the driver to the previous version.

You can do this by visiting the official website of Prolific and downloading the older driver. Once downloaded, follow the instructions to install it on your computer. After completing the process, you should be able to use your USB-to-serial device again.

If you are unable to fix the problem using the above steps, you can always try Driver Booster, an efficient driver update tool. It is a powerful tool that can download and install all kinds of drivers, including the Prolific USB-to-serial COM port driver. This tool can also help you change the COM-port number if that is the cause of your issue. It is a fast and easy-to-use solution for all your driver problems.

4. Change the COM Port Number:

Many users report that after updating their Windows system to Windows 11, the Prolific USB to Serial driver stopped working properly. It either doesn’t show up under Ports (COM & LPT) in the Device Manager or it shows up with an error message such as “Please install corresponding PL2303 driver to support Windows 11 and further OS” with a yellow exclamation mark.

To resolve the issue, try to change the COM Port Number by following these steps:

If you can’t resolve this problem by updating the driver or rolling back to an older version of the driver, it may be time to consider using a professional driver management tool such as Driver Booster. This tool automatically downloads and installs drivers with just a click of a button, which can save you a lot of time and effort. It’s also safe to use, as it does not delete any existing drivers or modify the Windows Registry.