Mar 26, 2025 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions
Have you ever had difficulty connecting your devices to your computer using a Prolific USB to Serial adapter? If yes you are lucky to find this page, it will give you all the information need to fix an unresponsive Serial driver adapter. You may have noticed a yellow exclamation mark hovering over or beside the USB to Serial Driver when searching your Device Manager and if you have we can all agree that it signifies a prevailing problem.
Part 1: Overview of the Error
If you are not able to connect your device to your PC using a USB to Serial adapter it may be that:
- The USB driver is outdated
- The USB Driver is missing
- The USB is a corrupted driver
While you can't be so sure what the exact problem is there are solutions you can adopt to fix the issue once and for all. Read on to find quick fixes to resolve the problem.
Part 2: Why is my Prolific USB Not Working?
There could be several reasons why your prolific USB device is not working, such as:
- Outdated or incompatible drivers.
- Conflicts with other USB devices or drivers.
- Incorrect driver installation.
- Hardware or cable issues.
Part 3: Solutions to Fix Prolific USB to Serial Driver Not Working
Video tutorial: How to Fix Prolific USB to Serial Driver not Working?
Solution 1: Roll Prolific USB to Serial Driver Back to An Older Version
Updating your drivers often work wonders for your system because it makes sure that it runs on the latest features that guarantee maximum functionality. Unfortunately updating your drivers can cause this kind of error especially if your latest update does not work too well with your hardware. Once you upgrade your PC to the latest Windows version your Prolific USB to Serial Driver also updates to the latest driver software and if the driver is not compatible with your Hardware issues may arise. To correct the error, you will have to download the driver again by following these steps.
- Right-click on your PC Start button and open Device Manager
- Double click LPT and COM ports then locate the Prolific USB to Serial Driver and right-click it so you can select Update Driver
- For driver software click My computer
- From My computer select "Let me pick from a list of drivers available"
- Choose an older version from the list then click Next
- The driver you selected will be installed automatically
- Once it has been downloaded reconnect the driver to see if it works.
Solution 2: Fix Prolific USB to Serial Driver "Coder 10"
Driver issues reveal themselves in so many ways or through messages such as
- This device will not start (Code 10)
- There is no driver installed in this device
- The driver was not successfully installed
A code 10 error may arise because the chip you are using is not an original one. If you are using a fake, the manufacturer has a way of disabling it due to copy write infringement and the copy write takes effect once you download a recent update. To protect your PC from getting this code, you will have to make sure that your Windows 11/10 never updates a driver without approval. Updates come in the form of 64 bit and 32-bit drivers. Below we will show you how to work your way around the problem.
Window 64 bit Fix
To fix Windows 64 bit OS including Prolific USB to Serial Adapter, follow through these steps.
- Download "PL2303_64bit_Installer.exe and Save
- Remove every USB to Serial adapter from your PC and double click the "PL2303_64bit_installer.exe
- Follow the prompt by plugging in one USB to Serial adapter the click on Continue
- Reboot your PC to get Windows up and running
If you have followed these process through and you still see the same error go to your device manager
- Open the control panel and navigate to Device Manager
- From your control panel navigate to the System category and click the Hardware tab
- Scroll to the LPT/COM port and double click Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port
- Click Drivers in the Properties section
- The Driver you choose should read "3.3.2.102 with an appropriate date attached
- If the date is wrong then it means the wrong driver was installed
- Unplug the Serial adapter and run the steps again to install the correct driver
Window 32-bit
For Windows 32-bit OS systems follow these steps
- You will have to download the "PL-2303_Driver_Installer.exe and save from Microsoft download link
- Run the program and eradicate the driver if you can
- Run the installer once more to install a correct driver
To Troubleshoot for error if your device still does not work
- Go to Control panel, enter System to access your Device Manager
- Scroll down to the LPT/ COM port then double click Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port
- Click Driver in the Windows Properties section
- The driver must be numbered as "2.0.2.8" and dates accordingly
If the driver was not installed, remove the Serial adapter then run "PL2303_Driver_Installer.exe" again. Follow directions in Device Manager to download the correct driver
The three solutions listed in this article have proven to be quite helpful in fixing a Prolific USB to Serial driver not working on Windows 11/10. They may appear confusing at first but if you follow each step in detail you can resolve the issue.
Watching the following tutorial video and this maybe helpful for you to solve the problem.
People Also Ask
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Is it common for Prolific USB drivers to become outdated?
Yes, it is relatively common for Prolific USB drivers to become outdated, especially if you haven't updated them in a while. Newer operating systems and software updates may require updated drivers to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. It's essential to regularly check for driver updates on the manufacturer's website. -
Are there any known compatibility issues with Prolific USB devices?
Yes, there have been compatibility issues reported with certain Prolific USB devices, particularly when used with specific operating systems or software. It's recommended to check the manufacturer's website or support forums for any known compatibility issues and available solutions. Updating drivers and firmware can often address compatibility problems.
Sue Wayne
staff Editor