How to Install Prolific USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Driver on Windows
If you have a device that uses a serial port to communicate with your computer, such as a GPS receiver, a modem, or a barcode scanner, you may need a USB to serial adapter to connect it to your PC. A USB to serial adapter is a small device that converts the USB signal to a serial signal that your device can understand.
driver prolific usb to rs232 serial adapter
One of the most popular USB to serial adapters is the Prolific PL2303 series, which supports various chip versions and operating systems. However, installing the driver for this adapter can be tricky, especially if you have a counterfeit or outdated chip. In this article, we will show you how to download and install the Prolific USB to serial adapter driver on Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista/XP.
Step 1: Check Your Chip Version
Before you download and install the driver, you need to check your chip version. This is because some chip versions are not supported by the latest driver or some operating systems. To check your chip version, you can use the PL2303 CheckChipVersion tool program from Prolific's website[^1^].
Download and run the program on your Windows PC. Connect your USB to serial adapter to your PC and wait for it to be detected. The program will show you the chip version and the driver version of your adapter. Note down the chip version and proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Download The Driver
Depending on your chip version and your operating system, you need to download the appropriate driver from Prolific's website[^1^]. Here are some guidelines:
If you have PL2303 HXD, SA, RA GC, GS, GT, GL, GE , GD, GR chip versions, you can use the latest driver (version 4.0.8 as of 2022/07/28) for Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista.
If you have PL2303 TA or TB chip versions, you can use the latest driver (version 4.0.8 as of 2022/07/28) for Windows 10/8.1/7/Vista.
If you have PL2303 HXA or XA chip versions, you cannot use the latest driver or Windows 10/8.1. You need to use an older driver (version 3.3.2.105 as of 2009/10/27) for Windows 7/Vista/XP.
If you have PL2303 G or D chip versions, you need to use a special DCHU driver (version 5.2.1.2 as of 2021/11/11) for Windows 11 or higher, or (version 5.1.3.2 as of 2020/03/31) for Windows 10 RS3 or higher.
You can download the driver setup program from Prolific's website[^1^] or use the direct links below:
Chip VersionOperating SystemDriver VersionDownload Link
PL2303 HXD, SA, RA GC, GS, GT, GL, GE , GD, GRWindows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista4.0.8PL23XX_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v408.zip
PL2303 TA or TBWindows 10/8.1/7/Vista4.0.8PL23XX_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v408.zip
PL2303 HXA or XAWindows 7/Vista/XP3.3.2 e0e6b7cb5c