Prolific PL2303 USB-to-Serial driver
Latest driver
What is PL2303?
PL2303 is a USB-to-serial chip from Prolific Technology used in countless USB to RS-232 (DB9) cables, GPS receivers, cash registers and older phone data cables. The classic chips use the hardware ID USB\VID_067B&PID_2303; the newer PL2303G series (GC, GS, GT, GL, GE) use other product IDs such as PID_23A3.
“PL2303HXA PHASED OUT SINCE 2012” and Code 10
Prolific stopped supporting the old PL2303HXA and PL2303XA chips, and many cheap cables contain counterfeit copies of them. Current Prolific drivers refuse to start such adapters: Device Manager shows Code 10 and the device name contains “PHASED OUT SINCE 2012. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER”. Your options:
- Replace the cable with one based on a supported chip (PL2303GC/GT, FTDI or CH340) — the most reliable solution.
- Install an older Prolific driver (version 3.3.x from 2008–2010) and prevent Windows Update from replacing it. Old drivers are no longer maintained and Windows Update may replace them with the current version, so treat this as a temporary workaround.
Install the driver
- Download the latest driver from this page and install it.
- Reconnect the cable. Under Ports (COM & LPT) you should see Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMx) or Prolific PL2303GC USB Serial COM Port (COMx).
- If the port shows a yellow sign, open its properties and read the status: a “phased out” message means the chip is not supported by current drivers (see above).
On Linux PL2303 adapters work with the in-kernel pl2303 module.
All drivers
| Driver | Version | Date | Windows | Bits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prolific PL2303GC USB-to-Serial Driver | 5.2.12.0 | Jul 7, 2026 | Windows 11 | 64-bit |
| Prolific PL2303GC USB-to-Serial Driver | 5.1.12.0 | Jun 7, 2026 | Windows 10, 11 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Prolific PL2303 USB-to-Serial Driver | 3.9.6.0 | Jun 17, 2024 | Windows 11 | 64-bit |
| Prolific PL2303 USB-to-Serial Driver | 3.8.43.0 | May 29, 2024 | Windows 10, 11 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM3) Driver | 3.9.1.0, 3.8.41.0, 5.1.3.0 | Nov 11, 2021 | Windows 10, 11 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Prolific PL2303 USB to UART RS232 Serial Driver | 3.8.25.0, 3.8.18.0 | Jul 12, 2018 | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM3) Driver | 3.8.18.0, 3.8.12.0 | Oct 17, 2017 | Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| USB RS232 Drivers | 3.8.25.0, 3.8.12.0 | Mar 3, 2017 | Windows XP–10 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port | 3.6.78.350 | Jun 5, 2015 | Windows XP–10 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| Profilic ELM327 USB Drivers for PL2303 | 3.4.67.325 | Aug 15, 2014 | Windows XP–8.1 | 32-bit & 64-bit |
| ArkMicro RS323 USB Data Cable Drivers | 1.8.0.0, 1.9.0.0, 2.0.0.3 | Mar 10, 2006 | Windows XP–7 | 32-bit |
Hardware IDs
Compare these IDs with Device Manager → Properties → Details → Hardware Ids of your device (how to find them).
| Hardware ID | Device | Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| USB\VID_067B&PID_2303 | PL2303 Serial Port | 9 |
| USB\VID_067B&PID_23A3 | PL2303GC/PL2303Gx USB Serial COM Port | 3 |
| USB\VID_067B&PID_23B3 | PL2303GB USB Serial COM Port | 3 |
| USB\VID_067B&PID_23C3 | PL2303GT USB Serial COM Port | 3 |
| USB\VID_067B&PID_23D3 | PL2303GL USB Serial COM Port | 3 |