Mbed Serial Port (COM18) Driver

The Mbed Serial Port (COM18) driver enables Windows to communicate with a compatible Mbed development board through its USB serial connection. It is useful for developers, students, and electronics enthusiasts who need to view debug messages, use a serial terminal, or exchange data with firmware running on their board.

COM18 is the port number assigned by Windows, not a separate board model. Your device may appear under a different COM number after reconnecting it or using another computer.

Key Features

• USB serial communication: Allows compatible software to send and receive serial data over the board’s USB connection.
• Terminal access: Supports serial console tasks such as reading diagnostic output and interacting with firmware that exposes a serial interface.
• Device identification: Helps Windows recognize the supported Mbed serial interface and make it available under Ports (COM & LPT) in Device Manager.
• Legacy Windows support: Driver packages may support Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP; check the individual package’s compatibility details before installation.

How to Install Mbed Serial Port (COM18) Driver

1. Confirm your device and operating system. Check your Mbed board model and Windows version, including whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit. For Windows 10/11, first check whether Windows already recognizes the serial interface; some boards use a built-in driver. Windows 11 compatibility is not confirmed by the supported OS list above.
2. Choose the appropriate package. Before starting your Mbed Serial Port (COM18) driver download for Windows, verify that the package supports your board and operating system. Look for the latest version compatible with your setup, rather than assuming the newest package supports older Windows releases. Use a trusted source for a free download.
3. Install the driver. Extract the archive if necessary, then follow the included installation instructions. If no installer is provided, open Device Manager, right-click the relevant device, select Update driver, and browse to the extracted driver folder.
4. Connect and verify. Connect the board using a data-capable USB cable. In Device Manager, confirm that the serial interface appears without a warning icon and note its assigned COM number.
5. Test the connection. Open your serial terminal, select the correct port, and use the communication settings required by your board’s firmware.

Keep the driver updated when a compatible update addresses connection problems or improves support for your system. If your serial connection works reliably, review release notes before changing drivers and retain a working installer for troubleshooting.