Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM5) Driver

The Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM5) driver lets Windows communicate with compatible serial devices through a Prolific USB-to-serial adapter. It is useful for anyone connecting equipment such as GPS receivers, industrial controllers, or serial consoles to a computer without a built-in serial port. The COM5 label identifies the port assigned by Windows; it does not identify a separate adapter model.

Key Features

• USB-to-serial communication: Enables compatible software to exchange data with connected serial equipment through a virtual COM port.
• Configurable connection settings: Supports serial parameters such as baud rate, parity, and flow control, subject to the adapter and application.
• Windows integration: Makes the adapter available in Device Manager so you can check its status and assigned port number.
• Support for compatible Windows systems: Driver packages are available for Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP, with compatibility depending on the adapter’s chipset and driver release.

How to Install Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM5) Driver

1. Check your adapter and operating system. Identify your Windows version and whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit. If possible, check the adapter’s chipset or hardware IDs in Device Manager to select a matching package.
2. Choose a compatible package. Before starting a Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM5) driver download for Windows, verify that the release supports your hardware and operating system. A free download should come from Prolific or your adapter manufacturer, rather than an unfamiliar driver installer.
3. Run the installer. Extract the downloaded archive if necessary, then launch the setup program and follow its instructions. Connect or disconnect the adapter when prompted. If the package contains only driver files, use Device Manager’s Update driver option to browse to the extracted folder.
4. Confirm detection. Reconnect the adapter if needed and open Device Manager. Look under Ports (COM & LPT) for the Prolific USB-to-Serial entry and check for warning icons. Windows may assign a port other than COM5.
5. Test your connection. Select the assigned COM port in your serial application and match its communication settings to the connected equipment.

Keep your driver updated when a compatible release addresses connection problems or improves system support. The latest version is not necessarily suitable for older Prolific chipsets, so check compatibility before you install an update. For Windows 10/11 systems, verify each OS separately: Windows 11 support is not established by the supported OS list above.