| Chipset | Latest Updated Driver Version | Official Download Source | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | v6.0.5 (Windows 11/10) | prolific.com (Search for PL2303) | | Silicon Labs CP210x | v11.2.0 | silabs.com (CP210x Universal Driver) | | FTDI FT232 | v2.12.36 | ftdichip.com (Virtual COM Port Driver) |
Matches the COM number found in Device Manager (e.g., COM4 ).
FTDI chips are standard in premium console cables. Modern Windows and macOS builds usually pull these automatically, but manual updates fix corrupted registries.
Look for a device listing with a yellow exclamation mark or a generic serial name. Right-click the device →right arrow →right arrow Details tab. Select Hardware Ids from the Property dropdown menu.
After successfully installing the , follow these tips to avoid future failures: awm 20251 console cable driver updated
Look at the (Vendor ID) and PID (Product ID) values in the Value box. Match them to the manufacturers below: FTDI (Future Technology Devices International) Common Hardware IDs: VID_0403&PID_6001 or VID_0403&PID_6015
Look at the characters in the Value box. You will see a string containing a Vendor ID (VID) and a Product ID (PID). Match those codes to find your manufacturer: VID 0403 (Common PIDs: 6001, 6015) Prolific: VID 067B (Common PIDs: 2303) Silicon Labs: VID 10C4 (Common PIDs: EA60) CH340 (Qinheng): VID 1A86 (Common PIDs: 7523) Downloading Official Updated Drivers
Often found in budget or older cables. These can be sensitive to driver versions on Windows 10/11. 2025-2026 Update Guide
Open the downloaded .dmg installer package. | Chipset | Latest Updated Driver Version |
To download the correct updated driver, you need to find the manufacturer of the internal USB-to-Serial chipset. Most console cables use chips from one of three major semiconductor companies: FTDI, Prolific, or Silicon Labs.
Select > Let me pick from a list .
Once you know the hardware vendor, avoid third-party driver update software. Download the official, authentic drivers directly from the chip manufacturer. 1. FTDI Chipsets (VCP Drivers)
If an old, corrupted driver is overriding your new installation, open Device Manager, right-click the problematic COM port, select Uninstall device , and check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device . Once removed, perform a fresh installation of the updated driver. Look for a device listing with a yellow
If you see strange characters or symbols on your terminal screen instead of a text prompt, the driver is working, but your configuration is wrong. Double-check that your terminal software's baud rate perfectly matches the hardware specifications of the network switch you are configuring.
If you see "Phase out since 2012," you are using a legacy PL2303HXA chip that is no longer supported on Windows 11 without a specific rollback driver. 3. CH340/CH341 Series v3.8 (2024/2025 Update)
9600 (Standard for Cisco) or 115200 (Common for modern devices) Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop bits: 1 Flow control: None Verify the COM Port Number
However, when searching for an version, you are usually looking for the driver that powers the USB-to-Serial converter embedded in the cable’s plug.
Even with a perfect driver, the console will show "garbage text" if your baud rate isn't set to 9600 (standard for Cisco) or 115200 .