This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing the correct Obdii Elm327 Driver on your Windows computer. A properly installed driver is crucial for enabling communication between your ELM327 OBD2 scanner, your computer, and your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system. Without the correct driver, your OBD2 software won’t recognize the ELM327 device, preventing you from diagnosing car problems.
Installing the OBDII ELM327 Driver on Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, and 11
The installation process begins with connecting your ELM327 USB scanner to your Windows laptop or PC. In most cases, Windows will automatically attempt to install the necessary drivers. However, this process isn’t always successful.
To verify the driver installation:
- Open Device Manager. You can search for it in the Windows search bar.
- Expand Ports (COM & LPT).
- Look for devices like “USB-Serial CH340,” “FT232R USB UART,” “Prolific USB-to-Serial,” “USB Serial Port,” “USB2.0-Serial,” or “Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge.”
- Crucially, check for yellow exclamation marks (!) next to these devices. A yellow mark indicates a driver problem.
If there are no yellow exclamation marks, your driver is installed correctly, and you can start using your OBD2 scanner.
If you see a yellow exclamation mark, you’ll need to manually install the correct driver.
Manual Driver Installation
We’ve compiled a list of driver packs to help you resolve this issue. Try each one in order until the yellow exclamation mark disappears from Device Manager. Remember to restart your PC after each installation attempt.
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Driver Pack 1 (CP210x): http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazonaws.com/CP210x_VCP_Windows.zip – For 64-bit Windows, run
CP210xVCPInstaller_x64. For 32-bit Windows, runCP210xVCPInstaller_x86. -
Driver Pack 2 (Prolific PL2303): http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazonaws.com/PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v1.8.0.zip
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Driver Pack 3 (FTDI): http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazonaws.com/CDM_v2.10.00_WHQL_Certified_FTDI.zip
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Driver Pack 4 (CH340): http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazonaws.com/CH340-USB-Driver.zip
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Driver Pack 5 (Prolific for Windows 8): http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/files/prolific_Win8_x64_x86.zip – Extract to your Desktop. Right-click “ser2pl” (gear icon) and select “Install.” Connect the ELM327. In Device Manager, right-click the Prolific device with the yellow mark, update the driver, browse your computer, uncheck “Show compatible hardware,” and choose Prolific driver 3.3.2.102.
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Driver Pack 6 (Total Car Diagnostics): http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/files/TotalCarDiagnostics-ELM327-Driver-Package.zip – Download, extract, and run “InstallUSB.”
Advanced Troubleshooting
If you’ve tried all the driver packs and still have issues, you might encounter a “Code 10 error” with the Prolific USB-to-Serial device.
If the problem persists, try updating the driver manually by browsing to the extracted Driver Pack 6 folder in Device Manager, ensuring “Include subfolders” is checked.
Conclusion
Installing the correct OBDII ELM327 driver is essential for using your diagnostic scanner. By following this guide and troubleshooting any issues, you can successfully connect to your vehicle’s OBD2 system and begin diagnosing car problems. If you continue to experience difficulties, consult the documentation for your specific ELM327 device or contact the manufacturer for support.
