You will need an older Prolific driver installer package. These are widely archived on hardware support forums and tech blogs. Look for the Prolific driver executable package version or 1.6.0 , which contains the older 3.2.0.0 driver.
Most budget-friendly USB-to-Serial cables sold online use counterfeit or older Prolific PL2303 chips. Prolific altered their official Windows Update drivers to deliberately reject these older and third-party chips.
Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 (32 & 64-bit). Legacy Hardware Support:
Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port Version 3.3.3.114 Driver: A Comprehensive Guide prolific usbtoserial comm port version 333114 driver
Run the installer. Even if it says "already installed," proceed.
However, many users encounter issues on Windows 10 and 11, specifically with the erroring out, often prompting the need for a specific, older driver version: 3.3.3.114 (dated January 14, 2009). This article explains why this version is often necessary, how to install it, and how to troubleshoot common issues. 1. What is the Prolific 3.3.3.114 Driver?
Extract the ZIP to a folder (e.g., C:\Drivers\Prolific_333114 ). Inside you should find: You will need an older Prolific driver installer package
: While vintage, it remains compatible with a wide range of systems, including Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and even Windows 11 (64-bit) when manually installed. The "Code 10" Fix and Legacy Importance
The Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port Version 333114 Driver is commonly used in a variety of applications, including:
If you are currently seeing a "Code 10" error, follow these steps to roll back or manually install version 3.3.3.114. 1. Download and Extract including Windows 7
Prolific updated their newer drivers to detect and block counterfeit or clone chips (a frequent issue with cheaper USB-to-serial adapters). Version 3.3.3.114 is often the last stable version before these strict enforcement measures began.
Because was compiled in January 2009—well before Prolific implemented these software blocks—it communicates with older architecture without triggering security errors or compatibility flags. Technical Specifications Driver Version Release Date January 14, 2009 INF File Name ser2pl.inf File Size ~102 KB (standalone files) Supported Hardware PL-2303 X / HXA / TA variants Operating Systems Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and Windows 11 Step-by-Step Installation and Rollback Guide
Many PL2303 USB-to-serial adapters on the market use "counterfeit" or older chips. Modern Prolific drivers (v3.4+) are designed to detect these chips and disable them, resulting in the error in Device Manager.
Right-click the .exe file and select Run as Administrator .
Select . Uncheck "Show compatible hardware".