Getting Started with the FT231X: Your Quick USB UART Driver Guide Connecting your hardware to a computer should be simple, but sometimes the "USB UART" label in Device Manager comes with a frustrating yellow exclamation mark. If you’re working with the FT231X —a popular USB-to-serial bridge known for its compact design and full handshake support—you likely just need the right driver to bridge the gap. Where to Find the Official Driver For the most stable and secure connection, always source your drivers directly from the manufacturer. Official FTDI Driver Page : You can download the latest Virtual COM Port (VCP) drivers at the FTDI Chip Drivers Hub . Windows Users : Most modern versions (Windows 10 and 11) will attempt to install these automatically via Windows Update when you plug in the device. If that fails, download the "setup executable" from the FTDI site for a one-click installation. macOS & Linux : While many Linux kernels (3.2 and greater) have built-in support, macOS users should download the specific VCP "Dext" or "Kext" installers from the same FTDI VCP Page . Why the FT231X? The FT231X isn't just any serial converter. It’s a specialized chip that handles the entire USB protocol internally, meaning you don't have to write any USB-specific firmware. It supports: Data transfer rates up to 3MBaud . Battery Charger Detection , which helps portable devices identify high-current charging ports. Compatibility across Windows, Mac, Linux, and even Android. Quick Installation Tips Manual Update : If the automatic installer doesn't work, open Device Manager , right-click the "FT231X USB UART" entry, and select Update Driver . Point it to the folder where you extracted the downloaded files. The "Double Install" : Sometimes FTDI devices require two driver passes—one for the "USB Serial Converter" and a second for the "USB Serial Port". Check Your COM Port : Once installed, your device will appear under Ports (COM & LPT) . Make a note of the COM number (e.g., COM3) to use in your terminal software like Putty or the Arduino IDE. Future Technology Devices International Ltd. FT231X - FTDI
is a popular USB-to-UART interface chip from FTDI Chip that allows microcontrollers and other serial devices to communicate with a computer via USB. To use it, you typically need to install specific drivers that make the device appear as a Virtual COM Port (VCP) on your operating system. Official Driver Links You can download the latest official drivers directly from the manufacturer: FTDI VCP Drivers : The standard drivers for Windows, macOS, and Linux can be found on the FTDI Drivers Page Installation Guides : Detailed step-by-step instructions for different operating systems are available in the FTDI Installation Guides How to Install the Driver (Windows) If your device shows up as "FT231X USB UART" under Other Devices with a warning icon in the Device Manager, follow these steps to manually update it: Download and Extract : Download the VCP driver ZIP file from the FTDI website and extract it to a folder on your PC. Update Driver : Right-click on FT231X USB UART in the Device Manager and select Update driver Browse Manually Browse my computer for drivers and navigate to the folder where you extracted the files. to complete the installation. Once finished, the device should appear under Ports (COM & LPT) as a "USB Serial Port". FT231X - FTDI
is a popular USB-to-UART interface chip from FTDI used for serial communication and battery charger detection . To use it, you typically need to install official drivers that allow your computer to recognize the device as a Virtual COM Port (VCP). Official Driver Download Links The official source for all FTDI drivers is the FTDI Chip Drivers Page . Depending on your needs, you can choose between two main types: Virtual COM Port (VCP) Drivers : These make the USB device appear as a standard serial port to your operating system Download Windows VCP Installer (Supports Windows 10, 11, and Server) Download Mac OS VCP Drivers (Available for various macOS versions, including native support on newer versions) D2XX Direct Drivers : These allow applications to access the FT231X directly through a DLL rather than a COM port Download D2XX Drivers Installation Instructions UMFT231XA USB to Full-Handshake UART Development Module - FTDI
The Complete Guide to the FT231X USB UART: Driver Links, Installation, and Troubleshooting Introduction In the world of embedded systems, robotics, and DIY electronics, few components are as ubiquitous as the USB-to-UART bridge. Among the most reliable and widely used chips in this category is the FTDI FT231X . This IC allows your computer to communicate with microcontrollers (like Arduino, ESP32, or STM32) via a simple USB connection, emulating a classic serial port. However, none of this works without the correct software driver. If you have landed on this page searching for the "ft231x usb uart driver link" , you are likely staring at a yellow exclamation mark in your Device Manager, or you are preparing a new development environment. This article provides everything you need: the official, safe driver links, a step-by-step installation guide, and solutions to common problems. What is the FT231X? Before we dive into the driver, let's briefly understand the hardware. The FT231X is a FIFO (First In, First Out) USB to UART interface IC from FTDI (Future Technology Devices International). Key features include: ft231x usb uart driver link
Full UART interface with support for RTS/CTS flow control. Integrated clock generation – no external crystal required. Baud rates from 300 baud to 3 Mbaud. Built-in EEPROM for custom USB descriptors (vendor ID, product ID, serial numbers). Small form factor (SSOP-20 or QFN-20 packages).
You will find this chip on popular boards like the SparkFun FT231X Breakout , Adafruit FT231X Friend , and many custom PCB designs. Why Do You Need the Driver? Modern operating systems handle many common devices natively, but the FT231X requires a specific driver to translate USB packets into a virtual COM port (VCP). Without it:
Windows : The device appears as "FT231X USB UART" with a yellow triangle under "Other devices". Linux/macOS : Basic drivers may exist, but advanced features (like bit-banging or custom baud rates) often require the full FTDI driver set. Getting Started with the FT231X: Your Quick USB
The driver creates a virtual serial port (e.g., COM3 on Windows or /dev/tty.usbserial-* on macOS) that standard terminal software (PuTTY, CoolTerm, screen) can open. The Official FT231X USB UART Driver Link Critical Warning: Only download FTDI drivers from the official source. Third-party websites often bundle malware, outdated files, or modified .inf files that can break your system or, in worst cases, damage clone chips. Official Driver Links (Updated 2024-2026) | Operating System | Official Driver Link | Notes | |----------------|----------------------|-------| | Windows 10/11 | https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/ | Download "setup executable" (CDM v2.12.36 or newer) | | Windows 7/8 | Same as above | Use legacy v2.12.28 if needed | | macOS (11+) | https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/ | Look for "macOS D2XX" + VCP driver | | Linux | Built-in (kernel: ftdi_sio ) | No download needed; see kernel section | | Android | Not officially supported | Use USB Host mode with OTG cable | Direct Download (Windows D2XX + VCP Combo):
Current version (as of 2026): CDM v2.12.36 WHQL Certified 32-bit and 64-bit included File size: ~4 MB
Link: https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CDM212364_Setup.zip Official FTDI Driver Page : You can download
(Always navigate from ftdichip.com to verify the latest version.) Step-by-Step Installation Guide For Windows 10 / 11
Download the official CDM setup from the link above. Unzip the downloaded folder. Run CDM212364_Setup.exe as Administrator (right-click → Run as administrator). Accept the license agreement. Click Install . The installer will automatically detect connected FTDI devices. Wait for confirmation. The default installation path is C:\Program Files (x86)\FTDI USB Drivers . Reconnect your FT231X device to a USB port. Open Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT) . You should see "USB Serial Port (COMx)".