FT232 USB Driver Download

Download Driver

File: FT232-driver.zip

Compatible Chips: FT232

Quick Overview

The FT232 driver supports FT232RL, FT232BL, and other FT232 series chips manufactured by FTDI (Future Technology Devices International). These chips are known for their excellent reliability, comprehensive driver support, and are widely used in professional and hobbyist electronics projects.

Common Uses:

Arduino Nano compatible boards with FT232RL chip
Arduino Pro Mini programming adapters
USB-to-Serial converters and adapters
Industrial equipment and instrumentation
Embedded systems development boards
JTAG and SPI programming tools

COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS

The following DIYables products use the FT232 chip and require this driver:

DIYables Arduino Nano Compatible Board with FT232RL
DIYables USB to Serial Adapter with FT232
Add your FT232 based products here

DRIVER INSTALLATION

Normally, the driver for this board is automatically supported by the Arduino IDE. However, in some cases, the Arduino IDE may not recognize the board properly. If that happens, please follow the instructions below to install the driver manually.

Download the Driver: Download the FT232 driver from the following links:

Unzip the Driver

After downloading, unzip the contents of the file to a folder on your computer. There is no installation executable in the package.
Open Device Manager

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager, or search for "Device Manager" in the Start menu.
Locate the device under Ports (COM & LPT), You will see a port usually listed as USB Serial Port or similar as below image.
Connect the Board

Connect your board to the computer using a USB cable.
Watch the Ports (COM & LPT) section in Device Manager to see which new serial port appears when the board is connected. This is your device.

Update the Driver

Right-click on the detected serial device (e.g., "USB Serial Port") and choose Update driver, like the below image:

In the window that appears, select Browse my computer for drivers.

Select the Unzipped Folder

Click Browse, then navigate to the folder where you unzipped the driver.
Click Next and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Finish

Once the driver is installed, the device should appear correctly under Ports (COM & LPT) in Device Manager. It looks like below images:

Note that if it does not work, you may need to uninstall the existing driver for that COM port before installing new driver as the instruction above.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Driver Installation Issues

Problem: Driver installation fails on Windows

Run installer as administrator
Disable Windows driver signature enforcement temporarily
Uninstall old FTDI drivers completely first
Temporarily disable antivirus software
Download the latest driver from FTDI website

Problem: "System Extension Blocked" on Mac

Open System Preferences → Security & Privacy
Click the lock to make changes
Click "Allow" next to the FTDI extension message
Restart your Mac
Reinstall driver if still not working

Problem: Windows Update overwrites FTDI driver

Disable automatic driver updates for specific device in Device Manager
Use Device Manager to roll back to previous driver version
Download and install the latest FTDI driver

Device Not Recognized

Problem: Board not showing up in Device Manager (Windows)

Try a different USB cable (must support data transfer)
Try a different USB port
Check if board power LED is on
Unplug all USB devices and try again
Update motherboard chipset drivers
Check for fake FTDI chips (may require special drivers)

Problem: "Device descriptor request failed" error

USB port power issue - try powered USB hub
Cable too long - use shorter cable (under 1 meter)
USB 3.0 compatibility issue - try USB 2.0 port
Faulty USB cable or connector

Problem: No /dev/ttyUSB* device on Linux

Check dmesg: dmesg | tail -30
Verify module loaded: lsmod | grep ftdi_sio
Check USB enumeration: lsusb
Try: sudo modprobe ftdi_sio

Fake FTDI Chip Issues

Problem: Device stops working after Windows Update

Some counterfeit FT232 chips are bricked by official FTDI drivers
Solution: Install older FTDI driver version (pre-2014)
Or use generic USB-to-Serial driver
Contact seller about counterfeit chip

Communication Issues

Problem: COM port appears but can't communicate

Check baud rate settings (common: 9600, 115200)
Verify serial settings (typically 8N1: 8 data bits, No parity, 1 stop bit)
Ensure no other application is using the COM port
Try resetting the board
Check TX/RX connections if using separate adapter

Problem: Random characters or garbage data

Wrong baud rate setting
Check cable quality and length
Electromagnetic interference
Ensure proper ground connection
Try lower baud rate

Problem: Upload fails in Arduino IDE

Select correct COM port (Tools → Port)
Select correct board type
Try lowering upload speed
Press reset button timing (for some boards)
Check bootloader is present on target board

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Supported Chips:

FT232R, FT232RL, FT232RQ
FT232BM, FT232BL
FT232H, FT231X
And other FT232 series variants

Supported Operating Systems:

Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, 2008
MacOS 10.4 (Tiger) and later (including Sonoma)
Linux kernel 2.6.x and later
Android (with OTG support)
Windows CE, Windows Mobile

Interface:

USB 2.0 Full Speed (12 Mbps)
UART interface with full modem control signals
Hardware or software flow control support

Baud Rates Supported:

300 bps to 3 Mbps (FT232R/RL)
300 bps to 12 Mbps (FT232H)
Custom baud rates supported

Data Formats:

Data bits: 7, 8
Stop bits: 1, 1.5, 2
Parity: None, Odd, Even, Mark, Space

Buffer Sizes:

128-byte receive buffer
256-byte transmit buffer (FT232R)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do I need to install this driver?

A: Windows 10/11 usually includes a compatible driver. Linux has built-in support. Mac users may need to install it. Only install if your device is not recognized.

Q: What's the difference between FT232R and FT232RL?

A: FT232RL is the lead-free (RoHS compliant) version of FT232R. Both function identically and use the same driver.

Q: Is this driver from FTDI official?

A: Yes, always download from FTDI's official website or trusted sources like DIYables to ensure authenticity.

Q: Why does my FT232 device stop working after Windows Update?

A: Microsoft may install different driver versions through Windows Update. You can manually install the FTDI driver and disable automatic updates for that device.

Q: How do I know if my FT232 chip is genuine or counterfeit?

A: Genuine chips work consistently with official drivers. Counterfeits may stop working after driver updates. Check with FTDIChip utility or contact manufacturer.

Q: Can I use FT232 for 5V and 3.3V devices?

A: Yes, most FT232 breakout boards have jumpers or switches to select voltage levels. Check your specific board documentation.

Q: Will this work with Arduino IDE?

A: Yes, the driver creates a COM port that works with Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, and other development tools.

Q: My device shows as "USB Serial Converter" instead of FT232. Is this normal?

A: Yes, different driver versions show different names in Device Manager. As long as it works, the name variation is normal.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Official FTDI Resources:

FTDI Driver Downloads
FTDI Application Notes
Official documentation and technical specifications

Development Tools:

Arduino IDE: arduino.cc
PlatformIO: platformio.org
Terminal Programs: PuTTY, RealTerm, CoolTerm

Utilities:

FT_Prog: FTDI's EEPROM programming utility
FTDIChip: Check for genuine FTDI chips

Support:

For technical support, contact us at support@diyables.io
Include operating system, board model, and any error messages
Visit our support page for tutorials and guides