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FT232R USB UART Driver for Windows 11 & 10

The FT232R USB UART is a popular USB-to-serial interface used in USB serial cables, development boards, industrial equipment, electronics projects, and other devices that need to communicate with a Windows PC through a serial connection.

If you connect an FT232R-based device and Windows doesn’t recognize it correctly, you may see FT232R USB UART under Other devices in Device Manager, often with a yellow warning symbol. Your USB serial device may also fail to appear as a COM port.

In many cases, Windows 11 or Windows 10 can install the required driver automatically. When that doesn’t happen, you’ll need to install the correct FT232R driver manually.

This guide explains how to download, install, update, and troubleshoot the FT232R USB UART driver in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

What Is the FT232R USB UART?

It essentially acts as a bridge between USB and a serial interface. You’ll find FT232R chips in many types of hardware, including:

The FT232R is a USB-to-serial UART interface chip made by FTDI (Future Technology Devices International).

Embedded Systems & Microcontrollers – Many development boards, like Arduino Pro Mini, ESP8266, and ESP32, use FTDI chips to enable USB-to-serial communication for programming and debugging.
Industrial Equipment – Devices such as PLC controllers, CNC machines, and factory automation systems often require a USB-to-serial adapter to connect to a PC for configuration and monitoring.
Networking Hardware – Some routers, switches, and firewalls (especially those with serial console ports) use FTDI-based USB-to-serial adapters for initial setup and troubleshooting.
Scientific Instruments – Lab equipment like oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and data loggers may use FTDI chips to transfer data to a PC for analysis.
Ham Radio & Communications Equipment – Many amateur radio transceivers and digital mode interfaces use FTDI-based serial adapters to connect to a PC for programming and digital communication.
Medical Devices – Certain patient monitoring systems, infusion pumps, and diagnostic tools rely on USB-to-serial connections for data logging and software updates.
GPS Modules & Automotive Diagnostics – Many external GPS receivers and OBD-II diagnostic tools (for vehicle troubleshooting) use FTDI-based USB-to-serial converters to communicate with diagnostic software on a PC.
Legacy Serial Devices – Older devices like barcode scanners, cash registers, industrial scales, and POS systems often still use RS-232 interfaces, requiring an FTDI adapter for modern PC connectivity.

For a typical USB-to-serial adapter, Windows can also create a virtual COM port, allowing software to communicate with the USB device much like it would with a traditional serial port.

FT232R USB UART Driver Download for Windows 11

If you’re looking for an FT232R USB UART driver download for Windows 11, start by connecting the device while your PC is connected to the internet.

Windows Update can automatically install FTDI drivers for supported hardware.

If that doesn’t happen, you have several options.

1. Check the Device Manufacturer First

If the FT232R chip is built into a USB cable, adapter, development board, or other third-party product, check the manufacturer’s support website first.

This matters because some manufacturers customize the FTDI device or its driver configuration. In those cases, the generic FTDI driver may not be the driver intended for that particular product.

Look up the exact model of your device and check whether its manufacturer provides a Windows 11 driver.

2. Download the Driver From FTDI

If the device manufacturer doesn’t provide its own driver, you can obtain the current Windows driver directly from FTDI.

FTDI provides a Windows installer for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that includes both:

VCP (Virtual COM Port) drivers
D2XX Direct drivers

For most people using an FT232R USB-to-serial cable or adapter, the VCP driver is the one you’ll be interested in.

3. Let DriverFinder Identify the Driver

If you don’t know exactly which USB-to-serial device you have—or you’re having difficulty locating the correct driver—you can use DriverFinder to scan the hardware installed on your PC.

DriverFinder identifies your devices and helps locate matching Windows drivers without requiring you to manually determine the exact hardware model.

VCP vs D2XX: Which FT232R Driver Do You Need?

FTDI provides two main types of Windows driver for its devices: VCP and D2XX.

VCP Driver

VCP stands for Virtual COM Port.

The VCP driver makes your FT232R USB device appear in Windows as an additional COM port.

For example, after installation you may see something similar to:

USB Serial Port (COM3)

under:

Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT)

Software can then communicate with the device using that COM port just as it would with a traditional serial connection.

If you’re using an FT232R USB serial cable, adapter, microcontroller board, or similar device, VCP is usually what you need.

D2XX Driver

The D2XX driver works differently.

Instead of creating a normal Windows COM port, D2XX allows software to communicate directly with an FTDI USB device through FTDI’s DLL interface.

D2XX is therefore primarily useful when the application you’re using was specifically designed to communicate with FTDI hardware through that interface.

If your software expects you to select something such as COM3, COM4, or COM5, you’re almost certainly looking for the VCP functionality rather than direct D2XX access

How to Install the FT232R USB UART Driver

Before manually installing anything, connect your FT232R USB device to the computer.

Open Device Manager.

You can do this by right-clicking Start and selecting Device Manager, or by searching for Device Manager from the Windows taskbar.

Look under Other devices, Universal Serial Bus controllers, or Ports (COM & LPT).

If Windows hasn’t installed the appropriate driver, you may see:

FT232R USB UART

with a yellow warning icon.

Note: In the Device Manager, the dongle may show as an Unknown device, a FT232R USB UART device, or as a USB Serial Converter. If the device does not show, use the option Show hidden devices in the View menu, or add a setting to the System variables to show non-present devices.

Select:

Search automatically for drivers

Windows will check the drivers already available to the system.

On current versions of Windows, if Device Manager doesn’t find a suitable local driver, you may also be given the option to search for updated drivers through Windows Update.

If Windows still doesn’t install the device correctly, use the driver supplied by the device manufacturer or the current FTDI Windows driver package.

How to Manually Install the FT232R Driver

To manually install a Windows driver for this type of device, you will first need to download the driver. In some cases, the dongle manufacturer will offer a driver download. Just visit the support site for the manufacturer and download the driver for your specific Windows version.

After downloading, run the driver executable, or follow the manual driver installation instructions to install the driver.

Right-click FT232R USB UART in Device Manager and choose:

Update driver

Then select:

Browse my computer for drivers

Select the folder containing the downloaded and extracted driver files.

Make sure:

Include subfolders

is selected, then continue with the installation.

Windows will search that folder for a compatible driver.

Once installation is complete, disconnect and reconnect the USB device if necessary.

How to Check Whether the FT232R Driver Installed Correctly

After installing the driver, return to Device Manager.

Depending on the device and driver configuration, you may see an entry such as:

USB Serial Converter

under:

Universal Serial Bus controllers

If you’re using the VCP driver, you should also normally see a serial port under:

Ports (COM & LPT)

For example:

USB Serial Port (COM9)

The COM number may be different on your computer.

Your serial software should use the COM port assigned by Windows.

FT232R USB UART Driver for Windows 10

FT232R devices are also supported under Windows 10.

The current FTDI Windows driver package supports both Windows 10 and Windows 11, so the basic installation process is the same.

Connect the device first and allow Windows Update an opportunity to install the driver automatically.

If that doesn’t work:

Check the device manufacturer’s support website.
Download the appropriate driver for your product.
If necessary, use the current FTDI VCP/D2XX Windows package.
Install or update the driver through Device Manager.

FTDI currently provides Windows 10 support for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

FT232RL Driver for Windows 11

You may also see searches or product descriptions referring to the FT232RL.

FT232R refers to the FTDI USB-to-UART chip family/device, while FT232RL identifies a particular FT232R package variant.

So if your USB serial adapter contains an FT232RL chip and you’re looking for an FT232RL driver for Windows 11, you’ll generally be dealing with the same FTDI driver family discussed in this guide.

As always, if the chip is incorporated into a third-party product, check that product manufacturer’s driver recommendations first.

FT232R USB UART Driver Not Working

If you’ve installed the FT232R driver but your device still doesn’t work, try the following checks.

Disconnect and Reconnect the Device

Unplug the FT232R device, wait a few seconds, and connect it again.

If possible, try another USB port.

Avoid using a USB hub temporarily so you can rule out a problem with the hub.

Check Device Manager

Open Device Manager and look for:

FT232R USB UART
USB Serial Converter
USB Serial Port
Unknown Device

A yellow warning icon indicates that Windows has detected a problem.

Right-click the device and select Properties to view the device status and any Device Manager error code.

Reinstall the Driver

If the driver installation may be damaged, right-click the affected device and select:

Uninstall device

Disconnect the device and restart Windows.

Reconnect it after Windows has restarted and allow Windows to detect the hardware again.

You can then reinstall the correct driver if necessary.

Install the Current Driver

If you’re using an old driver package, replace it with the current driver supplied by your device manufacturer or FTDI.

Don’t disable Windows driver-signature enforcement simply to install an old or unsigned FT232R driver. Current official FTDI Windows drivers are digitally signed and WHQL certified.

Check the USB Cable or Adapter

A driver isn’t always the cause.

If Windows doesn’t detect the device at all, test another USB port and, where possible, another cable or computer.

A faulty USB cable, damaged adapter, loose connection, or failed device can produce symptoms that look like a driver problem.

FT232R COM Port Not Showing

Sometimes Windows recognizes the FT232R device, but the expected COM port doesn’t appear.

First, open Device Manager and expand:

Ports (COM & LPT)

Look for an entry such as:

USB Serial Port (COMx)

If Ports (COM & LPT) doesn’t appear at all, check whether the FT232R device is instead listed under Other devices or Universal Serial Bus controllers.

If you see FT232R USB UART with a warning symbol, the VCP driver may not have installed correctly.

Reinstall the appropriate FTDI VCP driver and reconnect the device.

If USB Serial Converter appears but no USB Serial Port is created, check that you’re using the VCP driver/configuration required by your device.

You can also select:

View → Show hidden devices

in Device Manager to check for previously installed COM ports.

Changing the FT232R COM Port Number

Some older applications only work with particular COM port numbers.

If your FT232R device is working but Windows has assigned an unsuitable port number, you may be able to change it.

In Device Manager:

Expand Ports (COM & LPT).
Right-click USB Serial Port (COMx).
Select Properties.
Open Port Settings.
Select Advanced.
Choose another available COM Port Number.
Click OK.

Only change the assigned COM port if your software requires it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download the FT232R USB UART driver for Windows 11?

First check the manufacturer of the USB cable, adapter, board, or device containing the FT232R chip. If it doesn’t provide a driver, FTDI provides official Windows drivers supporting Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Windows Update may also install the appropriate FTDI driver automatically.

Which FT232R driver do I need: VCP or D2XX?

For most ordinary USB-to-serial applications, you want the VCP driver because it allows the FT232R device to appear as a Windows COM port.

D2XX is intended for applications that communicate directly with FTDI devices through FTDI’s DLL interface.

Does the FT232R work with Windows 11?

Yes. Current FTDI drivers support Windows 11. If you’re using an FT232R chip incorporated into a third-party product, however, check the device manufacturer’s support information because it may use a customized configuration.

Why does FT232R USB UART appear under Other devices?

This usually means Windows has detected the hardware but hasn’t associated it with the appropriate driver.

Install the correct driver and check Device Manager again.

Why doesn’t my FT232R device have a COM port?

A COM port normally appears when the FTDI VCP driver is installed and enabled for the device. Check Device Manager for FT232R USB UART, USB Serial Converter, or a device showing a warning icon.

Is FT232RL the same as FT232R?

FT232RL is a package variant of the FT232R USB-to-UART device. Searches for an FT232RL Windows driver therefore generally lead to the same FTDI driver family, although you should still follow the driver recommendations provided by the manufacturer of your particular product.

Does FT232R work with Windows 10?

Yes. FTDI’s current Windows driver package supports Windows 10 as well as Windows 11.

For more on USB to serial converters and their drivers, also check the article on the Prolific PL2303 driver for Windows.

Core Isolation Memory Integrity Incompatible Drivers

One of the new protection features in Windows 11 is called Core isolation. This feature helps protect against vulnerabilities that may harm the system. It is also referred to as virtualization-based security (or VBS). An important aspect of this protection is the setting memory integrity. Enabling this setting will allow Windows to shield the memory from bad code or invalid access.

A limitation of memory integrity protection is the fact that it can be impossible to enable it due to incompatible drivers. Device drivers are an important piece of any operating system, including Windows 11. Since device drivers enable communication with hardware devices, they are operating at a high-security level in Windows with access to critical system resources.

Even with systems that had no problems in the past, Windows updates can result in the core isolation option being disabled with no obvious cause.

In this article, we show how to enable memory integrity and how to deal with incompatible drivers that may block the enabling of the core isolation protection.

How to enable memory integrity

Open the Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys, or use the Start menu.
In the Settings window, click Privacy & security (1) in the left-hand pane.
Next, click Windows Security (2) in the right-hand pane.
Then, click Device security in the right-hand pane. This will open a new window called Windows Security.
Under Core isolation, click the Core isolation details link.
Now toggle the switch for Memory integrity from Off to On.

Windows will start checking for driver compatibility before enabling the memory integrity option.
Close the Windows Security window and the Settings windows.

After this, the core isolation in Windows 11 is enabled, helping protect the memory from invalid access. This will add an extra layer of protection against malware on your PC.

Incompatible drivers

So what happens with incompatible drivers are installed in the system? In that case, enabling the Memory integrity feature will fail and the Core isolation will not be working.

To find out which drivers are incompatible, click the Review incompatible drivers link.

You will now see one or more entries of drivers (.sys file names) that are incompatible with the Windows 11 driver system. That means, the device for which the driver is intended may work fine, but the driver is not fully compatible with the Windows 11 security system. This may happen if older drivers are installed (e.g. Windows 7 or Windows 10 drivers).

Clicking the downward pointing arrow to the right of the driver’s name will reveal details about the driver. This information, date, version, and INF name can be used in the process to solve the driver incompatibility.

It is also possible that no imcompatibvle drivers are shown. In that case, try the manual enabling option.

Solve driver incompatibility issues

The simplest choice is to simply leave the Core isolation feature in Windows 11 disabled. That way, the incompatible driver can still be used and the device will function. Considering the possible vulnerability to the system this is not the preferred option. Only when no compatible driver for the device can be found and the device is really needed would you use this option.

The better solution to enabling the memory integrity option in Windows 11 is to replace any incompatible drivers with a newer, compatible version of the device driver.

Our example shows the stm_tpm.sys driver, which is an STMicroelectronics Trusted Platform Module. Other frequently occurring examples are the ene.sys driver and the wdcsam.sys (or wdcsam64_prewin8.sys), which are MSI and Western Digital drivers respectively.

#1 Update the driver from the Device Manager

Replacing an incompatible driver with a newer version is the best way to guarantee the driver will be compatible with Windows 11. Use the Device Manager to check for updates for the device.

In this process, Windows 11 will check the Microsoft Update Catalog for a newer version of the driver for the specific device. Take note that the device does not show any error in this example. The device and driver are functioning without device errors in Windows 11.

Note: If you do not see the problematic driver, use the option Show hidden devices in the View menu to show additional devices with their drivers.

Show hidden device in device manager Windows 11

In case any device is listed with an exclamation mark, it indicates a problem. Updating the driver for the device may fix the problem, otherwise check the error code for the device to solve the issue.

#2 Uninstall the driver to enable memory integrity

If the incompatible driver is not loaded and used by Windows, the memory integrity option can be turned on. Use the device manager to Uninstall the device, and then use the command prompt (or PowerShell) to delete the driver using the pnputil /delete-driver command.

pnputil /delete-driver oem97.inf /uninstall /force

Note: It is important to uninstall the device first, otherwise the command above will fail because the driver package is still in use.

The INF file name used in the command can be found in the details of the incompatible drivers in the Windows Security window. See the Published name detail. The /uninstall parameter ensures the driver package is removed from any devices that use the driver. The /force parameter allows the driver to be deleted even when it is in use.

Once the device is uninstalled and the driver is deleted, enable the memory integrity option as described earlier. If it still fails, try the other solutions listed here.

#3 Manually replace the incompatible driver

If the device is needed, option #2 is not possible, since the device will not work without a driver. But if the automatic update of the incompatible driver also does not work, a manual solution is required.

Uninstall device for incompatible drivers

Use the Device Manager to uninstall the device. If Windows shows the option to Attempt to remove the driver for this device during the device uninstall, select that option. This option will not show for all devices and will only work if the driver is not in use by another device.

After this, find a new driver for the device on the manufacturer’s website. In the case of the wdcsam.sys error, the latest Western Digital drivers will solve the issue. Our ene.sys article has the details for a solution with that driver. For other manufacturers, their support site should provide the latest drivers if available.

Enable Memory Integrity using the Windows Registry

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, it is possible to force the activation of the memory integrity in Windows 10 and Windows 11 using the Windows Registry. Although it is possible to use the Registry Editor for this to manually add the required keys and entries, it is easier to execute the commands to insert the registry keys from the console. Below are the steps.

Open a command prompt window with administrator privileges.

Now execute the following commands one by one:

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "RequirePlatformSecurityFeatures" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "Locked" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /v "Locked" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Each command should show that the operation completed successfully.

Enable memory integrity using the Windows registry,

After that, close the command prompt window (type “exit” followed by pressing the Enter key), and restart Windows.

Now check that the memory integrity option in Windows Security is enabled.

Note: The commands above are for Windows 10 version 1607 and later (including Windows 11). For earlier Windows 10 versions (1511 and below), use these commands.

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "RequirePlatformSecurityFeatures" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard" /v "Unlocked" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Note: Using the registry edit option can result in Windows showing the Memory Integrity option as “This setting is managed by your administrator“. If that is the case, revert the registry settings to undo the change.

ScanSnap iX500 Driver for Windows 10/11

If your ScanSnap iX500 has stopped working on Windows 10 or Windows 11, the issue is usually a missing or outdated driver. Fujitsu has replaced the old ScanSnap Manager software with ScanSnap Home, which includes the latest iX500 driver for both systems. Although the iX500 was first released in 2013, it remains a reliable and widely used duplex color scanner for A4, Letter, and Legal-size documents. Installing the updated Fujitsu software ensures your ScanSnap iX500 continues to work smoothly on the newest Windows versions.

The ScanSnap iX500 connects to your computer through USB or Wi-Fi and delivers fast, high-quality scans for both single and double-sided documents. To ensure full compatibility with Windows 10 and 11, it’s best to use the latest ScanSnap Home software and driver from Fujitsu. This updated package not only fixes connection or detection issues but also improves performance and stability when scanning to PDF or cloud storage.

Download the ScanSnap software

You can download the software driver from the Fujitsu support website to get the ScanSnap iX500 working on Windows 10 or Windows 11. Follow the steps below.

Open a web browser and navigate to the Fujitsu ScanSnap software download page.
Under Discontinued scanners, click the ScanSnap iX500 This will open the ScanSnap iX500 software downloads page.
Next, select the Windows version in the dropdown list (1), and then click the Display software list button (2).
Under Setup Programs, click the Download link next to the SnapScan Home Download Installer 2.7.0 (the version number might be higher when you visit the page).
This will open a new page to download the installer. Make sure your browser does not have a popup blocker active, or the new window will not open. Select your location and then click the Download Installer
Read the license agreement and click the Agree button to start the software download.
The software installer will be downloaded (depending on your browser you may need to select a download location).
Open a File Explorer window and navigate to the download location on your PC.
Double-click the downloaded installer to execute it.
Note: If you cannot execute the file, you may need to unblock it.
- Right-click the file, and in the popup menu, select Properties.
- In the General tab, select the checkbox Unblock (next to Security in the bottom of the window).
- Click the OK button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the ScanSnap Home software.
Note: Additional files are downloaded during installation, so make sure your Internet connection is active. Also check available disk space, as he fully installed software takes over 740 MB.
Restart your computer when finished.

Reinstalling the software can also help if are facing problems scanning directly to email (like Outlook). Make sure to fully uninstall the existing version first.

Install the ScanSnap iX500 driver

After installing the ScanSnap Home software, the ScanSnap iX500 driver for the device can be installed.

Execute the ScanSnap Home software.
In the setup window, select the iX500 model and click the Start setup button.

Tip: The software not only allows installation of the iX500 driver, but also supports the ScanSnap iX1600 driver and all iX models in between.
Make sure the scanner power is connected and that the scanner is connected to the computer via a USB cable.
Click Next to continue.
Ensure the device is powered on (blue or purple Scan button), and then click Next.
Wait for the device to be installed.
Click the Finish button.

After the connection setup finishes, the Windows driver for the iX500 will be installed and you can use the scanner with your Windows PC. Click the Scan button in the top-left corner to start scanning.

Need to find or update more device drivers for Windows? Download our DriverFinder program to automatically check your Windows PC for missing or outdated drivers.

For generic troubleshooting regarding the SnapScan IX500 device, you can also have a look at the Ricoh support page.

FAQ

Can I still use the ScanSnap Manager with the iX500?

Yes, the ScanSnap Manager software can still be used for the iX500 for Windows 7 up to Windows 11. There will however be no new features and no updates with this software.

Can I keep my old scan settings?

Yes, if you switch from the ScanSnap Manager software to the ScanSnap Home software, you can keep your old scan settings. This entails creating a profile in the ScanSnap Home software and migrating the settings. For details on the migration, please see the instructions on the website.

Can I Install ScanSnap Home when I have ScanSnap Manager installed?

Yes, it is possible to have both the old and new software installed on the same configuration. When you install the new software, make sure the installation path is different (use the Custom install option). After installing the new version, you can safely delete the old software. Settings -> Apps -> ScanSnap Manager -> Uninstall.

How to fix the “Unable to connect with SnapScan” error?

First, make sure the latest version of the ScanSnap software is installed. Also, check that the Windows Image Acquisition service is running (starts automatically), and try changing the Log on as to a Local System account with the checkbox Allow service to interact with the desktop enabled.

The steps:

Press the Windows + R keys to bring up the Run window.
Enter services.msc and press Enter or click OK.
In the Services window, scroll down to the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service.
Double-click the service.
Make sure the Startup type is Automatic, and if the service is not running, click Start.
Select the Log On tab.
Select the Local System account radio button and mark the checkbox to Allow service to interact with the desktop.
Click the OK button to confirm, and close the Services window.

If this does not fix the connection error, try disabling all other Imaging devices in the Device Manager.

How to fix “Make sure that ScanSnap is not being used by another user or application, and then try again.” error

This error may show in the ScanSnap software if the program cannot access the scanner. First, try the steps from the connect error.

If that does not work, try connecting the scanner directly to a (different) USB port on the computer. Don’t use a USB hub or a WiFi connection. Also, test the USB cable if you suspect it may be faulty.

If you are using the ScanSnap Manager software, you can run the ScanSnap support tool to check the access privileges for the scanner device. Start the support tool from the Start menu in the ScanSnap Manager group. In the support tool, select the Recover tab (1) and then click the Check button (2).
Check ScanSnap connection

After this, click the Recover button to find out if the problem has been resolved.

If the ScanSnap iX500 still supported by Fujitsu?

Even though the iX500 is considered a discontinued product, it is still being supported until January 31, 2024. Until this date software updates will still support the iX500. The recommended successor model is the iX1500, but even that model is scheduled to be discontinued by December 31, 2025.

Can I use other scanning software with my ScanSnap iX500?

Unfortunately, not. The scanner uses a driver that does not support the common TWAIN or ISIS standards for scanning devices. As a result, the iX500 will not show up as a scanning or imaging device in other scan applications. The ScanSnap Manager or ScanSnap Home software is required, which uses the Windows Imaging Acquisition driver.

A company called JSE Imaging Solutions has a TWAIN driver (SnapTwain) that works in combination with Fujitsu ScanSnap Home software. At EUR 99, it is a relatively expensive solution, but if you really need TWAIN support, you could try this option.

How to Uninstall Devices in Windows

All hardware in a Windows PC is registered as a hardware device. Windows uses device drivers to communicate with these hardware devices. New drivers are added when new hardware is detected. New drivers can be installed automatically if device support is included with Windows. If not, drivers need to be installed manually. But what happens if you remove a hardware device or no longer use a device? Do you need to uninstall devices in Windows, or does that happen automatically?

For onboard hardware, like a CPU, bus controllers, and similar hardware, it is simple. The hardware is present in the system, so the device and driver need to be configured in Windows. But for external hardware (printers, scanners, mobile phones, and others) this is not straightforward. A lot of external devices are connected through USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. There is no automatic way to know if these devices are still being used.

Steps to uninstall devices in Windows

When a device is either present in a PC or connected to the PC, the device will show up in the Device Manager. To uninstall the device the Device Manager can be used. Right-clicking a device in the Device Manager will show a popup menu with the option to uninstall it. When selected, you can also confirm whether the driver software should be removed.

But what if the device is no longer present in the PC? Or the hardware is not connected and not available anymore? In that case, the device will not show up in the Windows Device Manager. But the device configuration and driver still exist on the system.

To remove a device from Windows when the hardware is no longer present, we first need to tell Windows to show these non-present devices in the Device Manager.

Note: These instructions apply to all Windows versions. Variations in the text on buttons, confirmations, and popup menus can be present.

Press the Windows + R keys to show the Run dialog.
Type cmd, click the Run button, or press Enter to open a Command Prompt window.
In the Command Prompt window, type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 and press Enter.
What this does is set an environment variable in Windows that is used by the Device Manager to show the non-present devices.
Tip: Type set and press Enter to see all environment variables. This allows you to check that the value was set properly.
Close the Command Prompt window by typing exit and pressing Enter.
Note: For Windows 7 and earlier, skip this step, as Windows clears the devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices flag automatically when the Command Prompt window is closed.
Next, open the Device Manager. Either use the Start menu or type devmgmt.msc in the Run box like in step 1.
In Device Manager, click the View menu and then click Show hidden devices.

You will now be able to see devices that are not connected to the computer.
Expand the category for the device to uninstall.
Non-present devices will show with a grayed-out icon.
Right-click a non-present device.
In the popup menu, choose Uninstall device.
Confirm the removal of the device by clicking the Uninstall button in the Uninstall Device window.

Note: For some devices, the Uninstall Device confirmation window will also show a checkbox to delete the driver software for the device. Select that if the driver for the device is no longer needed.
The Device Manager window will refresh and the uninstalled device will no longer be shown.
Close the Device Manager window when done.

Why uninstall devices in Windows?

The need to uninstall a device in Windows is not common. In many cases, hardware devices are managed automatically, or only need to be dealt with one time during installation.

But there are two cases where uninstalling a device is required.

Reset the hardware device

If a device is showing an error or is not functioning properly, it can often be a problem with the device configuration or the driver software. Using the steps to uninstall a device in Windows, the device configuration is reset and the driver can also be reloaded (with the driver software uninstall option). Many device-related errors can be solved this way, so knowing how to uninstall a device in Windows can be very useful.

Solve error code 49

Error case 49 in the device manager means that Windows cannot start a new hardware device. This is a specific error that can occur when a new device is added and needs to be configured. All device configuration is stored in the Windows Registry. And since device information is critical for Windows to operate, the configuration details are stored in the System Hive. This is the core part of the Windows Registry that is kept in memory for quick access.

If the System Hive grows too large, it will exceed the size limit. That will then result in error code 49 if a device is attempted to be started. This error happens more on older Windows versions, simply because resource limits and size limits for the registry storage space could be a problem.

If a device shows a code 49 error, the solution is often to remove all non-present devices to free up space in the System Hive. If that does not solve the problem, try cleaning up the registry to free up more space.

How to Update Realtek Bluetooth Driver – Windows 11

The Bluetooth interface is used on Windows 11 (and Windows 10) systems to connect Bluetooth devices. Mobile phones, speakers, printers, or even another computer. Bluetooth wireless communication is ideal for short-range wireless communication. And like all hardware devices in Windows, the Bluetooth device needs a Bluetooth driver to function. The most common Bluetooth chips used in PCs are from Intel and Realtek.

If no driver is installed, Windows will not recognize the device, or Bluetooth will not function properly. So, if Bluetooth is not working in Windows 11, you might need to update the Bluetooth driver. In this article, we’ll show you how to update the Realtek Bluetooth driver. Of course, we also have instructions on updating the Intel Bluetooth driver.

Note: These instructions apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is important to update the Realtek Bluetooth driver on Windows 10 already, since the upgrade to a later Windows version can be blocked because of an old driver!

Windows 10 Update Problem Realtek Bluetooth

Updated Bluetooth drivers can solve this type of problem. Updated drivers will also make sure that any known bugs in previous versions are fixed, and performance and connectivity are maximized.

Automatically Update Drivers

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include support for a lot of devices by default. Drivers for the devices are either included in the Windows installation or retrieved during the Windows Update process.

If the Realtek Bluetooth driver needs to be updated, the first step is to run Windows Update. Also make sure that drivers updates are included in Windows Update, as automatic driver updates can be disabled in Windows!

Apart from Windows Update, a driver can also be updated from the Device Manager in Windows 11 directly.

Press the Windows + R keys to bring up the run dialog box.
Type devmgmt.msc in the Run field and press Enter or click the OK button.
In the Device Manager window, locate the device for which to update the driver. Right-click the device, and in the context menu select Update driver.
Next select the option to let Windows Search automatically for drivers.
Click the Close button when done.

For more details, also see installing driver updates using the Device Manager in Windows 11.

Another method to automatically update Windows drivers is to use the DriverFinder program. This software automatically scans all hardware devices in your PC and then recommends the appropriate device drivers for them. It will not just update the Realtek Bluetooth drivers, but allow you to update all your device drivers.

Manually Update the Realtek Bluetooth Driver

Manually updating drivers in Windows means downloading the driver installation files and running an installer or updating the driver from the Device Manager.

Driver files for Bluetooth devices can be available on the PC manufacturer’s website or the Realtek website. First, visit the support site of your PC manufacturer and check for updated drivers of your model. If they are not available, or still not the latest version, you can visit the Realtek website.

Realtek offers support for most of its devices online. This support includes the option to download Windows drivers for many of their devices.

Using the Realtek Support site

Open a web browser and navigate to the Realtek software download page.
On the Realtek web page, use the Product Line dropdown box to select Wireless Lan ICs.

Note: Bluetooth is a wireless technology, so support is combined with Wi-Fi devices.
Now select the Realtek Wireless LAN IC from the list on the web page that matches the device in your PC. Click the Software link next to it.
On the specific Realtek LAN IC software page, locate the Bluetooth driver you need and click the download icon.

Note: Most onboard Bluetooth solutions use a PCI Express implementation. External, pluggable solutions will use the USB option.
On the Agree the Terms and Download page, select the checkbox I accept the above and then click the Download this file button.
Finally, enter the Captcha and click the Go button.
Wait for the file to be downloaded and if required, select the location on disk to save the file. (This will depend on the browser being used.)
Open a File Explorer and browse to the downloaded file. If the downloaded file is executable (EXE file extension), simply double-click the file to execute the driver installation and follow the on-screen instructions.
If the downloaded file is an archive (ZIP file extension), right-click the file and select Extract All in the context menu.
Select the location where to extract the files, and then click the Extract button.

Note: The default suggestion is okay in general, as it is a subfolder of the file’s current location.
Double-click the subfolder in the opened File Explorer
Now locate the setup.exe file in the subfolder and double-click it to execute the driver installation process. Follow the instructions on screen.

With the above instructions, you can download and install updated Realtek Bluetooth drivers for Windows. This should solve any issues you have with Realtek Bluetooth not working in Windows 11.