Before downloading anything, you identify the actual chip inside your adapter. Gigaware didn’t manufacture chips; they rebranded existing ones. The two most common are:
Before diving into the fix, it helps to understand why this is an issue.
Before you download any driver, you must understand the hardware. Gigaware did not manufacture its own chipsets. Like almost every other budget adapter (from Sabrent, Plugable, or Startech), Gigaware rebranded existing silicon. The vast majority of Gigaware USB-to-Serial adapters use one of two chipsets: gigaware usb to serial driver windows 10 64 bit
Windows 10 is generally excellent at automatically detecting hardware. However, it often fails with these specific adapters for two reasons:
The reason is simple: Microsoft updated the driver signing requirements for 64-bit versions of Windows 10. The original drivers that shipped with the Gigaware adapter (typically based on the or less commonly, a Silicon Labs CP210x chipset) are outdated, unsigned, or incompatible. Before downloading anything, you identify the actual chip
This article was last updated for Windows 10 64-bit Version 22H2 (Build 19045). Driver recommendations may change as Microsoft tightens security policies.
The Gigaware adapter typically uses a Prolific PL2303 chipset. The main hurdle for Windows 10 users is that newer Prolific drivers often block older "cloned" or "End-of-Life" chips, resulting in the infamous "Code 10" error in Device Manager. To make this device work on a 64-bit architecture, users must bypass the latest Windows Update versions in favor of a specific legacy driver. Finding the Right Driver Before you download any driver, you must understand
For Windows 10 64-bit, the most reliable version is often or earlier. These older versions do not include the hardware-check signatures that disable older chip versions. Search for: "Prolific PL2303 Driver 3.3.2.102 Windows 10."