How-to: set up ELM327 USB, WiFi and Bluetooth OBD2 scanner software on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 separately.
*Don’t test on all ELM327 adapters. You are at your risk.
Content including:
Guide for Installing ELM327 USB on Windows
Guide for Installing ELM327 WiFi on Windows
Guide for Installing ELM327 Bluetooth on Windows
Guide for Installing ELM327 USB on Windows
(Cable should NOT be connected to your laptop yet. Only connect it when instructions say so.)
Windows XP, Vista, Win7:
If you bought genuine ELM327 cable v2.1 like image below
— then you only need to install DRIVER PACK 3. After install — go straight to Step 2 to test if it’s working.
If you bought ELM327 cable from elsewhere (clones, eBay, other manufacturers) then install all Driver Packs below, because they cover widest range of chip makers…
- DRIVER PACK 1 Steps to install Driver Pack 1:
- If you have 64-bit Windows, double-click on: CP210xVCPInstaller_x64
- If you have 32-bit Windows, double-click on: CP210xVCPInstaller_x86
- DRIVER PACK 2
- DRIVER PACK 3
- DRIVER PACK 4
That’s it!
Go to Step 2 below to test if everything is working ok…
Windows 8, 10:
If you bought genuine ELM327 cable like this,
then you only need to install DRIVER PACK 3. Then go straight to Step 2 to test it’s working ok.
If you bought ELM327 cable from elsewhere (clones, eBay, other manufacturers) then install all Driver Packs below, because they cover widest range of chip makers…
- DRIVER PACK 1 Steps to install Driver Pack 1:
- If you have 64-bit Windows, double-click on: CP210xVCPInstaller_x64
- If you have 32-bit Windows, double-click on: CP210xVCPInstaller_x86
- DRIVER PACK 2
- DRIVER PACK 3
- DRIVER PACK 4
- DRIVER PACK 5 Most Important!
Steps to install Driver Pack 5:
- Please FIRST move the unextracted folder to your Desktop, else below #2 step won’t show “Install” option.
- Right-click on “ser2pl” (icon has a little gear pic in it) and choose “Install”, as per below pic:
-
- Connect ELM327 cable to your laptop. Then…Go to: Control Panel » System » Device Manager » Ports (COM & LPT)
You will likely see a yellow mark next to “Prolific”, like this:
Win8 Prolific 2
Right-click on it » Update Driver Software
- Click “Browse my computer for driver software”.
- Select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.
- UNcheck “Show compatible hardware“.
- Select: Prolific driver version 3.3.2.102
- Install. That’s it! The yellow triangle next to “Prolific…” should be gone.
- Connect ELM327 cable to your laptop. Then…Go to: Control Panel » System » Device Manager » Ports (COM & LPT)
That’s it!
Go to Step 2 below to test if everything is working ok…
(You can now CONNECT your ELM327 USB cable to any port on the laptop.)
Ok, we’re almost ready to start scanning your vehicle.
First, let’s ensure that everything is working fine!
Here’s how..
Step 1: Access Device Manager
Windows Vista/7/8/10: Control Panel » System » Device Manager
Windows XP: Control Panel » System » “Hardware” tab » Device Manager
Notice any device with any one of the following names:
- FT232R USB UART
- Prolific USB-to-Serial…
- USB Serial Port
- USB2.0-Serial
- Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge
NONE of above devices should have a yellow mark next to them.
If none of the above has a yellow mark, then congratulations! You’re ready to begin scanning your car(s).
If any one of above devices has a yellow mark, then:
- Right-click on that device » Uninstall
- Unplug cable
- Restart PC
- Download and unextract DRIVER PACK 6
- Double-click on “InstallUSB” to install
- Connect cable to laptop. Yellow mark should now be gone. Success!If yellow mark is STILL not gone after doing 1-6 above, then do this:
a) While cable is plugged in, right-click on device with the yellow mark.
b) Click on: Update Driver Software
c) Choose: Browser my computer for driver software
d) Browse to and select folder where you unextracted Driver Pack 6. Make sure “Include subfolders” is ticked ON.
e) Click on: Next
f) If you get RED warning, choose: Install this driver software anyway
g) After it installs successfully, another yellow mark may appear under “Other Device”. Eg:Yellow Mark Other Devices Elm327
h) If g above is true, then do steps a-f for “Unknown Device”. It may also show as “COMx”.
Step 1: Install your OBD2 software Do NOT launch it yet.
Step 2: Connect ELM327 USB to your computer and car’s OBD port (usually underneat dashboard/steering wheel).
Step 3: Place the key in the ignition and turn it forward to “ON” position. (Position where all dashboard lights are on. This is one position before engine starts.)
Step 4: Start your OBD diagnostic software. Click “Connect“, and it should auto-connect to your vehicle. That’s it!
Guide for Installing ELM327 WiFi on Windows
This guide explains how to connect ELM327 WIFI scanner to Windows.
Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10:
- Plug ELM327 WIFI Scanner into vehicle’s OBD2 port. (Port is usually found on the driver side dashboard under the steering wheel.)
- Turn ON ignition. (This is one step before engine is powered.)
- Inside Windows WIFI manager — connect to Wi-Fi signal with name similar to these examples: WIFI ELM327, WiFiOBD, OBDDevice, V-Link.NOTE: It can take up to 30 seconds for WIFI signal to show.
Password to connect to WIFI: 12345678
- Launch your OBD Software.
- Go to software Settings and configure it to look for WIFI. (It’s usually set to USB or Bluetooth).
- Configure WIFI IP Address to 192.168.0.11 (or 192.168.0.10) and Port to 35000. (Or number that sellers/manufacturers page has stated. Check their website where you bought your WIFI ELM327.)
- Software should now successfully connect to your vehicle.
Windows XP:
- Plug ELM327 WIFI Scanner into vehicle’s OBD2 port. (Port is usually found on the driver side dashboard under the steering wheel.)
- Turn ON ignition. (This is one step before engine is powered.)
- Inside Windows WIFI manager — connect to Wi-Fi signal with name similar to these examples: WIFI ELM327, WiFiOBD, OBDDevice, V-Link.NOTE: It can take up to 30 seconds to WIFI signal to show.
Password to connect to WIFI: 12345678
Once you’ve connected, right-click on the WIFI signal and click “Status”. The following window will appear:
Click on “Properties”.
Guide for Installing ELM327 Bluetooth on Windows
how to pair ELM327 Bluetooth scanner on your Windows system. (Instructions for MAC users).
STEP 1: Plug Bluetooth into Car’s OBD Port
Car’s OBD port is usually found on the driver side dashboard under the steering wheel…
STEP 2: Turn ON Car Ignition
This is one step before engine is powered.
STEP 3: Add and Pair ELM327 Bluetooth to Windows
Right click on Bluetooth icon in task manager > Add a Device
Bluetooth Add Device
Select ELM327 Bluetooth device. It’ll come under different names like: OBDII, OBD-II, VLink, Can OBDII, etc.
NOTE: It can take up to 15 seconds for Bluetooth signal to show.
SIGNAL NOT SHOWING?
- If signal does NOT show, then exit the screen. Disconnect ELM327 Bluetooth from car. Then insert it again into car’s port, and do another “Add a Device”.
- If signal STILL doesn’t show, then restart computer, and do another “Add a Device”. Repeat these suggestions in variations until signal eventually shows. Because as long as the red Power light is lit on the ELM327 Bluetooth device, it means it’s physically working, and MUST be detected.
- WORD OF CAUTION: Any attempt to detect ELM327 Bluetooth after pairing it for the FIRST time — may NOT show inside “Add a Device” anymore. In this case, it’s found inside “Show Bluetooth Devices”.
When you see list of pairing options like this:
(For Windows XP users, your option will be: Use the passkey found in the documentation)
Enter the pairing code:
Pair code: 1234
If above doesn’t pair, then: 0000
STEP 4: Launch OBD Software and Connect to Vehicle
Launch OBD Software.
Click “Connect” and it should automatically detect ELM327 Bluetooth device, and connect to car’s ECU.
