If you have issues connecting your OBDLink® EX wired adapter to your laptop or tablet, try the steps in this article to resolve the problem.
This article contains the following sections:
Get started with your OBDLink EX adapter on Windows
The OBDLink EX adapter has a Quick Start Guide (QSG) available on our website: OBDLink EX adapter
The basic QSG steps are repeated here for convenience.
- Download and install one of the following apps:
- OBDwiz: obdwiz.app
- FORScan: forscan.app
- Connect the OBDLink EX adapter to your laptop or tablet.
The LED will turn yellow when you connect the adapter to a USB port on your laptop/tablet.
Note: If the LED is red, then the drivers were not installed properly. Skip to the Install adapter driver section. - Plug your adapter into the OBD port in your vehicle.
In most cases, the OBD port is in the driver’s side footwell, below the steering wheel.
The LED will turn green when the adapter is ready to use. - Start your vehicle engine.
- Launch the app you installed in step 1. Click the Connect button in the app.
Your OBDLink EX adapter is ready to use. For step-by-step details for using your adapter with your vehicle and the OBDwiz app, including viewing gauges and checking diagnostics, see the article: Get Started with Your OBDLink® Adapter (Windows)
Install adapter driver
If the LED on your OBDLink EX adapter is red or Windows is not recognizing the adapter correctly, the correct driver may not be installed on your laptop/tablet. Follow the steps below to install the correct driver.
- Verify which processor your laptop/tablet uses.
On your laptop/tablet, navigate to: Settings > System > About > Processor
Confirm whether your laptop/tablet uses an Intel, AMD, or Snapdragon/ARM processor. - If your laptop/tablet uses an Intel or AMD processor, you need to install and use the standard Windows FTDI VCP driver.
Select and install the correct driver from the FTDI VCP Driver page: https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers - If your laptop/tablet uses a Snapdragon/ARM64 processor, you must manually install the ARM64 FTDI driver instead of using the standard x64 installer.
Download the FTDI ARM64 Universal driver:
https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CDM-v2.12.36.20-Universal-Driver-for-ARM64-WHQL-Certified.zip
Follow the manual installation instructions in Section 3.3 of this FTDI installation guide to complete the installation:
https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AN_396-FTDI-Drivers-Installation-Guide-for-Windows-10_11.pdf
Note: FTDI specifically states that the ARM64 drivers can’t be installed using the normal setup executable.
After you install the driver, go back to Step 2 in the Get started with your OBDLink EX adapter on Windows section above and connect the OBDLink EX adapter to your laptop or tablet.
If the driver does not install correctly or you have other connection issues, Submit a Support Ticket and include this information:
- Your computer make/model
- Windows version number
- Processor type: Intel, AMD, or Snapdragon/ARM
- What color the OBDLink EX adapter LED shows when connected by USB only
- Whether the LED changes color or not when connected to your vehicle
Learn more
- For step-by-step details for using your adapter with your vehicle and the OBDwiz app, including viewing gauges and checking diagnostics, see the article: Get Started with Your OBDLink® Adapter (Windows)
- You can explore other OBDLink features and functionality using our support article knowledge base.
- For descriptions of terms used in this article, see the Glossary of Acronyms and Terms.
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