# Xbee3 Thing Plus not showing as COM Port

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/xbee3-thing-plus-not-showing-as-com-port/69282>\
**Category:** ESP32\
**Tags:** xbee\
**Created:** [July 23, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/xbee3-thing-plus-not-showing-as-com-port/69282 "2026-07-23T15:49:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cary\_Hutchinson](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/cary_hutchinson/32/13044_2.png) [@Cary\_Hutchinson](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Cary_Hutchinson)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/xbee3-thing-plus-not-showing-as-com-port/69282/1 "2026-07-23T15:49:17Z")

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I am trying to setup the Xbee3 Thing Plus and hitting many walls. I am using Windows 11. I have installed the drivers and still do not see the board as a Com Port in the Device Manager. It shows up an Other Device CP2102N USB to UART Bridge Controller. Is there a fix for this?

This worked:

The **CP210x Universal Windows Driver** from **Silicon Labs** does not include an `.exe` file. Instead, it uses an `.inf` setup file to install the `.sys` driver directly into Windows.

Make sure you have fully **extracted the ZIP file** before attempting these steps, as installing directly from an unextracted folder will fail. [[1](https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsOnDeck/comments/126mi7v/cant_install_inf_on_windows_11_no_matter_what/)]

**Method 1: Right-Click Installation (Easiest)**

1. Open the extracted folder and look for the file named **`silabser.inf`** (it may just look like `silabser` with a gear or page icon).
2. Right-click **`silabser.inf`**
3. Click **Install**.
  - _Note for Windows 11:_ You must click **Show more options** at the bottom of the right-click menu first to see the **Install** button

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![brow](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/brow/32/6116_2.png) [@brow](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/brow)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/xbee3-thing-plus-not-showing-as-com-port/69282/2 "2026-07-23T19:23:15Z")

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I’ve had more than average problems with that uart & driver on other devices. I recall them installing ok in Win but the UART getting confused on the Port assignment. I haven’t tried the Thing Plus but my Xbee2/3s and XCTU use have always been ultrareliable.