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The right Windows virtual COM port software depends on what you need to connect: two local applications, a physical serial port and another endpoint, or remote serial hardware over a network. For local app-to-app testing, use a virtual null-modem pair such as com0com; for configurable pairs and routing, consider Eltima Virtual Serial Port Driver; for network access to serial hardware, assess HW VSP3 or Eltima Serial Port Redirector. If you only need to use an existing local COM port inside an Azure Virtual Desktop session, Windows Remote Desktop redirection may be enough.
Choose software by the connection you need
“Virtual COM port software” covers several different jobs. A local virtual pair connects two software endpoints. Port-routing software connects or shares ports. Serial-over-network software maps a Windows COM port to hardware elsewhere. These are not interchangeable, and a virtual pair does not automatically emulate a device’s protocol.
| Option | Best fit | What the source establishes | Check before installing |
|---|---|---|---|
| com0com | Local virtual null-modem pair | The project describes a GPL-licensed kernel-mode driver for connecting two COM-port applications, or an application and a device emulator. com0com project. | Current Windows release support, driver installation and signing behavior, and COM naming requirements. |
| Eltima Virtual Serial Port Driver | Configurable virtual pairs and port routing | The vendor documents virtual pairs, serial settings and control lines, plus forwarding between real and virtual ports. Its page lists a 14-day fully functional trial and a starting price of $89.95. Product page. | Edition-specific features, current price, Windows and driver compatibility, and license terms. |
| HW VSP3 | Mapping a Windows COM port to supported remote serial hardware | HW group describes TCP/IP redirection. Its catalog lists Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016 for HW VSP3 Single; Multi is described as supporting up to 254 remote serial ports on HW group products only. HW VSP3 catalog entry. | Current Windows support, the exact device, Single versus Multi scope, and network behavior. |
| Eltima Serial Port Redirector | Remote serial access over network or remote-session protocols | The vendor lists TCP, UDP, RDP, and Citrix support, a 14-day trial, version 9.0.1288 dated 13 May 2026, and a starting price of $259.95. Product page. | Current price and release, supported configuration, licensing, and network security exposure. |
| Microsoft serial/COM redirection | Using an existing serial port in an Azure Virtual Desktop session | Microsoft documents serial/COM port redirection over RDP. Microsoft Learn configuration guide. | That the local port exists and that client, session, and host-pool settings permit redirection. |
The cited product details are vendor- or project-published, not independent performance or reliability comparisons. No common benchmark establishes a universal “best” choice.
How do I create a virtual COM port in Windows?
First decide whether you need a pair on one PC or a COM-port mapping to a real or remote device. For a pair, install a virtual null-modem driver; for remote hardware, use software designed to redirect serial traffic over a network. Windows Remote Desktop redirection serves a different purpose: it presents an existing port in a supported remote session rather than creating an arbitrary local pair.
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Before setup, confirm the software supports your Windows release and CPU architecture, whether it requires administrator privileges or a particular driver-signing policy, how it assigns COM names, and whether your application needs specific baud-rate, handshake, or control-line behavior. Those details can determine whether a port appears and whether the target application can use it.
How do I connect two programs through virtual serial ports?
Create a virtual null-modem pair, then configure each application to open one endpoint of the pair. Data written to one side is passed to the other, so one program can act as the sender and the second as the receiver. com0com describes this app-to-app use and also a setup in which one endpoint connects to a device-emulation program.
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The pair supplies a serial connection, not the device behavior or application protocol. If the program expects a specific instrument, modem, or controller, you still need an emulator that implements the commands and responses it expects. Verify that both applications can open their assigned ports at the same time and agree on serial settings.
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How can I access a serial device over Ethernet as a COM port?
Use a serial-over-network solution when the hardware is physically attached to a networked serial interface rather than the local PC. HW VSP3 is described as creating a Windows virtual COM port and redirecting traffic over TCP/IP to a remote hardware interface. Its cited catalog limits Multi mode to HW group products and describes a maximum of 254 remote serial ports; that figure is a vendor-stated product capability, not a general Windows limit.
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Eltima Serial Port Redirector is another vendor-described option, with TCP, UDP, RDP, and Citrix listed on its product page. Match the software’s supported protocol and configuration to the remote device and network. For any network path, account for access controls and exposure of the serial service rather than assuming a virtual COM mapping makes the connection secure.
Does Windows 11 have virtual COM ports built in?
The cited Microsoft documentation covers serial/COM redirection over RDP for Azure Virtual Desktop, not general-purpose creation of local virtual COM pairs. The cited HW VSP3 catalog lists Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016 for its Single mode, but does not establish Windows 11 compatibility. The com0com project page cited here does not establish current Windows 11 compatibility either.
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Eltima Virtual Serial Port Driver’s vendor page lists Windows 11 among its supported systems, along with Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022, and Windows on ARM; confirm current support and the specific edition before purchase or deployment. Vendor compatibility listings are not independent installation tests.
Which virtual COM port software works with my serial device?
Use the device’s connection path and requirements to narrow the choice:
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- Two applications on one PC: a virtual null-modem pair is the relevant topology; com0com is the focused open-source option described here.
- A local physical port that must be routed or paired with a virtual endpoint: examine routing features and real-port support. Eltima Virtual Serial Port Driver documents real/virtual forwarding, serial settings, and signal-line support including DTR/DSR/CTS/RTS/DCD/RI; the vendor notes that edition differences apply.
- Serial hardware elsewhere on a TCP/IP network: check whether the selected software supports the exact remote interface and whether its Windows support matches your PC. HW VSP3’s cited catalog specifies HW group equipment for Multi mode.
- A local port inside a remote desktop session: check Microsoft’s serial redirection configuration and the policies for your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
- A computer without a physical serial connector: a USB-to-RS-232 adapter may provide a real serial interface, but it is not a virtual-pair driver. Check the adapter’s chipset driver, connector, serial standard, and device compatibility.
For production use, validate the full chain with the target application and hardware. Check port naming constraints, baud-rate behavior, handshake and control lines, driver installation policy, licensing, and how the connection behaves after a reboot or network interruption. Current Windows 11 driver compatibility, security review, and long-term reliability are not established by the cited sources.
What the listed editions and prices mean
The Eltima product pages give time-sensitive vendor details. Virtual Serial Port Driver’s cited page identifies version 11.0.1096, released 3 August 2026, a 14-day fully functional trial, and pricing starting at $89.95. Serial Port Redirector’s cited page identifies version 9.0.1288, released 13 May 2026, a 14-day trial, and pricing starting at $259.95. Check the linked pages for current versions, prices, and license terms; starting prices do not establish the cost of every edition or configuration.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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