Easel Connectivity Troubleshooting

This article covers every common reason a CNC machine won't connect to Easel, and how to fix it. Find the problem you're seeing, then follow the steps under it.

Setting up for the first time? Start with Machine Won't Connect (Windows) or Machine Won't Connect (macOS).

Quick answer

• Easel connects to your machine from your browser using Web Serial, shown in Easel as Quick Connect. It works in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera, with nothing to install.
• The Easel Driver is a program you install on your computer. Use it only if your machine won't connect with Web Serial, or if you want it to reconnect automatically every time.
• Web Serial and the Easel Driver can't be used at the same time. If the driver is installed, Easel uses the driver.
• Your browser must allow Easel to find devices on your local network for either connection to work.
• Only one tab or program can use your machine at a time.

Problems in this article

• Easel shows "You're ready to connect" but I use the Easel Driver
• Easel keeps asking me to install the Easel Driver
• There's no Connect machine button
• My machine isn't in the device list, or my computer can't see it
• Easel says "We can't find your machine automatically"
• I chose the wrong device
• The connection drops, or the machine doesn't respond
• My machine asks me to reconnect every time
• Can I use a Chromebook?
• Installing, updating or uninstalling the Easel Driver

Easel shows "You're ready to connect" but I use the Easel Driver

When you click Carve, Easel opens with Web Serial by default and shows You're ready to connect. This can happen even if the Easel Driver is already installed.

To use the Easel Driver, click Install driver (2) under Prefer the Easel Driver? If the driver is already installed, this switches Easel to the driver connection. You don't need to install it again.

To use Web Serial instead, click Connect machine (1). If you have the Easel Driver installed, uninstall it first. See Uninstalling the Easel Driver.

Easel keeps asking me to install the Easel Driver

Try these in order:

1. Allow Easel to find devices on your network

Your browser must give Easel permission to connect. When your browser shows easel.com wants to look for and connect to any device on your local network, click Allow (1).

If you blocked or closed the prompt:

1. Click the icon to the left of the Easel address in your address bar (1).
2. Turn on Local network access (2).
3. Refresh Easel and try again.

If the setting won't turn on, click Reset permission (3), refresh Easel and click Allow when the prompt appears again.

2. Restart your computer

The driver may not have fully started after you installed it. Restart your computer, open Easel and click Carve.

3. Check your DNS settings

Your internet provider's DNS service may block Easel from reaching the driver. In your computer's network settings, change your DNS server to a public one, such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4). For steps, see Google's guide: Get started with Google Public DNS.

4. Use Web Serial instead

If the driver still isn't found, uninstall it and connect with Web Serial. See Uninstalling the Easel Driver.

There's no Connect machine button

• Make sure you're using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera.
• Make sure the Easel Driver isn't installed. On Windows, look for an EaselLocal folder on your C: drive. On a Mac, look for an Easel folder in /Library. If you find one, the driver is installed.

My machine isn't in the device list, or my computer can't see it

Check the basics

• Turn on your machine and release the emergency stop.
• Plug your machine straight into your computer, not through a hub.
• Try a different USB port, then a different cable. Some cables only charge devices and can't carry data.

On Windows: check Device Manager

1. Open Device Manager. Search for it, or right-click the Start button and choose it.
2. Open Ports (COM & LPT) and look for an entry like USB Serial Port (COM6) (1).

• Your machine is listed: Windows can see it. Go to We can't find your machine automatically if Easel still can't connect.
• Your machine is under Other devices with a yellow warning icon: install the FTDI driver. See Installing the FTDI driver (Windows).
• Nothing is listed: check the basics again.

Installing the FTDI driver (Windows)

The FTDI driver lets Windows talk to your machine's controller. It's different from the Easel Driver.

1. Download the driver from the FTDI VCP drivers page.
2. Open your Downloads folder. Right-click the ZIP file and choose Extract All.
3. Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Open Device Manager and check that your machine is listed under Ports (COM & LPT).

Windows computers with ARM processors

Some computers, like certain Surface models and thin laptops, use an ARM processor. To check, open Settings > System > About and look at System type. These computers need the ARM64 FTDI driver, which you install by hand.

1. Download the ARM64 driver package from the FTDI VCP drivers page.
2. Right-click the ZIP file and choose Extract All.
3. In the extracted folder, right-click ftdibus.inf and choose Install.
4. Right-click ftdiport.inf and choose Install.
5. If Windows asks for permission, click Yes.

On a Mac: check System Information

1. Hold the Option key, click the Apple menu and choose System Information.
2. Click USB in the sidebar.
3. Plug in your machine. A new device, usually named something like USB Serial, should appear.

If your machine appears but still won't connect, an old driver may be blocking it:

1. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, type /Library/Extensions and press Return.
2. Look for files named like WacomTablet.kext, FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext or FTDIKext.kext.
3. Drag them to the Trash, empty the Trash and restart your Mac.

Easel says "We can't find your machine automatically"

• Make sure your machine is on and the emergency stop is released.
• Close any other Easel tabs, and software like UGS or Candle. Only one tab or program can use your machine at a time.

If you use the Easel Driver on Windows, tell Easel which COM port to use:

1. Find your machine's COM number in Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT). Not sure which entry it is? Unplug the USB cable and plug it back in. The entry that disappears and comes back is your machine.
2. In Easel, click Carve, then Enter COM port manually.
3. Enter the number and click Confirm. For example, for COM3, enter 3.

I chose the wrong device

Click Carve again to reopen the device list and choose your machine. If Easel keeps connecting to the wrong device, click the icon to the left of the Easel address in your address bar, remove the device from the list, then refresh Easel and try again.

The connection drops, or the machine doesn't respond

• Machine connects but doesn't respond: another program may be using the port. Close software like UGS or Candle, and any other Easel tabs.
• Connection drops during a carve: use a shorter, shielded USB cable, don't use an unpowered hub, and keep the cable away from spindle and motor wires.
• On Windows: turn off USB selective suspend so Windows doesn't turn off the port to save power. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > USB settings > USB selective suspend setting > Disabled.

My machine asks me to reconnect every time

With Web Serial, some machines reconnect on their own and others ask you to choose them each time you plug them in. This depends on whether your machine has a serial number. To connect automatically every time, use the Easel Driver. See Installing, updating or uninstalling the Easel Driver.

Can I use a Chromebook?

Yes. You can't install the Easel Driver on a Chromebook, but Web Serial works in Chrome. Click Carve, then Connect machine, and choose your machine from the list.

Installing, updating or uninstalling the Easel Driver

Installing or updating

1. Click Carve, then Install driver under Prefer the Easel Driver? You can also download it from easel.com/downloads.
2. Windows: right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator. If you see a security warning, click More info, then Run anyway.
   Mac: open the .pkg file and enter your Mac password when asked.
3. Follow the installer's steps, then restart your computer.
4. Open Easel and click Carve.

Uninstalling the Easel Driver

Close Easel first.

Windows:

1. Open File Explorer and go to This PC > C: > EaselLocal.
2. Double-click unins000.exe and follow the steps.
3. Optional: delete the leftover iris.out and iris.error files.
4. Restart your computer.

Mac:

1. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, type /Library and press Return.
2. Drag the Easel folder to the Trash.
3. Empty the Trash and restart your Mac.

If you see an error on a Mac, open Terminal and run these commands one at a time:

sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Iris.Iris.plist
sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Iris.Iris.plist
sudo rm -fr /Library/Easel

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Easel Driver?

No. Most machines connect with Web Serial. Only install the Easel Driver if Web Serial doesn't work, or if you want automatic reconnecting.

What's the difference between the Easel Driver and the FTDI driver?

The FTDI driver lets your computer talk to your machine's controller, and Windows sometimes needs it for either connection. The Easel Driver is Easel's own program for connecting without Web Serial.

Which browsers work with Web Serial?

Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Can I switch between Web Serial and the Easel Driver?

Yes. To use the driver, click Install driver on the You're ready to connect screen. To go back to Web Serial, uninstall the driver and restart your computer.

Still need help?

Submit a request and include:

• Your machine's make and model
• Your browser and operating system version
• Whether you're connecting with Web Serial or the Easel Driver
• A screenshot of Device Manager (Windows) or System Information > USB (Mac) with your machine plugged in