HHD Virtual Serial Port Tools

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 5 views

Introduction

As a developer, having multiple Serial Monitor panels open simultaneously can be a game-changer when working with embedded devices or testing serial communication protocols. However, in VS Code, there seems to be a limitation that prevents users from opening more than three Serial Monitor windows. In this article, we will delve into the issue, explore possible causes, and discuss potential solutions to remove this restriction.

Describe the Bug

OS and Version

Windows 11 Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.3476): The operating system being used.
VS Code Version 1.98.1: The version of Visual Studio Code installed.
Serial Monitor Extension Version 0.13.1: The version of the Serial Monitor extension installed.

Target Embedded Device

None: No specific embedded device is being targeted.

Other Extensions

A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

When attempting to open a fourth Serial Monitor window in VS Code using the "Open an additional monitor" button, an error message appears:

"🚨 No serial monitors are available to start monitoring a port. Only 3 can be opened at one time.
Source: Serial Monitor"

Initially, I had COM2 ~ COM5 created as virtual serial ports using HHD Virtual Serial Port Tools, and encountered this issue while trying to open a fourth Serial Monitor window. To verify if the issue was related to the presence of virtual COM ports, I deleted all virtual ports and restored the system to its initial state. However, even after resetting the system, the issue still persists.

It seems that the current limitation allows only three Serial Monitor windows to be open simultaneously. However, I would like to open more than three and believe this restriction should be configurable or removed.

To Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce the Behavior

Open VS Code: Launch Visual Studio Code on your system.
Install and enable the Serial Monitor extension: If not already installed, install and enable the Serial Monitor extension in VS Code.
Create virtual serial ports (optional): Create virtual serial ports COM2 ~ COM5 using HHD Virtual Serial Port Tools (if desired).
Open three Serial Monitor windows: Open three Serial Monitor windows in VS Code.
Click "Open an additional monitor": Attempt to open a fourth Serial Monitor window by clicking the "Open an additional monitor" button.
Observe the error message: Observe the error message preventing additional Serial Monitors from being opened.
Even after removing all virtual serial ports and restarting VS Code, the issue persists: Even after removing all virtual serial ports and restarting VS Code, the issue still persists.

Expected Behavior

4th, 5th, ... nth Serial monitor must be opened: The expected behavior is to be able to open multiple Serial Monitor windows simultaneously.

Code Sample and Logs

Code sample: No code sample is provided as this is a bug report.
launch.json: No launch.json file is provided as this is a bug report.

Screenshots

No screenshots are provided as this is a bug report.

Additional Context

Provide any other context about the problem: This issue seems to be related to the Serial Monitor extension in VS Code, and it's not clear why there's a limitation on the number of Serial Monitor windows that can be opened simultaneously.

Conclusion

Q: What is the current limitation in VS Code's Serial Monitor extension?

A: The current limitation in VS Code's Serial Monitor extension allows only three Serial Monitor windows to be open simultaneously.

Q: Why is there a limitation on the number of Serial Monitor windows that can be opened?

A: The reason for this limitation is not clear, but it may be related to the way the Serial Monitor extension is designed or implemented.

Q: Can I open more than three Serial Monitor windows if I remove all virtual serial ports?

A: Unfortunately, even after removing all virtual serial ports and restarting VS Code, the issue still persists.

Q: Is this issue specific to the Serial Monitor extension or a general issue with VS Code?

A: This issue seems to be specific to the Serial Monitor extension in VS Code, but it's not clear if it's a bug or a design limitation.

Q: Can I configure the Serial Monitor extension to allow for multiple Serial Monitor windows to be opened?

A: Currently, there is no option to configure the Serial Monitor extension to allow for multiple Serial Monitor windows to be opened.

Q: What are the potential consequences of this limitation?

A: The limitation on the number of Serial Monitor windows that can be opened may cause inconvenience for developers working with embedded devices or testing serial communication protocols.

Q: Can I report this issue to the VS Code team?

A: Yes, you can report this issue to the VS Code team through the Visual Studio Developer Community at https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/home.

Q: Are there any workarounds or alternative solutions to this issue?

A: Unfortunately, there are no known workarounds or alternative solutions to this issue.

Q: Will this issue be fixed in future updates of the Serial Monitor extension?

A: It's not clear if this issue will be fixed in future updates of the Serial Monitor extension, but it's recommended to keep an eye on the extension's changelog and documentation for any updates.

Q: Can I contribute to the development of the Serial Monitor extension to fix this issue?

A: Yes, you can contribute to the development of the Serial Monitor extension by reporting the issue, providing feedback, and even contributing code to fix the issue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current limitation in VS Code's Serial Monitor extension prevents users from opening more than three Serial Monitor windows simultaneously. This can be a significant limitation for developers working with embedded devices or testing serial communication protocols. We hope that this FAQ article has provided helpful information and answers to your questions about this issue.