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Find the Process Holding a Port

If a device is plugged in but the port cannot be opened, another program usually got there first. This page shows how to locate the owner and monitor it directly, without closing that program.

1 Pick the port​

Select the target COM port in the main window. The list reflects ports the system can enumerate; reopen the dropdown if a device was just plugged in.

2 Look up the owner​

Choose "look up by COM"; the program lists the processes currently holding a handle to that port.

ResultWhat to do
One processSelect and inject
Several processesJudge by name and path, then monitor one or all of them
NoneThe port is free; wait for it to be opened

3 Inject and monitor​

Start monitoring after selecting the process. If the target has not started transferring yet, enable wait-for-open: the injection stays ready and recording begins the moment the port opens.

Notes​

  • A monitoring session ends when the target exits; select it again to resume;
  • Injection requires administrator rights; "look up by COM" is unavailable without them;
  • On 64-bit Windows monitoring a 32-bit program uses the x86 component automatically.

See also: Quick Start, Reference Overview.