How to Update the Ancel VD500

If you’ve been proudly using your Ancel VD500 diagnostic scanner for some time now, you may have just realized you’ve never updated its firmware before. If you log into Ancel and you find that there is in fact a new update to download for your device, great! You are ready to get the most up to date version.

However, if you’re confused on what exactly you need to do to get your VD500 updated to the latest available version, follow all of the instructions below and your code reader will be up to date in no time.

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Download the Firmware Update from Ancel

The first thing you need to do is find the specific firmware files from an official Ancel source. You can find the page for updating the Ancel VD500 right here. It’s a small package so don’t worry about it taking up much space at all.

Extract the Firmware Files to your Computer Desktop

Once the files are downloaded, you will need to open up the compressed zip file and access the folder inside. You will need to use an unzip tool such as Winrar or 7zip to do so.

Once you can see the Update folder, extract it to an accessible location on your computer, preferably your desktop. The extraction process will only take a few seconds.

Update your Computer’s Drivers if Necessary

Though this step is optional, you may need to update your drivers depending on how old your computer and its operating software is. If you are using Windows 7 or Windows 8, there’s a high chance you will need to update your drivers. Feel free to try updating them if you are using Windows 9 or Windows 10 just to be safe.

Inside the Update folder will be a subfolder called Drivers. Inside, click on the file called “install_driver.bat” to have the new files installed.

Begin the Update Installation Process

Now you can connect your Ancel VD500 scanner to your computer via the included USB port. Your VD500 should give you a prompt if it recognizes that the correct drivers are installed. The screen of the Ancel VD500 should say “Please perform related operations on your computer” if the connection is valid.

Now click on the Update.exe file. A new window will pop up, and prompt you to install the files on your Ancel VD500. Click on “update” to begin.

The process should only take about one or two minutes to complete. Depending on your computer and its security settings, Windows may provide you with a security permissions prompt asking for your authorization. Feel free to pick yes to allow the installation to continue.

Make sure not to disconnect your Ancel VD500 during this process. The screen of your car scanner should read “Keep USB connected! Processing...” if the process is being done properly.

Related Reading: How To Update Ancel AD310

Once the process is done, you can close the window, delete the files from your desktop and unplug your Ancel VD500. You’re now done! Your Ancel ODB scanner has been updated with the latest software.

What Should I do if My Ancel VD500 won’t Connect to My Computer?

There are some issues that cause the VD500 to not recognize that it’s plugged into a computer. If this should happen to you, try out the simple troubleshooting tips before moving onto the longer ones.

Try using different USB ports or USB cables and see if that solves the issue. Some devices will only work with certain ports as USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 have been known to have some minor compatibility issues.

Another solution you can try is running the driver or the update executable as administrator. Right-click on the files and select “Run as Administrator” from the dropdown menu.

If none of these have worked, your next best bet will be to manually install the installation drivers yourself. This is an issue more likely to occur with people using older operating systems, such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.

First, head over to My Computer and then select Manage. From here, you will want to go to Device Manager.

You should now see a list of devices in the center of the screen. You need to look for the unknown device that your computer can’t recognize as the Ancel VD500. If the Ancel VD500 is already plugged into your computer, unplug it. Now immediately plug it back in and look for the unknown device that pops up on the list seconds after you’ve plugged it in. It should be named something like “Unknown USB Device.”

You will need to right-click on the Unknown USB Device so you can manually add the drivers to make it a known device. After right-clicking, select Update Driver Software from the menu.

Next, you’ll see a window with the option “Browse my computer for drivers”. Scroll to your desktop where you have downloaded and extracted the Update folder. Go into the Drivers subfolder and select that. You can now click add, and your computer should now manually add these drivers, allowing your Ancel VD500 to finally become a recognized USB device.

Once your VD500 is recognized, you may now go back to the previous installation instructions above and continue with adding the new firmware software.

Lifetime Updates for Any Ancel Device

Like other Ancel code engine readers and ODB2 scanners, the Ancel VD500 is subject to lifetime free firmware updates, allowing you to keep your VD500 for years and years. Be sure to check back in with the official ancel obd scanner website at least once a year to see if there are any new free updates. This will help make sure your Ancel VD500 will always be in its best possible shape.

Conclusion

It’s important to keep your Ancel VD500 up to date. And it’s not hard to do so if you simply follow the steps above when new updates are available. It’s not something you need to do every month, but it’s a good idea to check for updates periodically in case newer and better versions are available.

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