How to get USB/serial drivers working on M1 mini?

FWIW, the FTDI devices I have I have checked them out

on my M1 MacBook Air using the Apple USB-C to USB-A

connector. Both the FTDI USB-COM485-PLUS1 and the

USB-COM422-PLUS1 connect and enumerate properly

with no additional drivers. They also work when connected

to my USB hub as well. In addition, I am working on some

embedded design using an STM32 Nucleo-F767ZI development

board and the USB port that I used as a terminal interface

worked immediately, i.e. recognized the USB CDC port

with no additional Mac side drivers.

In all cases they were enumerated and could be found in

the /dev directory. With my STM32 work, I have been using

the app Cool Term for my terminal interface to my development

board. It also displays as a port choice any of the above mentioned

USB CDC devices.

FWIW, I began avoiding Prolific based devices as it seemed

any time I bought a new computer, I had to by a new

adapter because its firmware wasn't compatible regardless

of what drivers I would install. It wasn't just Macs either.

With all that said, I assume you are directly connecting to one of

the USB ports? Also, are you trying to use the FTDI device for

other than USB CDC, i.e. their direct driver interface?

You need to connect the devices as USB devices to Parallels

and then let the Windows VM do the USB enumeration.

I haven't used Parallels in a while but there should be a

USB dropdown menu or dialog allowing to attach the

USB devices to the VM.