What FORScan is
FORScan is diagnostic software for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda. It runs on a Windows laptop, and there is a lighter FORScan Lite app for iPhone and Android. Unlike a generic scanner that only talks to the engine, it reads every module in the car: body, ABS, airbag, instrument cluster, climate, parking aid, the lot.
The software itself comes from the FORScan team. Download it only from the official site, forscan.org. Modified copies passed around forums are how people end up with malware and a license that stops working.
The adapter problem nobody mentions
Ford runs two networks in most cars. HS-CAN (high speed) carries the engine, transmission and ABS. MS-CAN (medium speed) carries a lot of the body and comfort modules: door modules, the body control module, parts of the cluster, and more.
A cheap generic ELM327 only speaks HS-CAN. FORScan will connect, show you the engine, and quietly miss half the car. That single fact explains most "FORScan didn't find my module" complaints.
| Adapter type | HS-CAN | MS-CAN | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic ELM327 clone | Yes | No | Engine only. Not worth it for FORScan. |
| ELM327 with a manual HS/MS switch | Yes | Yes, when switched | Works, but you flip a switch mid-session. |
| FORScan adapter with automatic switching | Yes | Yes | The easy route. Whole car, no switch. |
The vLinker FS in our shop is the automatic kind: a USB cable made for FORScan that switches between HS-CAN and MS-CAN by itself. For configuration and programming, a wired USB connection is also the safer choice than Bluetooth, because a dropped link mid-write is the one way FORScan can genuinely hurt a module.
Standard vs extended licence
| Standard | Extended | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free trial, or a paid licence |
| Read and clear codes, all modules | Yes | Yes |
| Live data and tests | Yes | Yes |
| Change module configuration | No | Yes |
| Service and programming functions | No | Yes |
If you only want to diagnose, the free licence is enough. The moment you want to change how the car behaves, you need the extended licence, and FORScan's own site is where you get it. Check the current terms there, as they set them, not us.
What people change with it
Configuration changes switch on behaviour the car's modules already support. Typical examples, depending on model and year:
- Global open / close for the windows from the key fob.
- Daytime running light behaviour.
- Gauge needle sweep at start-up.
- Tyre size correction after fitting different wheels, so the speedometer reads true.
- TPMS settings after a wheel or sensor change.
- Service functions: resets, adaptations and, on diesels, DPF regeneration and injector coding.
As with any coding tool, hardware has to exist. Configuration enables what the car can already do; it does not add parts.
Laptop or phone?
FORScan on Windows is the full tool and the one you want for configuration and service work. FORScan Lite on a phone is handy for reading codes and live data on the move, and needs a compatible wireless adapter. If you are buying one adapter to do the real work, buy for the laptop.
Questions people actually ask
Will my cheap ELM327 work?
Where do I download FORScan?
Does it work on Mazda?
Do I need the extended licence?
Bluetooth or USB?
The adapter this page is about.
vLinker FS for FORScan, automatic HS/MS-CAN switching. €69, shipped free, 2-year warranty.
See it in the shop → All Ford / Mazda tools