The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a flash memory that stores data and allows computers to read it. Connecting a USB device to a Windows 10 PC doesn’t always function as expected. USB Device Not Recognized Windows 10 is a common issue many faces; Windows may fail to recognize your USB device entirely. Other times, it may annoy you with various error messages. It isn’t pleasant when you need to perform something with your external storage.
If your USB drives do not display on your Windows PC, this article will explain what you can do. These methods will assist you in achieving excellent outcomes.
What Cause Usb Device Not Recognized Windows 10?
External devices are required for a computer to function. If you have several devices, you may need a USB hub to connect them all at once. USB Device Not Recognized Windows 10 is an issue that can occur while you are trying to attach different external devices to your computer. When Windows issues an error like this, the USB device will not appear on your computer, and you will be unable to access your data. The error gets followed by a variety of messages depending on the situation.
The reasons for this above issue are diverse, as are the solutions available to cure it. Common issue include
- The currently installed device driver is either corrupted or unstable.
- The USB controllers are currently in a state of instability or corruption.
- Selective suspend gets enabled on the external disk.
- Some computers will deactivate the ports after use; that may be the origin of this error message.
Bonus tip: Many USB-connected devices, including mouse, disk drives, fitness trackers, and video game controllers, may suffer the same difficulties. You can apply these methods to any of them.
Try A Different USB Port
To begin, double-check that the USB port is operational. If Windows fails to identify the USB device, disconnect it and insert it into a different USB port. USB hubs should not get used to connecting USB devices. The “last USB device connected to this computer malfunctioned” issue is frequently just transitory. You may get rid of a USB port by changing it.
If your computer is a desktop computer, you may also attach the USB device to the USB port on the back of the casing. The USB ports on the rear of a computer chassis often have a higher power supply. You may also see whether the problem persists by connecting the USB device to a different computer.
Update Chipsets Driver
USB Device Not Recognized Windows 10 is likely a driver issue. It could be outdated. We recommend that you update your device driver to confirm that it is not the root cause of the problem. Follow these steps to do this.
- Open Device Manager
- Hit and hold the Windows key, then press the R key to bring up the “Run” dialogue box.
- Type devmgmt.msc into the search box.
- Click the OK button.
- In the open window, you’ll notice a variety of drivers. Expand the category “Universal Serial Bus Controllers.”
- Locate the drivers, Select Update by right-clicking on each of them and follow the onscreen options.
You should constantly maintain your drivers up to date to avoid any problems caused by old or incompatible drivers. Windows will sometimes install them for you. The majority of the time, you will have to download drivers manually. However, this procedure entails installing the incorrect driver, which might result in significant problems.
Bonus Tip: Use AVG Driver Updater, This program checks the system for outdated drivers and updates them with the most recent versions.
USB Selective Suspend Settings
It will help if you disabled USB selective suspend settings. This setting can be helpful for a PC to save battery power. However, it can affect USB functionality in some instances. We recommend that you disable it using the steps below.
- Go to the Start menu and search for the power plan.
- Select Change Settings after selecting a power plan.
- Expand USB Settings > USB selective suspend settings by checking the box. If you’re using a laptop, go to Battery.
- Select Disabled from the drop-down option.
Uninstall Unnecessary Drivers
Windows Device Manager does not show all of the devices installed on your computer by default; instead, it just shows the ones you’re currently using. Some concealed gadgets may pose an issue by interfering with linked devices. As a result, we can see all hidden devices and remove those that aren’t needed to avoid any problems.
- Press combination of Window key + R, type cmd to open command port.
- In the cmd prompt, type the following commands and hit enter after each one.
set DEVMGR_SHOW_DETAILS=1
set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
start devmgmt.msc
- Select “Show hidden devices” from the device manager after it has opened. Determine which devices are unknown. Uninstall it by right-clicking it.
Check Compatibility
Make sure USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 are both compatible. Most USB 3 devices are compatible with USB 2.0 ports on Windows 10 PCs and tablets. Thus compatibility shouldn’t be an issue. Some USB 3.0 may require a USB 3.0 port as technology progresses. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check the package and instruction manual.
Window 10 Updates
Sometimes, the problem is not your USB. Your OS can be a problem. Updating the Windows 10 operating system to download the needed files will enable you to use freshly released hardware and devices and resolve any difficulties you may have.
Conclusion
There are many situations where Windows 10 cannot identify USB devices. We hope our solutions can help you.
If none of the above methods worked for you, it is time to replace your USB device. It should not be your last resort. However, it may be necessary because sometimes a USB device is just broken.
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