Though Windows is a stable operating system, it sometimes gets plagued with errors like a USB device not recognized. Many users are reportedly struggling with this issue on their computers.
Are you also one of those troubled users? If yes, you can put all your worries aside, as this article shares the best possible solutions to this problem. However, let us first discuss what may have caused this issue before attempting to fix it.
Understanding the underlying causes behind a problem helps you solve it correctly. Hence, the next section talks about the same.
Reasons USB Device Is Not Recognized
The following may be the reasons your computer fails to recognize the USB device.
- Problems with the cables and ports
- Hardware issues
- Faulty or outdated driver
- Outdated operating system
- Issues with the power management settings
The above were various reasons your computer does not recognize the USB. Let us now look at how to fix it.
Fixes for USB Device Problems on Windows
You can apply these solutions to get rid of the USB recognition problem on Windows.
Fix 1: Restart your PC
Restarting the computer is a simple solution that fixes many annoying problems, including the one you are experiencing. Hence, before trying any complex issues, you should restart your PC to check whether or not the USB device issue is resolved. If it remains unresolved, continue with the troubleshooting.
Fix 2: Use an alternative port
The port you are using may be defective, resulting in a USB device recognition issue on your computer. Hence, you can plug the USB into another port to connect it to the PC.
Fix 3: Use a different cable
Faulty cables can also cause connection problems between the USB and your computer. Hence, try connecting the USB device to your PC using an alternative cable. If this does not work, you can try the other solutions.
Fix 4: Perform hardware and device troubleshooting
Hardware and Device troubleshooter is an in-built tool in Windows to fix hardware problems that may be responsible for causing the issue you are experiencing. Hence, you can follow these steps to access it to solve the problem.
- Firstly, press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard in conjunction with each other to open the Run box.
- Now, enter cmd in the Run box to launch the Command Prompt.
- Copy and paste the following command in the Command Prompt window.
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic - Select Next to begin the device troubleshooting.
- Choose to Apply this fix for all the resolutions suggested by the Hardware and Device troubleshooter.
- Lastly, restart your system.
Fix 5: Uninstall and reinstall the USB driver
A driver links your computer to the USB device, enabling them to communicate with each other. A corrupt USB driver may be a reason your USB device is unrecognized. Hence, uninstalling and reinstalling the USB driver can help fix the problem. Here is the way to do it.
- Firstly, right-click the taskbar’s Windows icon and select Device Manager from the on-screen menu.
- Now, double-click on the device category. For example, in the case of a USB storage device, double-click Disk drives.
- Right-click the USB device and select the Uninstall driver
- Now, select the Delete the driver software for this device option and click
- Unplug the cable of the connected USB device from your PC and reconnect it after a few minutes to reinstall the driver.
Fix 6: Update the USB driver
Outdated drivers hamper your computer’s performance significantly. Moreover, an out-of-date USB driver is among the most common reasons behind the problem you are experiencing. Hence, you can Download the USB 3.0 Driver’s latest version and install it to fix the issue.
To update the driver, you can follow the traditional routes, such as Device Manager, manufacturer’s website, and Windows update, or use an automatic program (for example, Bit Driver Updater). We prefer updating drivers automatically through Bit Driver Updater, as it offers many advantages, like driver backup and restoration, acceleration of the driver’s download speed, scheduled scans, and much more.
Fix 7: Change your computer’s power management setting
Inappropriate power management settings for the USB Root Hub may also cause USB issues. Hence, changing the settings can solve the problem. Thus, here is how to change the power management settings for the USB Root Hub.
- Firstly, open Device Manager.
- Now, double-click Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
- Right-click USB Root Hub and choose
- Now, navigate to the Power Management tab and unmark the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
- Click
- Lastly, repeat the above steps for all the USB Root Hubs.
Also Know: The Alienware Aurora 2019 Laptop Review
Summing Up
This article helped you solve the most common and annoying problems, i.e., a USB device not recognized on Windows. You can start troubleshooting from the first solution and stop when the problem disappears. Hopefully, you will find this guide useful. For more such tech guides, stay connected to us.