USB Device Not Recognized in Windows 10 [Error Fix]

If your usb device is not recognized, the cause might be your drivers

by Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Windows & Software Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he... read more
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Reviewed by Vlad Turiceanu
Vlad Turiceanu
Vlad Turiceanu
Editor-in-Chief
Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming... read more
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  • Your USB device might not be recognized in Windows 10 due to driver or hardware issues.
  • First, make sure to update the driver for the affected device.
  • Other fixes include, disabling fast startup, changing the power settings, and reconfiguring the BIOS.
USB device not recognized in Windows 10
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We use USB devices on a daily basis, but some of our readers have reported that the USB device is not recognized in Windows 10. This isn’t a new issue, and previous OSs also had trouble recognizing USB devices.

Sometimes, the error message states that The last USB device you connected to this computer has malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it. So, let’s find out all about the problem and the solutions that worked for other users.

Why won’t my USB show up when I plug it in?

Here are the common reasons why your USB device is not recognized in Windows 10:

  • Problems with the USB device – Here, the USB device itself could be malfunctioning. If the problem lies with a storage drive, we recommend you back up the data.
  • Issues with the USB port – A failing port could also be the reason your USB device is not recognized in Windows 10.
  • Corrupt, outdated, or incompatible drivers – If there is an issue with the drivers, you are likely to receive errors. The best option here is to update the drivers.
  • Misconfigured power settings – There are several power settings that dictate how a port or the connected device works and problems here could lead to an issue.
  • Corrupt system files – Many reported that it was the corrupt system files behind their USB device not being recognized in Windows 10.

The list of devices affected by this error grows longer every day, and we have tried to include some here:

How can I fix USB device not recognized?

In this article

Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, let’s try a few quick ones:

  • Restart the computer and check if the problem disappears.
  • If you are using a desktop that has multiple ports, both at the front and the back, switch between these. For instance, if the device is currently connected to a port on the front, connect it to the backport.
  • Remove the affected device and connect it to another computer. If the problem arises there as well, it could be an issue with the device itself, and you should get it checked for hardware damage.
  • Disable any third-party antivirus or security software installed on the computer. If that works, switch to a reliable antivirus solution that doesn’t conflict with the OS.
  • Disable fast startup and check if that fixes the problem.

If none of this works, go with the solutions listed next.

1. Update the chipset drivers

  1. Click the Start button, type Device Manager, and open the app from the results.
  2. Locate the drivers, right-click on each of them, and select Update driver.

You should always keep your drivers up to date to stay away from any errors generated by outdated drivers or incompatible ones. Sometimes, Windows will automatically install them.

Most of the time, you have to download drivers manually. But the process carries risk, and if you install the wrong driver, it may lead to serious malfunctions.

If the USB driver is not recognized on Windows 10, we suggest using a specialized tool like Outbyte Driver Updater that scans your computer hardware and automatically finds the correct drivers.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

2. Reinstall USB Root Hub

If the USB device malfunctions and is not recognized in Windows 10, you can always reinstall it along with the relevant drivers.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.

windows-10-doesnt-recognize-usb/

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2. Double-click on the Univeral Serial Bus controllers entry.

entry to fix usb device not recognized windows 10

3. Now, right-click on every device that reads USB Root Hub, and select Uninstall device.

uninstall device to fix usb device not recognized windows 10

4. Finally, click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt.

confirm uninstall to fix usb device not recognized windows 10

3. Check Power Management for USB Root Hub

  1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Go to the Universal Serial Bus controllers section and find USB Root Hub.
  3. If you have multiple USB Root Hubs you’ll have to repeat this step for each one of them.
  4. Right-click USB Root Hub and choose Properties.
  5. Go to Power Management section and make sure that Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is unchecked.
  6. Save the changes and repeat the steps for all USB Root Hubs that you have in Device Manager.

If the last USB device you connected threw the USB device not recognized error in Windows 10, check its Power Management settings.

4. Run the DISM tool and SFC scan

  1. Type Command Prompt in the Search bar, and click on Run as administrator.command prompt
  2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  3. Now, paste the following and hit Enter after each to run the DISM tool:DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthDISM to fix usb device not recognized windows 10
  4. Once done, execute the following command to run the SFC scan:sfc /scannowsfc scan to fix usb device not recognized windows 10

If the USB device not recognized in Windows 10 message keeps popping up, it could be the corrupt system files to blame. And running the DISM tool and SFC scan should fix things in this case.

5. Change USB selective suspend settings

  1. Type Control Panel in the Search tab and select the app from the results.
  2. Open Control Panel and choose Power Options.
  3. Find your currently selected plan and click Change plan settings.
  4. Click Change advanced power settings.
  5. Find USB Settings, then click on USB selective suspend setting, change it to Disabled for all entries, and then click OK to save the changes.

6. Install Logitech SetPoint

This solution might work for owners of a Logitech keyboard, so if you own such a device, download and install Logitech SetPoint software.

Some users have reported that Windows 10 has successfully recognized their USB keyboard after installing this tool, so make sure that you try that out.

We don’t know if this solution will work with other brands of keyboards, but it won’t hurt if you try it out.

7. Disable USB3 support from BIOS

  1. While your computer boots, press F2, F8, or Del to enter BIOS. The key might be different on your computer, so you might need to repeat this step a few times.
  2. When BIOS opens, go to Advanced Settings and select USB Configuration.
  3. Disable USB3 support and save the changes.

If your laptop is new, chances are that it came with USB 3.0 ports. Most of the peripherals do not support this new standard for USB. So, you can try to disable it and see if the issue disappears.

The solutions here should fix things for you if a USB device is not recognized in Windows 10, as it did for others.

In case the problem lies with the USB port, there’s always the option to use a reliable USB hub, and connect as many devices.

In case you have any other suggestions or solutions that we should add here, please write us a comment below.

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