Solved: USB Device Not Recognized error Windows 10

If the USB ports on your computer are physically damaged or have loose connections, the device may not be recognized.

USB devices play a crucial role in our daily lives, allowing us to connect and transfer data between computers and a wide range of peripherals. However, it can be frustrating when you encounter the “USB Device Not Recognized” error in Windows 10 especially when you need to access important data or connect peripheral devices. This error typically occurs when you plug in a USB device, and Windows fails to identify or communicate properly with a connected USB device. In this article, we will explore the reason behind “USB Device Not Recognized” error and how to solve the issue in Windows 10.

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Why USB Device Not Recognized Windows 10

Several reasons cause “USB Device Not Recognized” error in Windows 10. It may be due to Outdated or incompatible USB drivers prevent your computer from recognizing the connected USB device. Insufficient power supply or an unstable connection between the USB device and the computer can result in the device not being recognized.

Again Hardware issues such as malfunctioning USB ports, damaged USB cables, or a defective USB device can cause the error on Windows 10.

USB Device not recognized One of the devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it.

Quick fix USB device not recognized error

Sometimes, a temporary connection issue can cause the “USB Device Not Recognized” error. Let’s Disconnect the USB device from your computer and wait for a few seconds Now reconnect it to a different USB port and check if this helps.

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Faulty USB cables can also lead to connection problems. Try using a different cable to see if it resolves the issue. Also If possible, connect the USB device to another computer to determine if the problem lies with the device itself or your computer.

Sometimes Rebooting your system can often resolve temporary glitches and refresh the USB drivers.

Update USB Drivers

Outdated or incompatible drivers can prevent your computer from properly recognizing and communicating with USB devices. Updating the USB drivers, allow your computer to have the necessary software components to communicate properly with USB devices. This can resolve compatibility issues and ensure that the USB devices are recognized by your system.

Outdated or incompatible USB drivers can cause issues with device recognition.

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  • Press Windows+ R, type devmgmt.msc, and ok to open the device manager.
  • Locate and expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” section.
  • Right-click on each USB device listed under this section and select “Update driver.”
  • Choose the option to search for drivers automatically. Windows will search online for the latest drivers and install them if available.
  • Wait for the driver update process to complete. If Windows finds any updates, it will download and install them automatically.

After updating the drivers, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

  • Also, you can select Browse My Computer for driver software to install the default USB driver.
  • Click on Let me pick from a list of the available drivers on my computer.
  • Select Generic USB Hub and click Next, Windows 10 will update the USB drivers.

Select Generic USB Hub

Now remove the USB device simply restart Windows and re-connect the USB device to check that worked, If not visit the device manufacturer’s website, and download and install the latest available driver.

Update windows 10

Microsoft regularly releases updates that include bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility enhancements, which can address known issues related to USB devices and their recognition.

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Windows icon in the taskbar to open the Start menu.
  2. Click on the “Settings” gear icon, which is usually located above the Power button.
  3. In the Settings window, click on “Update & Security.”
  4. In the Update & Security settings, click on the “Windows Update” tab on the left-hand side.
  5. Click on the “Check for updates” button. Windows will now check for available updates.
  6. If updates are found, click on the “Download” or “Install” button to begin the update process. It may take some time depending on the size of the updates.
  7. Once the updates are downloaded and installed, you may need to restart your computer to complete the update installation. Windows will usually prompt you to do so.
  8. After the restart, check if the USB device is now recognized without any error.

Windows 10 update

Change USB Root Hub Setting

Again open Device Manager ( right-click on the start menu and select Device Manager) Expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers at the bottom, Look for  USB Root Hub option, Right-click on it, and select properties.  A new popup window will open move to the Power Management tab and uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. click ok to save changes.

Note: If you have more USB Root Hubs, you need to repeat this operation a couple of times.

Change USB Root Hub Setting

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

By default, Windows computer is set to conserve power by suspending the power supply to external USB devices, whenever they are inactive. But this power-saving setting can sometimes cause problems like Error Code 43 and USB Device Not Recognized Error in Windows 10. Disable the USB selective suspend setting by following the steps and check if it helps.

  • Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl, and hit the enter key to open the Power Options window.
  • Now On the Power Options screen, click on Change Plan Settings link located next to the current Power Plan.
  • Next, click on the Change Advanced Power Settings link.
  • A new popup window will open here expend USB Settings then again Expand USB selective suspend settings As shown below image.

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

Here select the disabled option for “Plugged In” and also for “On Battery” in case you are using a Laptop. Click Apply and OK to save the above settings, restart Windows and plug the USB device to check it’s working.

Disable Fast Startup

Some Windows users report After disabling the Windows 10 fast Startup Feature on the power option the problem USB device is not recognized Error is fixed for them. You can disable the Fast startup option from Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.

On the Left side Click on Choose what the power button does, Then Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable. Here Uncheck Turn on fast startup As shown below image and press Save changes.

Enable Fast Startup Feature

Tweak Windows Registry to fix Device not recognized Error

If all the above solutions fail to fix the Device not recognized Error, Let’s tweak the Windows registry to fix this error. First plugin the problematic Device, and open the device manager. Then expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, Right-click on the yellow triangle marked USB device which one causing the problem and select properties.

Next move to the Details tab Here below the Property drop-down, select the Device instance path. And In the Value section, highlight the value and right-click it, select Copy. for example, As shown below my device instance path is: USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&2060378&0&0

copy device instance path

Now Press Windows + R, type Regedit and ok to open the windows registry editor. Then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\<Device Instance Path>\Device Parameters.

Note Device instance path: USB\ROOT_HUB30\4&2060378&0&0 ( Highlighted one is Device Instance Path.) May for you Device instance path is different. change it as per yours.

Tweak Windows Registry to fix Device not recognized Error

Then right-click on Device Parameters New > DWORD Value and name it EnhancedPowerManagementEnabled. Again Double click on it and on the value field set 0. click ok and Close Registry Editor. Now Remove the USB device and simply Restart the Windows. When next time you plug in the device this will work without any error.

Uninstall USB Controllers

If the above steps haven’t resolved the issue, you can try uninstalling the USB controllers and letting Windows reinstall them automatically. Here’s how:

  1. Press Windows + X and select “Device Manager.”
  2. Expand the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” section.
  3. Right-click on each USB device listed and select “Uninstall device.” Confirm the uninstallation.
  4. Once all USB devices are uninstalled, restart your computer.
  5. After the restart, Windows will automatically reinstall the USB controllers. Check if the USB device is now recognized.

Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above steps have resolved the problem, there may be a hardware issue with either the USB device or your computer’s USB ports. Consider the following:

  • Test the USB device on another computer to rule out any device-specific issues.
  • Try connecting a different USB device to your computer’s USB ports to determine if the issue lies with the ports themselves.
  • If possible, consult a professional or contact the manufacturer’s support for further assistance.

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