How to Fix USB Device not Recognized or Working in Windows

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) port launched in 1996 and replaced a mess of different types of connections for computer peripherals. While it has a quarter-century of history behind it, modern USB devices still have the occasional problem.

One of the most common issues is getting a USB device not recognized or working error when you plug it into your computer. Let's look at how you can troubleshoot these problems and get your USB device back in working order.

Simple solutions for USB device not recognized or working errors 

Before you get into the more technical solutions, it's always a good idea to try a few simple troubleshooting tips. Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one, regardless of how obvious it might seem.

Fix 1: Reseat the USB device 

USB ports can get dirty, and the electrical connections can get less reliable over time. Sometimes, all it takes to get a seemingly broken USB device working is to unplug it from the USB port and plug it back in.

It's a good idea to check the port while you have the USB device unplugged to make sure there isn't any dust or other debris in it that could affect the connection. If so, try blowing it out with a can of compressed air before you plug the USB device back in.

Fix 2: Try a different USB port 

If reseating the USB device doesn't help, try plugging it into a different USB port. Computers typically have multiple USB ports (some in the front, some at the back). Try another port, especially one directly on the motherboard (rear panel) instead of a front panel or docking station.

Check the manual for your computer to see if some of the ports provide more bus power than others as well. Some computers have passive USB ports that can't provide enough power for some devices. If that's the case, connect the USB device to a port that provides more power to see if it makes a difference.

Fix 3: Restart your computer 

If neither of the previous steps makes any difference, try restarting your computer. Sometimes Windows won't recognize USB devices properly when it's been running for a while. A simple reboot can resolve temporary glitches in Windows that affect USB recognition. Save your work, disconnect all USB devices (except keyboard/mouse if necessary), and restart.

Fix 4: Connect the USB device directly to the PC 

If you're using a USB hub to connect several USB devices to a single port, try bypassing the hub and plugging it directly into the port on your PC.

Why? Some hubs split the power coming from the USB port on the PC, dividing it between all the connected devices. If that's the case, and the USB device you're having trouble with needs the full amount of power to operate, going through a hub can cause problems.

Fix 5: Try a different USB cable 

Devices like printers and external hard drives usually connect to your PC through a USB cable. If that's the case, try swapping the USB cable with a different one to see if the cable might be the problem.

Longer USB cables can cause problems with some devices as well. If your cable is longer than 6 feet, try a shorter cable to see if that might be the cause.

Advanced solutions for USB device not recognized or working 

If none of the previous steps fix your USB device, it's time to move on to some more technical solutions. These aren't that complicated, so don't worry if you're not a serious techie _ we'll walk you through each solution.

Important: Make sure you have a backup of your data

If the USB device you're having trouble with is a memory stick or external hard drive, make sure you have an up-to-date backup of any important files before you try the following steps. In some cases, they could cause your data loss.

If you didn't make a backup copy of your files before you started having trouble with the USB device, don't worry. You can recover those files from an unrecognized USB device with the iBoysoft Data Recovery software.

It scans your USB device and shows you a list of files, photos or videos, and other data saved on it. You can save a copy of any files you don't have backed up before continuing with these steps to ensure you don't lose any valuable information.

Here's how to use it:

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Fix 6: Update the USB device driver 

Some USB devices need you to install a special software called a device driver before Windows can recognize them. If you're getting a device not recognized error, you may need to install or update the driver.

To update the driver, open Control Panel > Device Manager to see a list of all the devices connected to your PC. Find the "Unknown USB Device" entry and right-click on it.

Choose the "Update Driver Software...". You may need to download the latest version of the driver from the manufacturer's website when you update it this way, so check their site for the current version before you start.

Fix 7: Adjust your PC's power management settings 

Most modern PCs let Windows power down devices connected to the USB ports to save power when they're not in use. Sometimes this causes problems if the power management feature doesn't power them back when you need them.

You can turn this feature off in Device Manager:

After it finishes starting up, try connecting your USB device again and see if it's recognized properly. If not, go back to Device Manager and see if there's more than one USB Root Hub listed. If so, repeat these steps for each of them, testing the device each time.

Fix 8: Run the Windows USB troubleshooter 

Windows has a built-in USB Troubleshooter tool that can scan for problems and apply fixes in some cases.

This tool will show you a list of any issues it detects. You have the option of applying the fixes automatically or selecting the fixes to apply yourself. In most cases, it's best to apply them automatically so you don't have to sort through a lot of technical details.

Fix 9: Update the generic USB hub configuration 

Most PCs have an internal USB hub to split the bus into several ports. Sometimes updating the driver for this hub will solve unrecognized USB device problems.

Click Close when it's done and Device Manager will refresh. See if the Unknown Device entry is still listed under USB devices. If so, repeat this process for each of the Generic USB Hubs listed under Universal Serial Bus Controllers.

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Fix 10: Uninstall and reinstall all USB devices 

If you're dealing with multiple USB devices, uninstalling and letting Windows reinstall them can help:

Reminder: You might lose temporary access to your USB mouse or keyboard. Use a PS/2 keyboard if available, or proceed with caution on laptops.

Fix 11: Run chkdsk 

The Windows system tool, chkdsk can be used to fix the file system errors of the USB device except for bad sectors.

This is safe for beginners, but don't interrupt the process once it starts.

Fix 12: Test the USB device on another PC 

If none of the previous solutions solve your problem, the issue may be with the computer, not the USB device. You can verify this by connecting the device to another PC.

If it works properly on another computer, it's likely a problem with your PC. In this case, you should contact the manufacturer's technical support to find out what they can do to fix the problem for you.

Fix 13: Ask for help from a specialist 

If a USB device is not recognized on another computer, you have to consider that it is a hardware issue. If it is the case, send it to a repair store and fix it, or recover data with a professional or 3rd party service provider.

A USB device error doesn't mean you've lost your valuable files 

If you've got a USB storage device with important data on it and you're getting a USB device not recognized or working error, it can be a little stressful. If you don't have a backup of that data, it can be really stressful.

Fortunately, a USB device error doesn't mean you've lost everything saved on it. Download USB drive data recovery software: iBoysoft Data Recovery for Windows, and go through a few simple steps to recover those files and save them somewhere safe.

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