How to Fix the USB Device Not Recognized Error in Windows PC

Are you struggling with the “USB device not recognized” error on Windows? If yes, you are not alone, and many other users are in the same boat. While being effortlessly connectable “Plug and Play” devices, we understand how frustrating the situation is if Windows is not recognizing these USB devices, such as flash drives. 

Hence, we have put together this guide containing the most effective solutions you can apply if the error message “USB device not recognized” keeps popping up on your computer screen when using USBs. 

However, before beginning with these solutions, it is crucial to understand the possible causes of the problem to ensure the right troubleshooting. 

Why Is the USB Device Not Recognized

The factors below may be responsible for the computer not recognizing the USB error message “The last device you connected to this computer malfunctioned and Windows does not recognise it,” which results in you being unable to use the USB device on your PC. 

• Hardware issues
• Faulty or outdated USB drivers
• System malfunction
• Port or connectivity problems
• Incorrect power management settings

Above, we listed the problems that may have led to the PC not recognizing the USB issue on Windows. After answering one of the most common questions, “Why is my USB not recognized on a Windows PC?” let us learn how to fix this problem. 

How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized Error: Quick and Easy Fixes

You can apply the solutions below to fix the Windows not recognizing USB issues on your computer. 

Fix 1: Perform the basic checks

Before taking any complicated steps, these simple checks and fixes can go a long way in helping you fix the USB device not recognized problem in Windows. 

Restart your computer

Restarting the PC fixes system malfunctions that may have resulted in the computer not recognizing the USB device. Hence, you can take the steps below to restart your PC. 

• First, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and choose Power from the available options.

• Next, choose Restart from the power options to get your PC restarted.

Change the USB port

A faulty port may have caused the problem you are experiencing. Hence, below is how to fix the USB device not recognized error by plugging your USB device into another port. 

• First, disconnect the USB device from the current port.

• Next, connect the USB device to another port on your computer. Check if changing the port solves your problem. If the issue persists, continue troubleshooting.

Use a different computer

Inserting the USB device into another computer to check if that PC recognizes it helps you understand whether your current PC is at fault or the USB device is physically damaged. You can try the next solution if the other computer recognizes your USB device. However, if the device is still not recognized, it may have physical damage and must be replaced with a new one. 

Fix 2: Update or reinstall USB drivers

The driver is the interface your system uses to communicate with the USB device and understand your instructions. This communication may break, resulting in issues such as the Windows PC not recognizing the USB if the USB driver is outdated or incorrectly configured. Hence, updating and reinstalling the driver is another way to solve the problem. 

Update the USB drivers

• First, right-click the Windows icon and select Device Manager from the available options.

• Second, double-click the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category to expand it in the Device Manager.

• Next, right-click your USB device and choose Update Driver from the on-screen context menu.

• In this step, choose the Search automatically for drivers option from the on-screen options.

• Allow Windows to detect and install the compatible and up-to-date USB device drivers on your computer.

• Lastly, restart your PC so the new drivers can take effect.

Reinstall the USB drivers

• The first step requires you to open the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Windows icon and selecting the desired option from the on-screen menu.

• Next, double-click on the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category in the Device Manager to view its contents.

• In this step, right-click your USB device and select Uninstall Device from the available options.

• An uninstallation pop-up warning will appear. Check the Delete the Driver Software for This Device option and click Uninstall.

• Lastly, reinstall your PC after uninstalling the driver. Once the computer restarts, check if the “USB device not recognized” keeps popping up. If the error continues to appear, try the following solutions.

Also know:  Best Free Driver Updater Tools for Windows 10 and 11

Fix 3: Run the hardware & devices troubleshooter

Hardware or device issues may have resulted in USB problems like the one you are trying to solve. The Hardware and Device Troubleshooting tool in Windows can instantly detect and fix these common peripheral device problems. Hence, below is how to fix the USB device not recognized error on Windows using the built-in Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. 

• The first step is to type Troubleshoot settings in the Windows search bar and press Enter.

• Next, select Troubleshoot settings from the on-screen results.

• You can now navigate to the Hardware and Devices section.

• Next, click Run the troubleshooter and allow Windows to scan your PC for hardware problems.

• Follow the directions on your screen to solve the detected problems.

• Lastly, restart your PC to complete the troubleshooting. However, if the problem remains unresolved, jump to the next solution.

Fix 4: Change the USB root hub settings

Power saving mode in Windows hampers device recognition by disabling your USB devices. Hence, below is how to adjust the USB root hub settings to disable Windows’ power-saving mode and solve the problem. 

• First, search for and open Device Manager on your computer.

• In the Device Manager, scroll down the list of categories and double-click on the Universal Serial Bus Controllers category.

• Next, find and right-click the USB Root Hub and choose Properties from the available options.

• Once the USB Root Hub properties appear, navigate to the Power Management tab.

• You can now uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

• In this step, click OK and repeat the above steps for all Root Hubs.

• Lastly, restart your PC for the new settings to take effect.

Fix 5: Run the USB troubleshooting tool

Windows systems boast a built-in USB device troubleshooting utility that can help you fix common errors, such as the “USB device not recognized,” on PCs. Hence, below is how to perform USB troubleshooting to solve this problem. 

• First, use the Win+E key combination to launch File Explorer.

• Next, right-click your USB drive and choose Properties from the on-screen menu.

• You can now choose Tools from the top menu and click Check to detect USB problems.

• Lastly, click Scan and repair drive, and wait until Windows identifies and fixes any problems.

Fix 6: Disable the USB selective suspend settings

The USB selective suspend setting automatically suspends the USB, making your USB device unrecognizable. Hence, below is how to turn off the USB selective suspend settings to solve the problem you are experiencing. 

• In the first step, type Control Panel in Windows search and select it from the on-screen results.

• Secondly, select Category from the View By options in the Control Panel.

• Next, choose System and Security from the options available in the Control Panel menu.

• This step requires you to select Power Options from the on-screen System and Security options.

• You can now choose the option to Change Plan Settings for your existing power plan.

• Next, select the option to change advanced power settings.

• In this step, expand the USB settings by clicking the + button next to it.

• You can now click on the USB Selective Suspend Setting and select Disable from the available options.

• Lastly, click OK and exit all Windows.

Fix 7: Execute DISM and SFC scans

System malfunctioning due to corrupted files may be a reason your PC is not recognizing USBs. Hence, below is how to scan and resolve the system file issues via the DISM and SFC scans and fix the problem. 

• First, apply the Win+R key combination to access the Run utility.

• Second, type cmd in the on-screen Run box and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open Command Prompt as an administrator.

• Next, copy the following command, paste it into the Command Prompt window, and press Enter.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

• In this step, copy the following command, paste it into the command line, and press Enter.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Restart your computer after completing the above steps.

• After the computer restarts, perform the first two steps again to launch Command Prompt.

• In this step, copy the following command, paste it into the Command Prompt window, and press Enter.

sfc /scannow

• Lastly, exit the Command Prompt window and restart your PC.

Also know: Best Free PC Cleaner and Optimizer for Windows

Fix 8: Format your drive

If none of the above workarounds solve your problem, formatting your drive to fix the malicious files and technical errors is the last resort. Hence, below is how to format the drive if Windows is not recognizing your USB. 

• First, type This PC in the Windows search bar and select it from the search results.

• Next, right-click on the drive connected to your computer and pick Format from the on-screen options.

• In this step, click Start to begin formatting the USB drive.

• Lastly, wait until the drive is completely formatted and then restart the computer.

USB Device Not Recognized Error: Fixed

The guide above explains how to fix the “USB device not recognized” error quickly and easily. You can try all these solutions in the same order as they are discussed in this article until the problem is resolved. 

If you know other more appropriate ways to fix this problem, please share them in the comments section. You can also get in touch with us through the comments section if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions regarding this article.