How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized in Windows

Common causes

A loose connection, a damaged or charge-only cable, or a dirty or worn USB port interrupts the initial handshake between the device and Windows.
The device needs more power than the port or an unpowered hub can supply, which is common with external drives, webcams, and audio interfaces.
The USB controller has entered a bad state after sleep, hibernation, or fast startup and needs a full power cycle to reset.
The driver for the device is corrupted or wrong, or the USB Root Hub and host controller drivers were damaged, sometimes after a Windows update.
Outdated chipset or USB controller drivers, or outdated BIOS/UEFI firmware, do not handle certain devices or USB standards correctly.
USB selective suspend or device power management turns off the port or hub to save energy, so the device drops out or fails to connect.
The device itself is faulty, for example a failing flash drive or a damaged connector, and fails on every computer you try.

Step-by-step fixes

Step 1

Reconnect the device, try other ports and cables, and test another PC

Unplug the device, wait a few seconds, and plug it into a different USB port. On a desktop, use a rear port that connects directly to the motherboard, and remove any hub, dock, or extension cable from the chain. Try a different cable, and make sure it is a data cable: many cheap USB cables for phones and accessories only carry power, and Windows will never recognize a device through them. If you have both USB 2.0 and USB 3.x ports, try each type, since some older devices behave better on USB 2.0. Check the connector and port for dust or bent contacts. Finally, test the device on another computer. If it fails everywhere, the device or its cable is faulty. If it works elsewhere, the problem is your PC, so continue with the next steps. Success looks like the device appearing normally without the error.

Step 2

Do a full shutdown and drain the power

USB controllers can get stuck in a bad state, and a normal shutdown may not reset them because fast startup saves part of the system state instead of fully shutting down. Unplug all USB devices except your keyboard and mouse. Then hold Shift while you click Start > Power > Shut down, which performs a full shutdown. Unplug the PC's power cable, or unplug a laptop's charger, and wait at least a minute; on a desktop, press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds while it is unplugged to drain remaining power. Plug it back in, start the PC, sign in, and connect the problem device on its own. Success looks like the device installing normally and appearing in File Explorer or Device Manager without errors.

Step 3

Uninstall the unknown device in Device Manager

Press Windows+X and choose Device Manager. With the device plugged in, look under Universal Serial Bus controllers and Other devices for entries such as Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed), Unknown USB Device (Port Reset Failed), or anything with a yellow warning icon. Double-click it to see the error, often Code 43. Right-click the entry, choose Uninstall device, and confirm. Unplug the device, wait a few seconds, then click Action > Scan for hardware changes and plug the device back in so Windows detects it fresh. To clear out stale entries from earlier attempts, click View > Show hidden devices and uninstall grayed-out entries for the same device. Success looks like the device appearing under its proper category, such as Disk drives, Keyboards, or Cameras, without a warning icon.

Step 4

Reinstall the USB Root Hub and host controllers

If multiple devices are affected, reinstall the USB controller drivers. In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right-click each USB Root Hub entry, including USB Root Hub (USB 3.0), and choose Uninstall device; you can also uninstall the host controller entries, such as USB xHCI Compliant Host Controller. On a desktop with a USB keyboard and mouse, they may stop responding once you do this, so uninstall the entries last or be ready to restart with the power button. Restart the PC, and Windows reinstalls all USB controller and hub drivers automatically during startup. This does not remove any files or settings. After signing in, connect the problem device again. Success looks like all your USB devices working and the problem device appearing without the error message.

Step 5

Update chipset, USB, and device drivers

Outdated or wrong chipset and USB drivers are a common cause, especially on older PCs and after major Windows updates. Visit your PC or motherboard manufacturer's support page, enter your model, and install the latest chipset and USB drivers for your Windows version. Then check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates; on Windows 10, use Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates. For devices that need their own driver, such as phones, printers, audio interfaces, and some webcams, install the latest software from the device maker. If the problem started right after a driver update, right-click the device in Device Manager, choose Properties > Driver, and click Roll Back Driver if it is available. Avoid third-party driver updater tools, which can install the wrong drivers. Restart after installing drivers.

Step 6

Turn off USB selective suspend and hub power saving

Power-saving features can switch off a USB port or hub, causing devices to drop out or fail to be recognized. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options, click Change plan settings next to your active plan, then Change advanced power settings. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting and set it to Disabled, for both On battery and Plugged in on a laptop, then click OK. Some newer laptops hide this option, so skip it if it is missing. Next, in Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click each USB Root Hub, choose Properties, open the Power Management tab if it is present, and clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Restart and test the device. Success looks like the device staying connected instead of dropping off or failing after sleep.

Step 7

Disable fast startup

Fast startup makes Windows boot faster by saving the kernel and drivers to disk at shutdown, but that can carry a stuck USB controller state from one session to the next. To turn it off, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and click Choose what the power buttons do in the left pane. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable, clear Turn on fast startup (recommended), and click Save changes. If you do not see the option, hibernation may be disabled on your PC, in which case fast startup is already off. Shut down, wait a few seconds, start the PC, and reconnect the device. Startup may take slightly longer, which is the only real downside. Success looks like the device being recognized reliably after every shutdown, not just after a restart.

Step 8

Check UEFI settings and update the BIOS

If nothing else works, check the firmware. To open it, go to Settings > System > Recovery on Windows 11, or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery on Windows 10, click Restart now under Advanced startup, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. Make sure the USB ports and USB controllers are enabled; if you have changed settings before, loading the default settings can fix a misconfiguration. Then check your PC or motherboard maker's support page for a BIOS or UEFI update that mentions USB fixes. Firmware updates carry some risk: follow the maker's instructions exactly, keep a laptop plugged in, and never interrupt the update. A firmware update can also trigger BitLocker recovery, so have your recovery key ready or, where available, suspend BitLocker first in Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption. Success looks like USB devices working after the update.

How to prevent it

Use Safely Remove Hardware or Eject for storage devices, and avoid pulling devices out during file transfers.
Use a powered hub for high-power devices like external drives, and avoid long, cheap extension cables.
Keep chipset drivers and BIOS up to date from your PC or motherboard manufacturer rather than driver updater utilities.
Keep ports free of dust and replace frayed, loose, or charge-only cables.
Back up files stored on USB flash drives regularly, since flash drives can fail without warning.

Tools that can help

Almost every USB recognition problem is fixed with the free built-in steps above. If the device is a flash drive or external drive that Windows now sees but whose files are missing or unreadable, recovery software can help, and a cloud backup makes the next failure painless.

Top pick

Disk Drill

Recovers deleted, formatted, and lost files from internal and external drives, with previews, free disk imaging for failing drives, and S.M.A.R.T. health monitoring.

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Best guided recovery

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

A step-by-step recovery wizard with filters and previews, plus bootable WinPE media in paid editions for rescuing files from a PC that won't start.

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Best cloud backup

Backblaze Personal Backup

Continuous, unlimited cloud backup of your files for one computer, with version history and the option to receive large restores on a shipped USB drive.

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What to do next if this fails

Move to the next fix instead of repeating the same step multiple times.
Check the related guides in this cluster before attempting a full reset.
If startup, update, and corruption symptoms overlap, widen the diagnosis instead of treating one error in isolation.

FAQ

What does USB device not recognized mean?

It means Windows noticed a device on the USB port but could not read the basic information it needs to identify it and load a driver. The fuller message says the last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. Causes range from a bad cable or not enough power to driver problems or a faulty device.

What is Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)?

It is how Device Manager labels a device that failed the first step of USB communication, where it reports what kind of device it is. It usually appears with error Code 43. Similar entries include Port Reset Failed and Set Address Failed. The fixes are the same: check the cable and port, power cycle the PC, reinstall USB drivers, and test the device elsewhere.

Can a USB port stop working permanently?

Yes. Ports can be damaged physically, by bent contacts or debris, or electrically, for example by a short from a faulty device. If one port fails with every device while others work, the port is likely damaged. On a desktop, rear ports connect directly to the motherboard and are often more reliable than front-panel ports. A repair shop can replace damaged ports.

Why does my USB device work on another computer but not mine?

That points to your PC rather than the device. The most common causes are USB controller drivers, chipset drivers, power management settings, fast startup keeping the controller in a bad state, or a damaged port. Work through the full shutdown, Device Manager reinstall, and driver steps, and check for a BIOS update from your PC or motherboard manufacturer.

Will reinstalling USB drivers delete my files?

No. Uninstalling a device or the USB Root Hub in Device Manager only removes the driver, which Windows reinstalls automatically when you restart or reconnect the device. Files stored on a USB drive are not affected. Just be aware that a USB keyboard and mouse may stop working until you restart after uninstalling the USB Root Hub.

How do I get files off a USB drive that isn't recognized?

First get Windows to recognize the device using the steps in this guide, or try it on another computer. Once it appears, copy your files off right away. If it appears in Disk Management but shows as RAW or asks to be formatted, do not format it; use data recovery software to scan it and save the files to another drive.