There are many issues that Windows PC users face every day. And let me you about an annoying issue of Windows that you can face. You plug in your USB mouse, or USB pen drive to your Windows PC, and you get an error: ‘USB device not recognized’. You plug out your device and plug in again to recheck, and it still shows a USB not recognized error. At that time, you may need that USB drive or it has important files that you need on your PC. But because of the error, you can’t use the USB mouse or browse the files from your USB pen drive.
So, the issue could be frustrating and it can waste your time. However, if you ever face this problem, or if you are facing it right now, then you can fix the issue easily. There are various methods that you can follow to fix USB device not recognized issue on your PC. It is an annoying and common problem that Windows users face often. However, as there are simple and easy solutions are available, you can follow the solutions, and fix the issue easily. Below, we have described the methods to fix the problem.
Table of Contents
Why You Face USB Device not Recognized in Windows?
Well, there can be various reasons why you face this issue on your Windows 10 PC. It is a random problem that Windows PC users face when they plug in a USB drive into their PC or laptop. Most of the time, re-plug in option works well. And you can fix it easily. However, sometimes, the issue can run longer. So, you can follow the below methods to fix it. Below, we have described the possible reasons why you face the USB issue on your Windows PC or laptop.
USB Issue
Most of the time, the issue lies in the USB drive itself. If you are plugging a pen drive into your PC, then the pen drive or USB drive could be defective. So, it won’t be recognized by Windows OS and you can see the error when you plug in the USB drive.
USB Port Issue
The USB port of your Windows PC or laptop can also cause problems. Sometimes, the ports of a Windows PC or laptop stops working for multiple reasons. In that case, the USB drive can’t connect to the motherboard, and it may not be recognized. So, USB ports could be another issue why you face the problem.
OS Issue
The old version of Windows OS is full of bugs. So, if you are using an old version of Windows on your PC or laptop, then you can face the issue. Maybe the operating system that you are using has been corrupted and because of this, you are facing the issue. So, in the old version of Windows OS, if you are plugging in new generation USB drives, you can face the problem. The operating system might not recognize your USB drive.
Driver Issue
The USB drivers can also create problems and because of this, you can face USB drive not recognized issues on your Windows PC. Usually, Windows has its own USB controller driver installed with every Windows OS. However, because of some reasons, if the Windows USB controller gets corrupted, then it can create problems. So, it could be because of the USB controller drivers why you face the USB issue on your Windows PC. This is a common cause for not recognizing the USB drive or USB hardware on a Windows PC or laptop. But, you can fix the issue easily.
How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized in Windows PC or Laptop?
There are various methods are available that you can follow to fix this issue on your Windows 10 PC or laptop. You can follow different methods and fix the issue easily. Below, we have described some of the working methods to fix USB device not recognized issues in your Windows PC or laptop. You can follow the methods one by one and see which method is working for you. If you know any other method that worked for you, you can comment it down in the comment section below, and we’ll include it in our list.
Now, without talking about anything, let’s find how you can fix the issue.
1. Restart PC
The first, and most common solution to this problem is to restart your Windows PC. Sometimes, ongoing Windows processes can create problems for Windows to recognize the USB drive. So, in that case, you can restart your PC first, and then plug in the USB drive. For some users, this method worked well and they are able to get access to USB Pendrive or use USB hardware successfully. So, you can just restart your PC once and then see if it’s working or not.
2. Replace USB Drive
As I said earlier, the issue could be with the USB drive itself. So, one thing that you can do to check the USB drive is, you can plug in another USB drive to your PC or laptop, and check if it’s working or not. Replacing the USB drive will help you to know if there’s an issue with the USB external hardware. So, just get another USB Pendrive or other USB hardware, and check if Windows is recognizing it or not. If your Windows Pendrive is defective, then you can claim a warranty and get a replacement.
3. Try Other USB Port
The issue could also be with the USB port of your Windows PC or laptop. The extra USB port that you get with the case of your PC, can create problems sometimes. Because it connects the USB port to your motherboard via cables. And if the cables are damaged, then the front USB port of your Windows PC won’t work. Also, the built-in USB port of your motherboard could be damaged and because of this, Windows shows USB device not recognized. So, you have to try plugging in the USB drive to another port and check if it’s working or not.
If you are plugging into the front USB port, just plug the device into the backside of your PC, to the motherboard USB port, and then check. If there’s an issue with the front USB port, you can replace it. Or you can simply buy a USB extender and then plug it into the working port. Then, you can connect your Pendrive or other USB drives to the extender and then use it easily. This is another working method that you can follow to fix USB device not recognized issue on your Windows PC or laptop.
4. Replace Battery of USB Hardware
If you are facing USB devices not recognized problems after plugging in a wireless USB mouse or keyboard, then you should consider replacing the battery of the hardware. If the battery of the USB mouse or keyboard is drained, then it can create issues when you plug it into your Windows PC or laptop. So, just replace the battery and check if it’s working or not. This method could be a lifesaver for those who are facing USB devices not recognized issues on their Windows 10 PC or laptop.
5. Update OS
If you are using an old version of Windows OS, then you should consider upgrading your OS and check if it’s working or not. As you get bugs with the old version of Windows, it can create issues when you plug in the USB drive. If you are using Windows 10, then you can also get updates and fix the USB issue on your Windows PC.
To update your Windows PC, go to Settings>Update & Security>Check for updates and there, you can check for Windows updates. Update the OS, and then plug in the USB cable. If it starts working, then the issue was with the operating system of your Windows PC.
6. Change Power Plan
Windows 10 comes with a built-in power plan for Windows users. The power plan of Windows 10 helps you to choose which features should work in which mode. It is basically a customizable advanced performance-boosting option that you can change.
Now, there are some options in the Power plan settings of Windows 10 that blocks Windows from recognizing the USB drive. Especially if you are using a laptop, then you can face the issue. In that case, you can change the power plan settings, and it’ll fix the issue for sure.
It is really easy to change power plan settings on your Windows PC. You can follow the below steps to do that easily without any issues.
- First of all, open the Settings>System>Power and Sleep option on your Windows PC.
- Now, click on the ‘Additional Power Settings’ option from the right corner.
- There, you’ll get the power plans. By default, the power plan would be set to ‘Balanced’ mode.
- Change the power plan to ‘High performance’ mode, and save the settings.
That’s it. Now, try to connect your USB drive and see if it’s working or not.
7. Reinstall USB Controller Driver
Now, this is a really effective method to fix USB device not recognized issue on your Windows PC or laptop. If all the above-mentioned methods don’t work for you, you can reinstall the USB controller driver on your Windows PC, and fix the issue easily. In this method, you have to uninstall the USB Controller from your PC first, and then reinstall it. Follow the below steps to reinstall the USB controller driver for your Windows PC easily.
- First, you have to uninstall the USB controller. To install it, go to This PC>Right Click on it>Manage>Device Manager>Universal Serial BUS Controller option.
- Then, right-click on it>Uninstall Device option to uninstall the driver.
- That’s it. It’ll uninstall the USB Controller Driver from your Windows PC.
Now, you have to reinstall the driver on your Windows PC or laptop. To do that, download the latest version of the Serial BUS controller driver for your PC or laptop. You can visit the website of your laptop or motherboard company, and download the driver from there. Then, install the driver on your Windows PC and restart your PC. After reinstalling the driver, just check USB is working or not on your PC and you are good to go.
8. Reinstall Chipset Driver
Along with the USB controller driver for your Windows PC, the chipset driver can also play a big role in recognizing the USB device. So, you can also reinstall the chipset driver on your PC, and then check if the USB is working or not. To get the compatible USB driver for your Windows PC, you can go to the official website of your motherboard or laptop, and then download the chipset driver from there. Reinstalling the chipset driver will help your PC to work properly and it can fix the USB Device not Recognized problem on your PC.
9. Contact Support
Last, but not least step that you can take is to contact support. Just contact your local PC shop or technician and ask them to fix the issue. You should know that fixing this issue from a technician can cost you some bucks. So, you should try the above steps yourself first, and then contact the technician. They’ll probably help you to fix the USB device not recognized issue on your Windows PC. You can also post about your issue on the Windows forums and ask others for help. This is the ultimate thing that you can do.
Read Also: Fix Twitch not Working on Chrome
Conclusion
So, guys, I hope you have found this guide helpful. If you liked this guide, you can share it on your social media platforms. Just use the share buttons below to share this guide. USB Device not Recognized issue is a common issue that you can easily fix by following the above steps. So, just follow the steps correctly, and you can fix it. As there are various methods are available, you should try them one by one and check which one is working. If you have any questions or queries, you can ask them in the comment section below. You can also provide your feedback in the comment section.
