The USB device not recognized error message on the Windows 10 Operating System can come up if the flash drive somehow malfunctions. This error message can appear whenever you insert an erroneous USB drive.
There can be various reasons why this error can come up after all. If the driver for the USB port is not up to date, then there is a possibility for you to face this problem.
Also, if the ‘USB Root Hub’ is not set correctly, then you might encounter this issue. Further, if the ‘Fast Startup’ feature is active, then this issue might crop up. Moreover, if the ‘USB selective suspend setting’ is enabled, then also this issue can come up.
So, if you’re facing this error on your system and want to resolve it, you can follow the fixes given in this article. For your convenience, we have presented the fixes in a step-by-step manner and after following them, hopefully, you’ll be able to fix this issue on your system quickly and effortlessly.
USB Device not Recognized: Fixes to Try
This is the section where we will discuss the fixes which will allow you to rectify the issue ‘USB device not recognized’ on Windows 10 OS.
Fix 1: Shutdown and then Start the Computer Once Again
The simplest way to fix this issue is to perform a normal shutdown and then restart the computer. Before you begin this process, make sure to unplug all the USB devices from your system. Here are steps on how to perform this fix.
- First, remove all the USB devices connected to the computer.
- Then, tap on the ‘Windows’ logo to open the ‘Start Menu’. Next, within that menu, locate and then choose the ‘Power’ icon. This will launch a popup list.
- Next, from that list, choose the ‘Shutdown’ option. This action will start the shutdown process and then after some time, the machine will power-off.
- Next, take out the power cable from the wall socket and wait for ten minutes or more.
- After that, put the power cable of the computer back into the wall socket and then start it up.
- Lastly, insert any USB device into the PC and then see whether this error message comes up or not.
Fix 2: Insert the USB Device into Different Ports
If the above method does not resolve this issue, then the best solution that you have is to insert the USB device into all the other different USB ports present within the computer.
After you insert the USB device into other ports, check if this error message comes up or not. If after inserting the USB device into every other port, you still get this error, then that USB device is at fault. So, you need to replace that USB device.
Fix 3: Alter the Power Management Setting on ‘USB Root Hub’ Properties
Sometimes, due to some issue with the ‘Power Management’ of the USB Root Hub’, you can face this error. Now, the best answer to solve this issue is to correctly set the power management settings for ‘USB Root Hub’.
In order to do it in the correct way, follow the steps below.
- First, press the combination of keys: ‘Windows + R’ to launch the ‘Run’ dialog box. Inside that dialog box, write the text ‘devmgmt.msc’ on the empty space beside the label ‘Open:’. Now, press the ‘Enter’ key.
- Next, a new window with the title ‘Device Manager’ will come up. Within that window, there will be a list of all the devices and their drivers installed within the computer.
- After that, from that list, locate and then choose the device category ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’. Then, double-click on the chosen device category to launch the sublist, that contains the list of drivers.
- Next, from the sublist, locate the ‘USB Root Hub’ driver and right-click on it. Now, from the popup menu that comes up, choose the ‘Properties’ option.
- As soon as you do that, a new ‘USB Root Hub Properties’ window will show up. Inside that window, tap on the ‘Power Management’ tab. Under that tab, untick the ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ option. Click on the ‘OK’ button.
- Repeat the third, fourth and fifth steps within this method for all the remaining ‘USB Root Hub’ driver. Now, insert the USB device and check whether this error message pops up or not.
Fix 4: Disable the Fast Startup Feature
If the ‘Fast Startup’ feature is active, then there is a chance for you to face the USB device not recognized error message on a Windows 10 Operating System.
Now, the best answer to eradicate this problem is to disable the ‘Fast Startup’ feature. Follow the steps below to know how can you do that.
- First, tap the ‘Cortana’ logo on the taskbar. This will open the ‘Search’ section, in it, type the text- “control panel”. Next, from the output of that search, choose the ‘Control Panel’ option.
- Now, a new window with the title ‘Control Panel’ will come up. In this window, there will be various settings categories of the computer that you can alter at your wish.
- After that, locate and then choose the ‘Hardware and Sound’ setting category. At this moment, a new page having the title ‘Hardware and Sound’ will show up.
- Next, from that page, find and choose the ‘Power Options’ link. When a new ‘Power Options’ page comes up, go to the left pane and select the ‘Choose what the power button does’ link.
- As soon as you click on that link, another ‘System Settings’ window will appear. Inside that page, locate and then select the ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’ link.
- Now, on that page, navigate to the ‘Shutdown settings’ section. Within that section, untick the ‘Turn on fast startup (recommended)’ option and then hit the ‘Save changes’ button.
- Finally, close all the windows that were open and reboot the computer. Then insert the USB device to check if it shows any error or not.
Fix 5: Update USB Port Driver
If the drivers of the USB port is out of date, then this error might show up. The effective answer to solve this issue is to update the USB port driver. Follow the steps provided beneath.
- First, tap on ‘Windows + X’ keys together, to open the ‘Options Menu’. Next, within that Menu, locate and then choose the ‘Device Manager’ option.
- As soon as you tap on that option, the ‘Device Manager’ window will come up.
- Next, within that window, find and then select the ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’ device category. After that, click on the ‘arrow’ at the front of the chosen device category, which will reveal the sublist, that contains all the drivers.
- Now, from the sublist, choose and then right-click on the first driver. After that, from the popup menu, select the ‘Update driver’ option. A new window with two distinct links will come up.
- Out of those two links, select the first one that says ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’. Now, the Windows Operating System will automatically look for any updates for the driver of the ‘Universal Serial Bus controllers’ device category.
- If there is an update available for the driver, then that will be downloaded and installed automatically.
- Repeat the above three steps to update all the remaining USB controller drivers.
- Once the driver update process is complete, close the ‘Device Manager’ window and reboot the computer.
- At last, put a USB device into the computer and see if this issue comes back or not.
Fix 6: Deactivate the USB Selective Suspend Settings
When the ‘USB selective suspend settings’ feature is active, then you can meet with this glitch. Now, the easiest solution to resolve this issue is to deactivate this feature. The procedure on how to do it is as follows.
- First, to open the ‘Control Panel’ window, navigate to the ‘Fix 4’ method and follow the first and second step.
- After that, on the ‘Control Panel’ window, go to the upper corner and then choose the ‘Large icons’ from the drop-down menu beside the ‘View by:’ label.
- Next, from the new page that comes up, choose the ‘Power Options’ link. A new page with the name ‘Power Options’ will come up, in it, go to the ‘Preferred plans’ section.
- Under that section, select the ‘Change plan settings’ link beside the chosen radio button. Now, a new page with the title ‘Edit Plan Settings’ will show up. Within that page, go to the bottom and then choose the ‘Change advanced power settings’ link.
- As soon as you click on that link, a ‘Power Options’ dialog box with various advanced settings on a list will show up.
- From that list, expand the ‘USB settings’ option. After that, select the ‘USB selective suspend setting’ suboption and expand it. Then, tap on the ‘Disabled’ option and next press both the ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ button.
Ending Note
Following the methods given here and applying them one by one is the best way to resolve the USB device not recognized on Windows 10. However, if even after following every method, you are still not able to mitigate this issue, then, do not worry. Just provide the details of the problem that you’re encountering in the comment section below and get an instant reply from an expert.
