How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized

Fix USB device not recognized errors on Windows and Mac. Step-by-step troubleshooting to restore USB connectivity and device detection.

  1. Check the USB cable and ports. Test the USB device with a different cable and connect it to another USB port on your computer. Try both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports if available. Connect the device to a different computer to determine if the issue is device-specific or computer-specific.
  2. Restart the USB controllers. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click each USB Root Hub entry, and select Uninstall device. Restart your computer to automatically reinstall the USB controllers.
  3. Update or reinstall USB drivers. In Device Manager, look for devices with yellow warning triangles under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Other devices. Right-click the problematic device and select Update driver. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers' to let Windows find the appropriate driver.
  4. Disable USB selective suspend. Open Control Panel and navigate to Power Options. Click 'Change plan settings' next to your active power plan, then 'Change advanced power settings'. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting and set it to Disabled for both battery and plugged in modes.
  5. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. Press Windows + R, type 'msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic' and press Enter. Follow the on-screen prompts to scan for and automatically fix hardware problems. The troubleshooter will identify and resolve common USB device recognition issues.
  6. Check power management settings. Return to Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right-click each USB Root Hub, select Properties, and go to the Power Management tab. Uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' and click OK.
  7. Test with USB hub removal. If using a USB hub, connect the device directly to your computer's built-in USB ports. Many USB recognition issues stem from insufficient power delivery through unpowered hubs or hub compatibility problems with specific devices.

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