If you’re encountering the “USB Device Not Recognized” error on your Windows PC, don’t worry—this common issue can often be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through five effective methods to fix USB recognition problems on Windows 10 and 11.

🔍 Why Does This Error Occur?

The “USB Device Not Recognized” error can happen due to:
✔ Faulty USB port or cable
✔ Outdated or corrupted USB drivers
✔ Power management settings blocking USB devices
✔ Incorrect drive letter assignment
✔ Corrupted system files

Let’s explore the five best fixes to resolve this issue.

🛠️ Method 1: Check USB Ports & Power Settings

Step 1: Test Different USB Ports

• Unplug the USB device and try connecting it to another USB port.
• If it works in another port, the original port may be damaged or disabled.

Step 2: Disable USB Selective Suspend (Power Settings)

1. Open Control Panel (Press Win + R, type control, hit Enter).
2. Select Power Options > Change plan settings (for your current plan).
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting.
5. Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled.
6. Click Apply > OK and restart your PC.

📂 Method 2: Delete the WPD Registry Folder (For Corrupted USB Cache)

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to:

   C:\Windows\INF

2. Search for WPD (Windows Portable Devices folder).
3. Right-click WPD > Delete.
4. Restart your PC and reconnect the USB device.

💾 Method 3: Change the USB Drive Letter (If Device Shows in Disk Management)

1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
2. Locate your USB drive (it may appear without a letter).
3. Right-click the USB drive > Change Drive Letter and Paths.
4. Click Change, assign a new drive letter (e.g., G: or H:), and click OK.
5. Restart and check if the USB is now recognized.

🔄 Method 4: Update or Reinstall USB Drivers

Option A: Automatic Driver Update

1. Press Win + X > Device Manager.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Right-click each USB Root Hub > Update driver > Search automatically.

Option B: Manual Driver Reinstall

1. In Device Manager, right-click the problematic USB device.
2. Select Uninstall device.
3. Click Action > Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver.

⚡ Method 5: Reset USB Controllers (Advanced Fix)

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager).
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Right-click USB 3.0/3.1 Host Controller (or similar) > Uninstall device.
4. Restart your PC—Windows will reinstall the drivers automatically.

🚨 Still Not Working? Try These Additional Fixes

✔ Test the USB device on another PC (to rule out hardware failure).
✔ Use a different USB cable (faulty cables often cause recognition issues).
✔ Run Windows Hardware Troubleshooter (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot).
✔ Perform a System Restore (if the issue started after a recent update).

📌 Tags

#USBFix #Windows10 #Windows11 #TechSupport #DriverError #PCRepair #USBError

📂 Categories

Windows Troubleshooting, Hardware Fixes, USB Issues

⚠️ Disclaimer

Modifying system settings or registry files can cause instability. Proceed with caution and back up important data before making changes. If the issue persists, consult a professional technician.

Rakesh Bhardwaj

Rakesh Bhardwaj is a seasoned editor and designer with over 15 years of experience in the creative industry. He specializes in crafting visually compelling and professionally polished content, blending precision with creativity. Whether refining written work or designing impactful visuals, Rakesh brings a deep understanding of layout, typography, and narrative flow to every project he undertakes.

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