How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized

How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized

This guide will explain why your USB drive isn’t showing up and how to fix the USB Device Not Recognized Error. Sharing information and keeping it in convenient storage devices has grown increasingly prevalent. Flash drives have turned into increasingly widespread storage devices, with users using them to transfer information and software.

With such a reliance on USB storage devices, you can readily see the dilemma if the USB becomes unreadable on the system and you have important data saved in the drive. If a user has to preserve data externally in the most cost-effective way, flash drives are the ideal option. This post will speak about USB devices, how to use them, and how to fix the USB drive not recognized error.

USB Device Not Recognized Error

fix USB Device Not Recognized on Windows 7 8 10 11

In this article you will know about how to fix USB Device Not Recognized error. First, let us define USB devices and their applications. USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus, a word for flash drives. A USB is a data storage device that acts as an external data storage means. In today’s environment, USB drives are pretty convenient and beneficial, as hard drives are pretty pricey for the purpose.

The following are some of the different uses and benefits of USB devices:

  • Data may be saved externally.
  • Affordable
  • Increases security by allowing flash drives to be password secured.
  • USB drives may be made bootable and utilized as a boot device since they are small and have a faster processing speed.


Causes of a USB Drive Not Showing Up

When a user connects a USB drive to their system and receives the USB not showing up error, the drive’s contents stay undetected. It does not imply that the USB is dead and can no longer be used. The source of such a USB drive not showing up error might be due to a system’s hardware or software setting/permission, which is readily remedied.

The following are the numerous reasons of the USB device not recognized error:

  • The drive software was unable to load in the system entirely.
  • Because the drive may contain harmful files, the system does not read them.
  • The Root hub settings may have failed to identify the drive due to a low system battery.
  • It indicates an issue with the driver that must be fixed.
  • Windows may require an update to the most recent patches and fixes.

 

Ways to Fix the USB Device Not Recognized Error

The following are the several methods for resolving the USB not showing up error:

1.  Restart Your Computer

The majority of mistakes are caused by system breakdown. In such instances, if the system displays an error, the first step should be to restart the system. As shown below, the user may fix the computer not detecting a USB error by restarting the system.

Press the “Start” button, followed by the “Power off” button. A drop-down list will display. Now, as indicated in the image below, click “Restart.”

Restart Your Computer

2. Update Your Computer

The manufacturer’s record of all issues observed by users makes it easier for them to generate fixes and patches in their updates.

The makers continue to provide system updates so that the user may utilize the system without any problems.

To update your system, follow the procedures outlined below:

1. Click the “Settings” button to open the Settings window, as shown below.  Now click “Update & security” from the drop-down option.

Update & security

2. The Update & Security window will be shown.  The system will check for updates and start downloading, as indicated in the image below.

USB Device Not Recognized

Tenorshare 4DDiG

If none of the previous ways work to fix USB device not recognized error, you may use a program like Tenorshare 4DDiG to recover files from a USB that isn’t showing up on your PC. You should be able to recover your data in three simple steps.

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1. After installing 4DDiG on your PC, connect your USB device to your computer, launch 4DDiG, and then select a USB device on the interface before clicking “Start.”

Tenorshare 4DDiG data restore app

2. All scanned-out files are shown on the left in Tree View and File View when the scanning process is complete. When you’ve found the files, you wish to recover, preview them and click the “Recover” button.

recover files from USB

3. After clicking “Recover,” you will be prompted to select a place for your recovered data. That’s all; your lost files on the USB will be restored.

 

3. Change the USB Root Hub Settings

The system has permission to turn off connected USB devices to preserve power. That might be why the computer fails to recognize a USB and showing ‘USB device not recognized’ error. As a result, the user may quickly fix this error by revoking the permission.

To make changes to the USB Root hub settings, follow the instructions outlined below:

1. Navigate to Device Manager and select “Universal Serial Bus controllers,” as indicated in the image below.

USB Root hub settings

2. A drop-down list will appear; double-click on “USB Root Hub (USB 3.0),” and the window displayed below will open.

USB Root Hub to fix USB Device Not Recognized Error

3. Select “Power Management,” then clear the checkbox next to “Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power.” Now, as indicated in the image below, hit “OK.”

Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power

4. Update USB driver

The system delivers drivers updates and fixes to its users. The user may rapidly fix the USB drive not showing up error by updating the system’s USB drivers. To update the USB drivers, follow the instructions outlined below:

1. Open Settings by selecting the “Settings” button from the start menu. A window will be opened. Click in the search bar, type “Device Manager,” then hit Enter.

2. The Device Manager window will appear; go to “Universal Serial Bus controllers.”

USB Root hub settings

3. A menu of options will be shown. A drop-down list appears when you right-click on “USB Root Hub (USB 3.0),” as illustrated in the image below. Click “Properties” from the drop-down option.

Update Driver

4. A window will appear; click on the “Driver button,” and another window will appear. Then, click “Update Driver” and then “OK.”

Fixed USB Device Not Recognized Error


5. Check And Change Ports

The system has two USB ports: one USB 2.0 port and one USB 3.0 port. If the system reports that a USB drive is not recognized, try connecting the device to another port. It might fix the USB device not recognized error.

 

6. Modify the USB Selective Suspended Settings

Another probable cause is the selective suspend setting in the power options, which gives the hub the ability to stop USB automatically but not detect it in the software. To disable this option, follow the actions outlined below.

1. Right-click on the Windows option to bring up a list of options. Now, as indicated in the image below, click “Power Options.”

Fixing USB Device Not Recognized Error

2. Click “Additional power settings.”

Additional power settings USB

3. A window will open; click “Change plan settings.”

4. On the next window, click on “Change advanced power settings.

Change advanced power settings for USB

5. A window will open; locate and click on “USB settings.”

6. A drop-down menu will appear, as seen below.

USB selective suspend settings

7. To broaden the options, click on “USB selective suspend settings.” As illustrated below, two options will be visible.

8. Change the settings for both options to Disabled, then click “Apply” and then “OK. to fix USB device not recognized error”

Set poer Options for USB

7. Format Your Hard Drive

If the user has attempted all of the techniques listed above and the error has not been resolved, the USB drive is defective and must be formatted. The device becomes corrupted due to malicious files or a technical error and is thus not recognized by the system. So, if we format the drive, it will return to the state it was in when it was initially acquired.

To format the device, follow the instructions outlined below.

1. As seen in the image below, double-click on the “This PC” option.

2. From the list of options, right-click on the USB drive connected to the system and select the “Format” option, as seen in the image below.

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How to format USB drive

3. A window will open; click the “Start” button, as seen in the image below, and the USB drive will be formatted.

Format USB

8. Data Recovery Software

The approaches given above are beneficial in resolving the flash drive not showing up error. Still, there’s a chance that when the system recognizes the USB, some crucial data may be missing. In such circumstances, employing third-party software to rescue files from the flash drive might be beneficial. We can recover the data by following the methods outlined below in such circumstances.

Download Recoverit from the link or go to the official website of the Recoverit Data Recovery software. It will open up the window displayed below.

Recoverit Data Recovery Software

1. Install Recoverit on your system and run the software when installing.

2. As indicated in the image below, select the external device to be restored.

3. Examine all external devices.

4. As indicated in the image below, preview and recover the file.

 

Questions and Answers

1. How do I reset a USB port?

Answer: There is a chance that your hardware is suitable, but the USB port is working problems; thus, it is preferable to utilize other ports on the system. If the user desires, they can reset a USB port by following the instructions outlined below.

  • Right-click on Windows key and select “Device Manager” from the option that appears.
  • Select “Universal Serial Bus controller” from the drop-down option.
  • There will be a list of options for various ports available.
  • Select the “Uninstall” option.
  • Restart your system, and Windows will reinstall the drivers on your system.

2. How do you test the functionality of a USB device?

Answer: Some USB drives include a tiny LED that blinks while the drive is connected to the system and in operation. However, if you have a USB drive that does not have an LED, you can follow the procedures outlined below.

  • Right-click the Windows button, then click “Device Manager.”
  • Select “Universal Serial Bus controller.”
  • Select the port to which the USB drive is connected.
  • From the list of options, click “Scan for hardware changes.”
  • Examine the USB Device option to check if it is operational.

3. Why isn’t USB Tethering working?

Answer: If USB Tethering is not working, try updating the Network Adapter driver in Device Manager. To update the Network Adapter drivers, follow the instructions outlined below.

  • Launch “Device Manager” and click on “Network Adapters.”
  • Right-click on “Remote NDIS-based Internet Sharing Device” and select Properties.
  • Choose “Properties,” then “Drivers,” and finally, “Update Drivers.”
  • Select “Browse my computer for driver software.”
  • Select “Let me choose from a list of device drivers on my computer.”
  • Uncheck the “Show compatible hardware” box.
  • Select “Microsoft” as a manufacturer in the Manufacturer area.
  • Select “Remote NDIS-based Internet Sharing Device” • Press “Next,” and the appropriate driver will be installed.
  • Turn the tether off and then back on.

4. How do I enable USB access?

Answer: By following the instructions outlined below, the user can enable USB access to a port.

  • Right-click on the “Windows” button and then “Device Manager.”
  • Select “Universal Serial Bus controller” from the drop-down option.

There will be a list of options for various ports available.

  • Right-click on the port you wish to enable.
  • To see a list of options, click “Enable.”

5. Do USB ports deteriorate?

Answer: If you connect a drive to a USB port and it is not recognized, try it with another port; there is an error with the port if it is recognized. That might be due to a technological error, or it could result from physical harm.


USB drives have turned out to be quite handy and effective in keeping information; thus, when the USB device not recognized error occurs, it is a serious one since the user stores vital information on the drive. If such an error happens in the user’s system, the user’s vital data may be lost permanently.

In this article, we examined USB devices and their applications and numerous methods for resolving the USB drive not recognized error, which included adjusting the settings and utilizing third-party software to retrieve the data.

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