Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "USB device not recognized": what it means and how to fix it

Short answer

"USB device not recognized" means Windows noticed that something was plugged in but couldn't read the device's identity information (its descriptor), so it can't load a driver. A loose or charge-only cable, a weak port or unpowered hub, or a stuck USB controller usually causes it. First fix: plug the device straight into another port on the computer with a known-good data cable. Then shut the PC down completely and try again.

What this message means

When you plug in a USB device, Windows asks it to identify itself (vendor, product and device type) before it loads a driver. This message means that request failed, so the device never finished connecting. In Device Manager it usually shows as "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" with a yellow warning icon and error Code 43. The problem sits between the device and Windows: the cable, the port, the power supply, the USB controller driver or the device's own electronics. The device isn't necessarily broken, and the data on a drive is usually still there. Windows just can't talk to the device yet.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
Bad, loose or charge-only cable, or a dirty or damaged port	The error appears on one port or with one cable but not others, or the device connects and disconnects repeatedly when you wiggle the plug. Cheap cables that came with chargers often carry power only, so the device lights up but Windows can't read it.
Not enough power (unpowered hub, front-panel port, dock, or laptop on battery)	Power-hungry devices such as external hard drives, webcams and audio interfaces fail through a hub or dock but work when plugged directly into the computer, or when the laptop is plugged into its charger.
USB controller or hub stuck in a bad state (often after sleep or Fast Startup)	Several USB devices stop working at the same time, often after the PC wakes from sleep, and a full shutdown with the power disconnected fixes it for a while.
Power saving turning off the port (USB selective suspend)	The device works at first and then drops out after a period of idle time, or the error appears again after the PC wakes from sleep.
Corrupt, outdated or conflicting driver	The device works on another computer but not on this one. In Device Manager it shows a yellow warning icon, and Properties shows a status such as Code 43 or Code 10.
Faulty device	It gives the same error on every port, with every cable and on a second computer.

How to fix it

1. Change port and cable, and connect directly to the PC

Unplug the device, wait 10 seconds and plug it into a different USB port. On a desktop, use a rear port on the motherboard, not the front panel.
Remove any hub, dock, extension cable or adapter and connect the device directly to the computer.
Swap the cable for one you know transfers data (for example, one that syncs a phone). Many cables that come with chargers carry power only.
On a laptop, plug in the charger so the USB ports get full power.
Try the device on another computer. If it fails there too, the device or its cable is the problem, not Windows.

2. Do a full shutdown and drain the power

Unplug all USB devices.
Open Start, select Power, then hold Shift and click Shut down. This does a full shutdown instead of Fast Startup's partial one.
Unplug the power cable (and the charger on a laptop) and wait 30 to 60 seconds.
Turn the PC back on, then plug the problem device in by itself before reconnecting anything else.

3. Uninstall the device and USB controllers in Device Manager

Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Click View > Show hidden devices.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right-click "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" or any entry with a yellow warning icon and choose Uninstall device, then confirm.
Also uninstall any greyed-out copies of the device (these are old entries that are no longer connected).
Restart the PC. Windows reinstalls the USB drivers automatically. Then plug the device back in.

4. Update or roll back the driver

Windows 11 and Windows 10 (the Optional updates path differs, see step 1)

Check for driver updates. Windows 11: Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates. Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates.
In Device Manager, right-click the device (or its USB controller) and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
If the problem started after an update, right-click the device, choose Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (only available if an older driver is saved).
For chipset or USB controller drivers, download the current version from your PC or motherboard maker's support site (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and so on), not from third-party driver sites.

5. Turn off USB power saving

Windows 11 and Windows 10. On some laptops with Modern Standby, the USB settings entry is hidden from Power Options.

Press Windows key + R, type powercfg.cpl and press Enter.
Next to your active plan, click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting and set it to Disabled (set both On battery and Plugged in on a laptop). Click OK.
In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, right-click each USB Root Hub, choose Properties and open the Power Management tab if it is there.
Untick "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power", click OK and restart.

6. Turn off Fast Startup and repair system files

Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable", untick "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" and click Save changes.
Search Start for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Run sfc /scannow and wait for it to finish.
Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then restart and test the device.

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Still not fixed?

If the device fails on every port and on a second computer, the device or its internal USB connector is faulty. Contact the manufacturer about a warranty, or for a drive with important files, a data recovery service (don't keep plugging it in if it clicks or gets hot). If it works on other computers but not this one, update the BIOS/UEFI and chipset drivers from your PC maker's support page. Then try System Restore to a date before the problem started. After that, contact your PC maker's support, since a failing USB controller on the motherboard needs a hardware repair.

Questions people ask

Will I lose the data on my USB drive or external hard drive?

Usually not. The error means Windows can't identify the device, so it never got as far as touching the files. Don't format the drive if Windows offers it. Try another cable, port or computer first, and use a recovery service if the drive is physically failing.

Why does the message keep popping up when nothing is plugged in?

An internal USB device (such as a webcam, Bluetooth module or card reader), or a device in a dock or monitor hub, is repeatedly failing to connect. In Device Manager, check View > Show hidden devices for an Unknown USB Device, and unplug docks and monitor USB cables one at a time to find it.

What is Code 43 "Device Descriptor Request Failed"?

It's how Device Manager shows the same problem: Windows asked the device to identify itself and got no valid answer. The fixes are the same: change port and cable, do a full power drain, and uninstall the device and USB controllers so Windows reinstalls them.

Why does my phone charge but not show up on the PC?

It's usually a charge-only cable, or the phone is set to charging only. Use a data cable, then unlock the phone and choose File transfer (Android) or tap Trust (iPhone) when prompted.

It works in one USB port but not another. Is my port broken?

Possibly, but front-panel ports and hubs often supply less power or use a weaker connection. If the port fails with several devices that work elsewhere, it's likely a port or internal cable fault. Use another port until it can be repaired.

Sources

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