How to Fix When Windows Cannot Detect USB Device | StarTech.com (2024)

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How to Fix When Windows Cannot Detect USB Device | StarTech.com? ›

This issue can be caused if any of the following situations exist: The currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt. Your PC requires an update for issues that may conflict with a USB external hard drive and Windows. Windows may be missing other important updates hardware or software issues.

This issue can be caused if any of the following situations exist: The currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt. Your PC requires an update for issues that may conflict with a USB external hard drive and Windows. Windows may be missing other important updates hardware or software issues.

Some common causes of this problem include: Compatibility issues, like incompatible devices. Outdated, incorrect, or corrupt drivers. Damaged or faulty USB ports or cables.

If any USB Composite Device has an exclamation mark, right-click the port and select Uninstall. Click the Scan for Hardware Changes icon at the top of the Device Manager window. Windows should automatically detect your hardware.

Disconnect your device and restart your computer. Reconnect your device and wait for Windows to detect and install the driver automatically. Alternatively, you can also download the driver from the device manufacturer's website and install it manually.

How do I reset a USB drive? ›

Formatting Drives in Windows

Insert a USB drive into a USB port. Open File Explorer. Click on This PC from the left pane. Under the "Devices and drives" section, right-click the flash drive and select the Format option.

You should find a USB port on the front, back, or side of your computer (the location may vary depending on whether you have a desktop or a laptop). Depending on how your computer is set up, a dialog box may appear. If it does, select Open folder to view files.

Open Device Manager and then disconnect the USB device from your computer. Wait a few moments and then reconnect the device. You should see a device disappear from Device Manager when you remove the device, and it should appear again when you reconnect the device. Connect the USB device to another USB port.

If it cannot be recognized by Windows, it means that your USB is physically damaged and needs to be replaced. In addition, if the computer is attacked by viruses or malware, the USB may not be recognized. You need to scan Windows with antivirus software and insert the USB again to see if the problem is solved.

Connect the computer end of the cable directly to your computer, not through a hub. Always connect to the same USB port on the computer. If your USB connection has been working but now isn't, physically disconnect and reconnect the USB cable. If that doesn't fix the problem then restart your computer.

If Windows cannot recognize or detect your USB device, it could be caused by USB driver issues. If the USB device driver is outdated, corrupted, or missing, the computer may fail to display it as normal. In this case, you need to reinstall the USB driver or install the latest driver for the USB drive.

Why is my USB not showing up but makes sound? If your USB device is making a sound when connected but not showing up on your computer, it indicates that the device is being recognized by the system but is not being assigned a drive letter or being displayed in File Explorer.

Reinstall device drivers. Open device manager and find the device, right click on it, and uninstall device. Unplug it, wait a few minutes or reboot, then plug it back in. It should set itself up again and reinstall its drivers.

If the device isn't recognized, remove the USB device and then re-insert it. Check the firmware version of your car stereo and update it as necessary. Downloads are posted on your model support page. Ensure your device is set to the required USB mode before connecting it to the car stereo.