USB Device Not Recognized: Three Easy Fixes

Man frustrated USB device not recognized
 

If you receive a "USB device not recognized" message when you plug a flash drive, memory stick, or other external device into your PC, you may worry that the data storage unit has become corrupted. However, this is a common error message and is usually indicative that something is wrong with your computer, not with the device itself. 

The problem, then, is trying to figure out what has happened in your PC to trigger this error message. In this blog, we cover the three most common causes of this error message and how to fix them quickly and easily. 

USB Device Not Recognized: Try Unplugging and Restarting 

If you plug in to your Nikon camera to download photos and receive the USB error message, it's an indication that, for some reason, your Nikon drivers are not recognizing the device. The first step you should try when faced with this issue is a simple but thorough reboot of your PC.

·         Close out of all windows.

·         Shut down the PC.

·         Unplug your PC from its power source.

·         Wait 2-3 minutes.

·         Restart your PC in normal mode.

This gives the microprocessor a chance to reboot the motherboard, which should then start recognizing your driver devices again. If your PC has been running for some time without a reboot, the motherboard can simply shut down, and a reboot will get it going again. 

USB Device Not Recognized: Try Downloading New Drivers

If a simple reboot of your PC doesn't correct the problem, it could be that your drivers have become corrupted or outdated. For example, if you have an HP printer and you don't download the latest HP drivers, your device will stop functioning in time as the driver becomes too outdated to run the program.

 

To correct this problem, you can always try downloading new drivers for your devices. You can go to the manufacturer's website to do so, or you can download a driver upgrade program to your PC. This program will scan your PC to look for outdated drivers and will upgrade them with just a click of the mouse. This is the quickest and easiest way to upgrade your drivers and keep them running at their prime. 

USB Device Not Recognized: Try Running Anti-Virus Software 

If you cannot upgrade your drivers, then the problem may not be with the hardware on your PC. It could be that your USB drives, such as your Logitech headset drivers, aren't being recognized because your PC has a virus. Some viruses, malware, and other malicious forms of software are programmed to make it appear as though your drivers aren't working correctly, when in reality they work just fine. These scams will try to trick you into downloading their "fixes" so that you can save your PC. But in reality, there is nothing wrong with your computer—it's all smoke and mirrors. 

The only way to combat this issue is to download and run an anti-virus program on your PC and perform a full scan. This should quarantine the.exe files so they can be deleted from your computer permanently. Then you should be able to use your computer and all your devices without any issues.