8 Possible Causes for Computer Not Recognizing USB and Detailed Troubleshooting Guide

Computer not recognizing USB can disrupt your work on your computer. What could be causing this issue and how can you fix it? Follow the content below from FPT Shop to easily identify and fix the problem of USB not being recognized on your computer.

Dusty USB port, poor contact

The cause of USB not being recognized could be that the connection port on the computer is dusty, causing poor contact. To fix this, use a soft dry cloth to wipe the outside, then clean the inside of the connection port on the computer with a dedicated brush and plug the USB back in.

System conflict and some software

If the USB is connected normally, but suddenly the computer stops recognizing it, it is likely due to software conflicts. This error can be fixed by pressing Task Manager on the Windows search bar, then selecting to close the running background software, and finally selecting End Task. Now, you can reconnect the USB to the computer.

Laptop, computer infected with viruses

The issue of the computer not recognizing the USB could be due to inadvertently downloading files of unknown origin on the internet, which leads to the computer getting infected with viruses. The way to handle this situation is to install antivirus software on the computer, then remove files, malware,… that affect the computer system and USB.

Currently, there are many antivirus software options available that have the function of protecting computers from malware. Some popular applications nowadays such as ESET NOD32 Antivirus, McAfee AntiVirus Plus, Malwarebytes Premium, Norton AntiVirus Plus,… you can refer to for downloading, launching, and removing viruses. Once done, you can connect the USB to the computer and use it as usual.

Missing USB Driver

A common cause of the computer not recognizing the USB is that the PC is missing the USB driver. To fix this, perform the following steps:

• Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon and select Device Manager.

• Step 2: In the Universal Serial Bus controllers section, right-click on the yellow triangle icon and select Update Driver.

• Step 3: When the notification appears, select Search automatically for updated driver software. Wait for the device to finish searching, then reconnect the USB as usual.

Not recognizing, recognizing incorrectly, or driver error

In the case where the computer already has a USB driver but still encounters connection errors, it is possible that the device is recognizing incorrectly or not recognizing this driver. To fix this, you need to perform the following steps:

• Step 1: Type and select Device Manager in the Windows search bar.

• Step 2: In the Disk drives section, click on the drive you are using and select Uninstall device.

• Step 3: When a notification appears, click Uninstall to confirm.

• Step 4: After uninstalling the driver, reinstall it by reopening Device Manager > Action > Update Driver.

• Step 5: When the notification appears, select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for the installation to complete.

Missing USB identifier

This issue occurs when the computer has accepted the device, but due to the missing USB identifier, it does not display on the PC screen. To fix this error, follow these steps:

• Step 1: On the home page of the computer, click This PC/My computer. Then, right-click on the This PC icon and select Manage.

• Step 2: Select Disk Management in the Storage section, then right-click on the USB drive and select Change Drive Letters and Paths.

• Step 3: In the add panel, click on Add. Then, click on Assign the following drive letter, select any USB letter, and click OK.

• Step 4: When the notification appears in the bottom right corner of the screen containing the selected letter, the USB connection is successful.

Locked USB port

Accidentally locking the USB port is also a reason for the computer not recognizing the USB. To fix this issue, reset the USB port on your PC using the following steps:

• Step 1: Find and select Registry Editor in the Windows search bar.

• Step 2: When the notification appears, select Yes.

• Step 3: Copy and paste the command: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR” in the search bar. Then, select the Start value below, if the Value data box displays 4, change it to 3, then click OK.

USB port or USB device error

You should check if the USB is faulty by trying it on another device. If the device is recognized normally, it is likely that the USB connection port on your PC is having problems. To fix this, you can take the device for warranty or repair at computer centers. In the case where another computer also encounters the recognition error, the USB may be corrupted, and you should consider buying a new one to replace it, then use it as usual.

Conclusion

So the information above has helped you understand the 8 causes and solutions for the computer not recognizing USB. Hopefully, you can conveniently apply these methods when encountering similar errors, avoiding interruptions in device usage.