How to fix a USB device not recognised or repeatedly disconnecting in Windows

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix a USB device not recognised or repeatedly disconnecting in Windows. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When a USB device isn't recognised, or keeps connecting and disconnecting, the cause is usually one of three things: a power-saving feature in Windows, an outdated or corrupt driver, or a physical issue with the port, cable, or device itself. The steps below walk you through resolving each of these, starting with the quickest fixes and moving on to more detailed troubleshooting.

Quick Fix Steps

Try these in order before moving to the detailed instructions:

1. Unplug the device, wait ten seconds, and plug it back into a different USB port.
2. Try the device on another computer to confirm whether the device or your PC is at fault.
3. Restart Windows with the device still connected.
4. If you're using a USB hub, plug the device directly into the PC instead.
5. Check the cable for visible damage, kinks, or loose connectors, and swap it if possible.

If the device still isn't recognised or keeps dropping out, continue with the detailed steps below.

Detailed Instructions

1. Run the Windows Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix common USB problems automatically.

1. Press Win + R, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and press Enter.
2. Click Next and choose Apply repairs automatically.
3. Follow the prompts, then restart your computer when finished.

2. Disable USB Selective Suspend

Windows can power down USB ports to save energy, which sometimes causes devices to disconnect unexpectedly.

1. Press Win + S, type Edit power plan, and open it.
2. Click Change advanced power settings.
3. Expand USB settings, then USB selective suspend setting.
4. Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled.
5. Click Apply, then OK.

3. Check for Driver Issues in Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
3. Look for any entries with a yellow triangle or labelled Unknown USB Device.
4. Right-click the problematic entry and choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers.

If updating doesn't help, try uninstalling the device:

1. Right-click the entry and choose Uninstall device.
2. Tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device if available, then confirm.
3. Restart your computer. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.

4. Reinstall the USB Controller Drivers

If individual device drivers aren't the issue, the USB controller drivers themselves may need refreshing.

1. Open Device Manager as above.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Right-click each entry (commonly labelled USB Root Hub, USB Hub, or USB xHCI Compliant Host Controller) and select Uninstall device.
4. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the controllers automatically.

5. Update the USB-related Motherboard (Chipset) Drivers

Outdated chipset drivers can cause a range of USB problems, especially after a Windows update.

1. Identify your PC or motherboard make and model. On a laptop, this is usually on a sticker underneath. On a desktop, check the motherboard box or the BIOS screen.
2. Visit the manufacturer's support site and download the latest chipset and USB drivers for your model.
3. Install the drivers and restart when prompted.

6. Check Power Management Settings for the USB Root Hub

Windows can switch off individual USB hubs to save power. Disable this behaviour for each hub.

1. Open Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
2. Right-click each USB Root Hub entry and select Properties.
3. Open the Power Management tab.
4. Untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
5. Click OK and repeat for every USB Root Hub listed.

7. Test for Physical Port or Hardware Faults

If the issue persists, the problem may be physical rather than software-related.

• Try every USB port on the machine, including front and rear ports.
• Test with a short, high-quality cable rather than a long or cheap one.
• Inspect the port for bent pins, debris, or damage. A torch can help.
• Try the device on a different computer. If it fails there too, the device itself is likely faulty.
• If only front ports are affected on a desktop, the internal USB header cable may be loose. Open the case (with the PC powered off and unplugged) and reseat the cable.

Troubleshooting

Device works in one port but not another

This usually points to a single faulty port or a power delivery issue. Confirm by testing other devices in the same port. If only high-power devices (external drives, charging phones) fail, the port may not be supplying enough power, which can indicate a failing motherboard or a loose internal cable on desktops.

Device disconnects when the laptop moves or the cable is touched

This is almost always a loose connector or a damaged cable. Try a different cable, and check that the device is fully seated in the port.

USB drive shows up intermittently or with a different drive letter

This can indicate the drive is failing. Back up any data immediately, then test the drive using a diagnostic tool such as CrystalDiskInfo to check its health status.

Problem started after a Windows update

Windows updates occasionally introduce driver conflicts. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and select Uninstall updates to remove the most recent update, then test again. You can also check the manufacturer's site for an updated driver released after the Windows update.

Bluetooth dongle or wireless receiver keeps dropping out

USB 3.0 ports can interfere with 2.4GHz wireless signals. If your dongle is plugged into a blue USB 3.0 port, move it to a USB 2.0 port (usually black) or use a short USB extension cable to position it away from the PC.

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