1. Check the Device Manager
The first step for troubleshooting any USB device that is not being recognized is to check the Windows Device Manager. This will provide an indication as to whether or not the computer recognizes the device. To get to the Device Manager, press the Windows + R keys at the same time, which will open the Run command window. Type in “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter. This will open the Device Manager.
Look in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section and see if the device is listed. If it is, the computer is recognizing the device; if not, the computer may not be recognizing the device at all.
2. Check the Connections
If the device is listed in the Device Manager, move on to the next step. If not, check the connections between the device and the computer. Make sure that the device is securely connected to the correct port on the computer; some USB devices have separate ports for data and power.
Also make sure that the device is receiving enough power. Some USB devices require more power than others, so it may be necessary to use a powered USB hub to provide additional power.
3. Try Different USB Ports
If the connections are good and the device is still not being recognized, try connecting it to a different USB port on the computer. This may solve the problem since some USB ports on a computer are not as reliable as others.
4. Check the Drivers
If the device is still not being recognized, the issue may be with the device drivers. Drivers allow the computer to communicate with the hardware, so if the drivers are outdated or corrupt, the computer may not recognize the device.
To update or reinstall the device drivers, visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device. Install the drivers on the computer and then reconnect the device.
5. Disable and Re-Enable the Device
Another way to fix a USB device that is not being recognized is to disable and re-enable it in the Device Manager. To do this, open the Device Manager and locate the device in the list of installed devices. Right-click on the device and select “Disable” from the context menu. Once the device is disabled, right-click on it again and select “Enable”.
This may cause the computer to recognize the device, although it may be necessary to install the device drivers if they were not already installed.
6. Reset the Computer
If all else fails, a full reset of the computer may be necessary to get the device to be recognized by the computer. To reset the computer, click the “Start” button and select “Settings”. Click on “Update & Security” and then select “Recovery”. Under the “Advanced Startup” heading, click the “Restart Now” button.
Once the computer has restarted, reconnect the device and see if the computer recognizes it. If it does, then the problem has been solved. If not, the device may need to be replaced.