Because USB devices are Plug and Play devices, there is little that you can do to control or configure them. Windows usually detects devices when they're plugged in and, if necessary, installs drivers.
If your USB does not work after you plug it in, it’s probably due to one of these causes:
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Windows can’t find a driver for your USB device. When hardware attached to a computer doesn't work properly, it is often because of a driver problem. When you plug in a USB device, Windows automatically identifies the device and searches for a driver, a small software program that allows the device to work with your computer.
In most cases, Windows comes with the driver or can automatically download it from Windows Update. If Windows can't find the driver you need, you can usually find it on a disc that came with the device, or on the manufacturer's website.
If Windows is able to install a device driver automatically, you'll be notified that the device is ready to use. Otherwise, Windows will prompt you to insert a disc containing the driver for the device.
Occasionally Windows may not be able to find a driver for your device and the device did not come with a disc containing a driver. If this is the case, try to find a driver for the device yourself. Start by checking the website of the device manufacturer. You can often download drivers from the support section of such sites. If you are unable to find a driver there, try contacting the manufacturer.
If you are unsure how to contact the manufacturer, this Microsoft Help and Support webpage
contains a list of contact information for most hardware vendors.
NoteAll your drivers must be compatible with this version of Windows, so don’t download drivers that are listed as compatible with a different version of Windows.
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Windows can’t recognize your USB device. Before Windows can find and install a driver for your USB device, it must be able to correctly identify the device.
Occasionally you might have a USB device that Windows cannot recognize and that did not come with a disc containing a driver. If this is the case, try to find a driver for the device yourself. Start by checking the website of the device manufacturer. You can often download drivers from the support section of such sites. If you are unable to find a driver there, try contacting the manufacturer.
After you find a driver for a device that Windows cannot identify, you will have to install the driver manually. For instructions see Repair or update a driver.
NoteAll your drivers must be compatible with this version of Windows, so don’t download drivers that are listed as compatible with a different version of Windows.
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There's a problem with your device. If you have another computer that is working correctly, try to plug the device into that computer to see if you encounter the same issue.
If you have the same problem, there might be a problem with the device.
If believe your device is faulty, contact the manufacturer.
You can also check the status of your device in Windows.
To check the status of a device
You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
1.
Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.
Double-click the appropriate device category, and then look for an entry for the device you are having a problem with.
3.
Right-click the entry for your USB device, and then click Properties.
4.
Click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to see if it mentions any problems with the device—specifically, a problem with the driver.
If you suspect that a driver you received from the manufacturer is faulty, contact the manufacturer.
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The driver for the device is faulty.
Occasionally a manufacturer may release a faulty driver for one of its devices. Windows is unlikely to automatically install a driver that does not work properly. You are more likely to encounter a faulty driver that you download yourself or find on a disc that came with the device.
If you have a device that is not working properly, it can be difficult to tell whether the problem is with the device itself or the driver for the device.
If a device works fine but then fails after you update its driver, the problem is with the new driver. Roll back to the previously installed driver. For instructions, see Restore a driver to its previous version.
If you are installing a device for the first time, you can’t roll back its driver, because there is no previously installed driver. But you can try to determine if the driver is faulty.
To check if a driver is faulty
You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
1.
Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.
Double-click the appropriate device category, and then look for an entry for the device you are having a problem with.
3.
Right-click the entry for your USB device, and then click Properties.
4.
Click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to see if it mentions any problems with the device—specifically, a problem with the driver.
If you suspect that a driver you received from the manufacturer is faulty, contact the manufacturer.
•
The USB port is defective.
If you connect a USB device to a defective port, the device will not work.
Try plugging the device into a different port. If all the USB ports are being used, unplug a device that you know works, and then plug the problem device into the port that device was using.
If the device is plugged into a secondary USB hub (not directly into a USB port on your computer), unplug the device from the hub, and then plug the device directly into a port on your computer.
•
Other USB devices are drawing too much power from the USB hub.
If the device is plugged into a secondary USB hub (not directly into a USB port on your computer), it may not be getting enough power, since USB hubs do not supply enough power for some devices. The device you are trying to use might require all the available power or bandwidth that your computer can provide. Try connecting the device directly into a USB port on your computer.
You can also try leaving the device plugged into the USB hub, but unplug other devices in the hub and then see if your device works.
If this solves the problem, you might want to obtain a USB hub with its own power supply so that you have adequate power for all devices plugged into that hub.
Many USB devices, such as external hard drives and media players, require a connection to your computer using a USB 2.0 port. USB 2.0 is faster than previous versions, which makes large volume file transfers possible.
To determine if your computer has a USB 2.0 port
You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
1.
Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.
Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3.
If the word Enhanced is included in any of the listed controllers, your computer has USB 2.0 controller drivers installed.
High-speed USB 2.0 ports may not work for the same reasons that a slower USB port may not work. You might not have the correct driver installed for the ports in your computer, or the ports might be defective. If you are using an external USB hub plugged into your computer, this might also be defective or lack the proper drivers. Check Device Manager to see if your USB ports or hubs are working properly.
1.
Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.
Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers and check to see if all your USB ports, hubs, and controllers are functioning correctly. Any devices not functioning will have a yellow exclamation mark in front of them.
If you have a USB video camera connected to your computer and you receive a "Bandwidth Exceeded" message, try lowering the camera resolution in the program that you are using to view the video stream.
A lower resolution setting typically requires less bandwidth. For information about how to adjust this setting, check the information for the program that you are using to view the video stream.
Open AutoPlay by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking AutoPlay.
2.
To never see the AutoPlay dialog box, select Take no action next to the device or disc. To choose an action each time you plug in a device or insert a disc, select Ask me every time. To have a program open automatically each time, select the program.
Hub
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Hub
A device used to connect computers on a network. The computers are connected to the hub with cables. The hub sends information received from one computer to all other computers on the network.
Driver
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Driver
Software that enables hardware or devices (such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard) to work with your computer. Every device needs a driver in order for it to work.
Port
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Port
A hardware- or software-based interface used to transfer information between a computer and other devices. Hardware ports are physical connections that are visible on the outside of the computer. Software ports are the numbered gateways in programs that software programs use to exchange information.
Universal serial bus (USB)
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Universal serial bus (USB)
A narrow, rectangular connector used to attach a device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, to a computer.
Help and How-to
