How To Fix USB Device Not Recognized In Windows 10

Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Rhea Cabalida

Help! I inserted my USB device on my Windows 10 PC when the “USB device not recognized” error message flashed on the screen. I tried to check if my USB was read by my PC but it wasn't! What to do? I badly needed help!

We all know how reliable USB devices are, as most people use them. But there are certain instances where our handy USB devices experience errors on. And when they do, it makes us worry about the files we have stored inside the USB.

If you are in the same situation, it's now time to stop worrying as we have the solutions for you. In this article, we have gathered the possible reasons and effective solutions to fix the “USB device not recognized” error. We also provided some reliable ways to back up and restore your data, check them out!

In this article

Reasons: What Causes the “USB Device not Recognized” Error
Method 1: Restart your PC
Method 2: Check USB Ports
Method 3: Update Windows System
Method 4: Format USB Device
Method 5: Bring the USB Device to the Repair Center
Bonus: Lost files on your USB Device? Bring them back with echoshare Data Recovery

Fix USB Device Not Recognized In Windows 10 Poster

What causes the “USB Device not Recognized” Error

We know how scary it is to experience errors on your USB, that is why to find the right solution, we have gathered some possible reasons for the error. This could help us determine the right method to use.

Here are some of the reasons why your USB is not recognized by Windows 10.

Issues with the USB Hardware - If your USB device was dropped into the water or other similar scenarios that might damage your device’s hardware, it could be the main reason for the error.
Damaged/Unclean USB Ports - Damages on your port and dirt stuck on it may be stopping your system from reading your USB device.
Outdated System - If your computer’s system is not updated, performing tasks like transferring files from/to USB devices will be affected.
Malware and virus attack - These little buggers will quietly damage your computer and will prevent you from doing tasks like the one I mentioned above. Worst case scenario, it will also infect any USB devices connected to the PC.

You may think that because of these reasons the “USB device not recognized” error is hard to fix. But you don’t need to worry and hassle yourself to find the solutions, as we have compiled them for you.

Hold up! Secure your Data First

Before anything else, let's first make sure that the data inside your USB device is safe. You see, some of the solutions below may cause data deletion or will possibly wipe out the contents of your storage device. We highly recommend backing up your data before proceeding.

Solution 1: Restart your PC to Fix the “USB Device not Recognized” Error

The reasons behind the error could just be a minor bug, and to resolve it you can simply restart your PC. This will remove any minor bugs and solve any errors from applications on your system that have caused the error.

Solution 2: Check USB Ports to Fix the “USB Device not Recognized” Error

Dirt and gunk stuck on your USB ports can cause errors like the “USB device not recognized” error on your Windows 10. This will prevent your PC from successfully reading and recognizing your USB device. You may also check if there are any visible damages on your ports as this may also cause the error.

To clean your USB ports, you use a clean Q-tip and soak the tip with some rubbing alcohol and try to carefully clean the inside of the ports.

If ever you see some serious damage on your ports, try to consult a computer technician and get your ports fixed.

Solution 3: Update Windows System to Fix the “USB Device not Recognized” Error

As I've mentioned above, pending updates can affect your PC’s performance and will prevent you from doing tasks. And so to fix this error, try to check for available updates on your PC and update your system immediately. Here’s how.

Hit Start and go to Settings.
Access the Update & Security tab.

Click the Windows Update option and select the Check for updates button.
If you see any pending update, click on it and start the update.
After this, carefully re-insert the USB device on your PC and check for errors.

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Solution 4: Format USB Device to Fix the “USB Device not Recognized” Error

If you're using a USB flash drive and the solutions above did not work, you may still try formatting your USB, this will remove any bugs and malware and will free up space on your USB.

But keep in mind that this will wipe out all of the USB’s contents, so better follow what we mentioned above and back up your data first.

Insert your USB and open File Explorer.
Select the “On This PC” option and hit the “Devices and drives” tab.
Right-click your flash drive and choose Format.

Hit the Start then click the Yes to confirm your selection.
Once formatting is done, re-insert the drive on your PC and see if the error still occurs.

Solution 5: Bring the USB Device to the Repair Center

If none of the solutions above have worked for you, then you might consider bringing your device to the repair center. As it might have some serious hardware damage.

Bonus: Lost Files on your USB Device? Bring them Back with echoshare Data Recovery

If the USB device you're trying to fix is a flash drive, and if you ever lost files while repairing the issue, worry not. We have an easy and reliable way to bring back the files on your USB flash drive!

echoshare Data Recovery can easily recover all the files you lost on your USB drive. You will experience a hassle-free way of getting your data back with no quality loss! How amazing is that?

echoshare Data Recovery (WIN/MAC)

Recover deleted, corrupted, or lost data from any data storage device!

Supports Video, Audio, Document, Image, Email, Archive

Covers USB drives, hard drive, Android & Camera SD Card

Compatible with NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, EXT

Works on Big Sur, Catalina, macOS 15 (Sequoia), macOS 26 (Tahoe), & Earlier Versions

Download on Win

Download on Mac

This reliable tool can restore all types of data like photos, videos, documents, audio, and even emails. It also supports a wide range of external storage devices and can work perfectly with both Windows and Mac OS. So no matter what type of external storage device you have, echoshare Data Recovery gets you covered.

So stop worrying about your files and get them back right now!

Steps to Restore Data With echoshare Data Recovery

Download and install echoshare Data Recovery on your Windows 10 PC.
Insert your USB device on your PC.
Launch the program and select how your files were lost and choose the type of file you want to recover.
Next, click on your storage device and hit Scan.

Wait for a few moments and select all the data you want to retrieve and tick Restore.

After that, select a new location for your recovered files.

echoshare Data Recovery (WIN/MAC)

Recover deleted, corrupted, or lost data from any data storage device!

Supports Video, Audio, Document, Image, Email, Archive

Covers USB drives, hard drive, Android & Camera SD Card

Compatible with NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, EXT

Works on Big Sur, Catalina, macOS 15 (Sequoia), macOS 26 (Tahoe), & Earlier Versions

Download on Win

Download on Mac

Final Thoughts

It's good to know that there are easy ways to resolve and repair certain issues that we face. If in any case, you are in a situation where you lost your files and you don't know what to do, don't hesitate to use echoshare Data Recovery.