Fix USB Device Not Recognized Error on Windows and Mac

Before you begin

Match the environmentUse this guide only for Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS 14 or a clearly compatible setup.

Protect recoveryBack up important data and save encryption or account recovery keys before changing system state.

Know when to stopMake one change at a time and stop if the result differs from what the guide describes.

Problem overview

Your computer fails to detect a connected USB device and displays a “USB device not recognized” error message. The device does not appear in File Explorer or Finder, preventing you from accessing its contents or using its functions.

Common causes

Faulty USB cable or damaged physical port
Outdated or corrupted USB controller drivers
USB selective suspend settings powering down the port
System management controller (SMC) glitches on Mac

Solution 1: Try a different port and cable

Unplug the USB device from its current port.
Connect the device directly to a different USB port on your computer, avoiding any USB hubs.
If the device uses a detachable cable, replace the cable with a known working one.
Test the device on another computer to verify if the hardware itself is functional.

Expert Tip

Desktop computers often have more reliable USB ports on the back of the case, directly connected to the motherboard.

Solution 2: Disable USB Selective Suspend (Windows)

Press Win + R, type control panel, and press Enter.
Navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
Click Change plan settings next to your active power plan.
Click Change advanced power settings.
Expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting.
Change the setting to Disabled.
Click Apply and then OK.

Solution 3: Uninstall the device and reconnect (Windows)

Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
Locate any device with a yellow exclamation mark or labeled “Unknown USB Device”.
Right-click it and select Uninstall device.
Disconnect the USB device.
Restart your computer and reconnect the USB device to let Windows reinstall the drivers.

Solution 4: Roll back or update chipset drivers

Open Device Manager and expand System devices.
Locate your chipset controller (e.g., Intel or AMD chipset).
Right-click and select Properties.
Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver if the issue started recently.
If rollback is unavailable, visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest chipset drivers.

Solution 5: Reset the SMC (Mac)

Shut down your Mac completely.
For Macs with Apple Silicon or the T2 security chip, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it and wait a few seconds before turning it on.
For older Intel Macs, press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the left side of the built-in keyboard, then press the power button at the same time. Hold all keys for 10 seconds.
Release all keys and turn on your Mac.

Caution

If the device still fails to appear after trying all solutions, the internal storage or controller of the USB device may have failed permanently.

Confirm the result

Repeat the exact action that originally triggered the problem.

Confirm the original error or symptom is gone and no new warning has appeared.

If the guide changed a driver, service, package, or system setting, restart once and test again.

If the result is worse or unexpected, stop. Reverse only the last change using its documented restore option; if none is documented, use your backup or qualified support.

Questions about this fix

Why is my USB device recognized on another computer but not this one?

This usually points to a port hardware issue or a corrupted driver on the specific machine rather than a faulty USB device.

Does a USB hub affect device recognition?

Yes, unpowered USB hubs may lack the necessary power to run high-draw devices like external hard drives.