USB is not dead even with all the wireless gadgets coming out. Once a while, you still need to plug in a cable mouse, keyboard, smartphone or other USB devices to read personal data or something. Most of the time it works perfectly, but occasionally, the USB device not recognized or malfunctioned pop up message happens still.

If you are one of the frustrated users, here are some of the most effective and fastest way you can do to troubleshoot the issue and get your device detected by your PC again. It works pretty much the same on Windows 7/8/10. Therefore, we walk you through the steps with Windows 10 tutorial.

Method 1 Connect the USB to another port

Sometimes, it might be the dust or rust that cause bad connection between your USB device and the USB ports on your computer. Try a few times to remove the USB device and find a useful port. We suggest you to connect the USB to the port located back of the computer case.

Disconnect your other USB to avoid possible conflicts helps, too.

Method 2 Restart your computer

It is a super simple solution to turn off your computer, unplug the electronic charge and start things all over again. For the one-move-to-fix rule, it would be better to remove USB drive before shutting down the PC. To do this, right-click on the icon and choose the option.

Method 3 Update device driver

1. Open Device Manager. Right-click on the Start button and choose Device Manager.

2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.

3. If you see any entry identified as Unknown USB device, right-click on it and choose Update Driver Software.

Method 4 Update Generic USB Hub drivers

1. Again, follow step 1 and 2 in Method 3.

2. Right-click on Generic USB Hub and choose Update Driver Software.

3. Click Browse my computer for driver software>Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer> Generic USB Hub, and then click Next button.

4. Wait till you see Windows has successfully updated your driver software message. Try to plug in your USB device after.

Method 5 USB Root Hub

This solution also needs you to open Device Manager and expand USB Serial Bus Controllers.

1. Find USB Root Hub and right-click on it, choose Properties.

2. Click on Power Management tab and make sure the box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is unticked.

3. Restart your PC and re-plug in the USB device again.

Method 6 Try another computer

If nothing works after you try every method above or you find out on other websites, you could try to connect the device to another computer. If it does not work on two or three computers and USB device not recognized error still pops up, it is an issue with the USB device.

If you want to give the device another shot, try to use the system optimizer to clean the system junk first and then try to plug in and see if it works.