USB key not recognized, 7 solutions

If your PC does not read the USB stick or does not respond at all, this can be due to several reasons. Your Windows may not be compatible with the file system of the USB drive or there may be problems. Fortunately we know all the reasons and we have all the solutions for when the PC does not recognize a USB stick. Why is my USB stick not recognized?

Read also: How to format an SD card

Here are some reasons why the USB drive is not recognized by the PC:

• Windows not updated
• Damaged USB controller
• Damaged USB port
• Outdated drivers or software
• Problems with the partition
• Outdated PC motherboard driver

Because the PC does not read USB stick

Before moving on to the solutions, see if Windows can detect the USB drive. Press the Windows and X keys simultaneously to open the additional menu. Click on Disk Management. In this new window you can see all connected devices. You may be able to see your USB drive in this list, it may even have a name like “Removable Drive”. If the USB stick is still not recognized by the PC, then read the solutions below.

1. USB key not recognized by the PC? Blame for energy saving

Sometimes when your PC is in power saving mode, it may turn off devices like USB drive to save battery. So, if your PC is in this mode, the USB drive may not be recognized. Thankfully, there is a way to prevent this from happening.

1. Follow our steps to access Device management and double-click the controller Universal Serial Bus.
2. Double click on USB Root Hub. You will now see a small pop-up window where you can view the properties of your USB stick.
3. From the tabs above, click Energy saving.
4. Uncheck the box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
5. click on OK .

Note: if you notice multiple USB Root Hub devices, repeat the steps for all of them.

2. If the USB device is not recognized by the PC disable the port in the power settings

Similar to the previous solution, this step is another way to prevent the USB drive from being disabled. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to Power settings in the search bar. You may see an option called Change power plan in the Control Panel.
2. In the new pop-up window, click Change advanced power settings . You will see another pop-up window named Energy saving options .
3. Scroll and double-click USB Settings, then double-click again USB selective suspend setting .
4. click on Connected: enabled . click on Disabled .

Also Read: 3 Best Solutions For When SD Card Is Not Detected By PC

3. USB key not recognized, problems with the USB controller

If your USB driver is damaged or inconsistent, it may not recognize the USB drive. So, the only method is update or reinstall USB drivers . Here’s how you can do it:

1. Digita “Device management” in the search bar and open it. Here you can see the list of all devices in your PC.
2. Now scroll all the way down and double-click Controller Universal Serial Bus . You may see two or more drivers from the drop-down list.
3. Right-click the devices individually and click Update Driver .
4. If you want to uninstall it, click on Uninstall driver .
5. You can now restart your PC. Windows will automatically install the new drivers.
6. You can also click Look for hardware changes . Then, try to connect the USB drive.

If the PC does not recognize the USB stick, maybe the USB port is damaged.

4. Update the motherboard chipset drivers

If the chipset drivers on the your PC’s motherboard are outdated , your PC may not recognize your USB stick. To solve this problem, it is best to update the drivers to the latest version.

1. Read the PC manual and product information document for the motherboard manufacturer.
2. Open your PC manufacturer’s online support page.
3. Usually, all brands of computers have the option on their official website to install drivers. Then, you can choose the correct driver and install it for your PC.

5. USB key not recognized, USB port malfunction

If most of the solutions do not work, there may be viruses or corrupted files, which may prevent you from viewing them. This can often happen with relatively old USB drives and ones you often share with other people. In order for the USB drive to work properly again, you will need to format it.

Another scenario where this step is useful is if the drive is partitioned, but the drive cannot be used yet. If the drive is in a format that is not compatible with Windows, the PC does not detect the USB stick. It is best to remember that Windows supports drives with file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT.

Keep in mind that although formatting the drive can work, it will delete all files and empty the USB drive. So, it’s a good idea to back up your files. In the meantime, here’s how to format your USB stick:

1. In the search bar, enter Create and format hard drive partitions . This will take you to the window Disk management.
2. Right-click on the removable memory. From the additional menu, click Format.
3. Nell’area Volume label set a filing name in File Explorer.
4. From the drop-down menu File System click on NTFS .
5. From the drop-down menu in the Allocation unit size click on Default .
6. Check the box that says Perform a quick format.
7. You can also check the box that says Enable file and folder compression.
8. click on OK .

Read also: How to recover a damaged SD card

6. Check for hardware damage

If the software-related solutions aren’t helping you, it’s time to check for physical damage. To confirm this, you can try connecting the USB drive to another computer. If it works, the problem is with your PC’s USB port. If the USB stick is not seen on another PC, the problem is with the stick. You can use a flashlight to check for damage around or inside the USB port on your desktop or laptop. Likewise, run the same test on the USB drive. Check for cracks and broken parts.

7. Update Windows

In the end, Windows update it could do magic. The update fixes any minor bugs and will update all of your PC’s drivers and components. Simply open Updates and Security from the settings. Go to Windows Update and click on all available updates.