How do I check for a possible cause ‘port/cable problem’?

If there is no change in the first step, compare the steps in order, up to ‘Completely shut down the PC and turn it back on.’ If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

USB device not recognized: When do I need a professional check?

Even if you follow the above solution steps in order, if the USB not recognized symptom repeats, or hardware abnormal signals such as a burning smell, abnormal noise, overheating, or failure to recognize parts appear together, we recommend backing up important data and having a professional inspection.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Peripherals

USB device not recognized issue

Q: What should I check first if I see the USB not recognized symptom?

First, proceed with the ‘Unplug the USB device and connect it directly to another port’ step. Quickly isolate issues between the device itself and specific ports and hubs. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

When troubleshooting USB devices not being recognized, it's important to rule out the causes one at a time. Based on the “USB not recognized” symptom, check the port/cable problem and USB driver, then proceed to the next step. Cross-test devices, cables, and USB ports and check for power management and driver issues.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

USB not recognized
USB device recognition failure
unknown usb device
USB not caught

main causes

Port/cable problem
USB driver
Device power shortage or malfunction

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Unplugging the USB device and connecting it directly to another port

Quickly isolate issues between the device itself and specific ports and hubs.

Difficulty Easy time 3-5 minutes cost 0 won

1If you are using a USB hub, remove it and connect it directly to your PC.
2Connect to a different USB port.
3If your device has replaceable cables, use a different cable.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “USB not recognized” symptom decreases or disappears. If there is no change, check for possible port/cable problems in the next step.

Shut down your PC completely and turn it back on

This can reset a USB controller that has temporarily stopped responding.

Difficulty Easy time 3 minutes cost 0 won

1Shut down your PC.
2For desktops, briefly disconnect the power cable and for laptops, unplug peripherals.
3Turn it on again after 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Check USB errors in Device Manager

You can check driver/device status such as Code 43/unknown device.

Difficulty Moderate time 10-20 minutes cost 0 won

1Open Device Manager.
2Check the Universal Serial Bus controller and the problem device.
3If there is a warning icon, remove the device and reboot or update the driver.

Check USB power saving settings

Due to the power saving policy, the device may turn off and reconnect during use.

Difficulty Moderate time 10 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the USB Selective Sleep setting in Power Options.
2In Device Manager, try turning off the USB hub's power plan for diagnostic purposes.

Update or reinstall chipset/USB drivers

Outdated or corrupted chipset/USB drivers may be causing the symptom.

Difficulty Moderate time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the device in Device Manager.
2Check your PC or component manufacturer's site for chipset/USB drivers for your current model.
3If the problem started immediately after an update, consider rolling back to the previous stable version.
4After installing the driver, restart your PC.

Test your device on another PC

If the same symptom occurs on another PC, the USB device itself is likely to be malfunctioning.

Difficulty Moderate time 10 minutes cost 0 won

1Connect your device to another PC.
2If the symptoms are the same, consider manufacturer diagnosis/firmware/replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

This guide is designed to categorize port physical damage and front panel cable topics in a safe order for “one USB port missing” situations. Cross-test devices, cables, and USB ports and check for power management and driver issues.

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