Windows 10 is currently the most popular operating system being used in the works today. Part of the reason as to why it is preferred by a lot of people is that it has a user friendly interface and it has a huge library of software to support it. Although this is a solid performing operating system there are instances when certain issues can occur. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series we will tackle the windows 10 USB drive not detected issue.
How To Fix Windows 10 Not Detecting USB Drive, USB Stick, Pen Drive Issue
Before performing any of the recommended troubleshooting steps listed below it’s best to restart your computer first. This action refreshes the operating system and remove any corrupt temporary data that could be causing the problem.
There are several factors that can cause this problem ranging from a faulty USB drive to missing drivers. Listed below are the troubleshooting steps you need to do to fix this problem.
Uninstall and then reconnect the USB
The first thing you will need to do in this case is to uninstall then reconnect the USB drive. This usually fixes the problem if it is caused by a driver that has become corrupted.
- Type Device Manager in the Search box
- Select Device Manager from the returned list.
- Select Disk Drives from the list of hardware
- Press and hold (or right-click) the USB drive with the issue, and select Uninstall.
- After the drive is uninstalled, unplug the USB drive.
- Wait for 1 minute and then reconnect the USB drive. The driver should automatically load. Take note that connecting your USB external hard drive into a non-powered USB hub can cause a lack of enough power to operate the external drive. Instead, plug it directly into your computer.
Check if the USB drive not detected issue still occurs.
Install the latest Windows updates
There’s a possibility that the problem is caused by missing drivers in which case you will need to install the latest Windows updates
- Type Windows Update in the Search box, and then select Windows Update in the results pane.
- Select Check for Updates. After the scan is complete, select Review optional updates.
- Select the check box next to the updates, then select Install updates.
- If prompted, review the license agreement, then select I Accept.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the updates.
- If prompted, reboot your computer.
Check if the drive not detected problem still persists.
Reinstall the USB controllers
- Type device manager in the Search box, and then select Device Manager.
- Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Press and hold (or right-click) a device and select Uninstall. Repeat for each device.
- Once complete, restart your computer. Your USB controllers will automatically install.
Check if the USB not detected issue still occurs.
Turn off Fast Startup
When the fast startup feature is enabled it makes the operating boot faster. While this is generally a great feature there are times when some drivers will fail to load in the process. To check if this is what’s causing the problem you should turn off the fast startup feature of your Windows 10 computer.
- Type Control Panel in the search bar and click on the control panel app that appears.
- Change the view type to large icons.
- Click Power Options.
- Click Choose what the power buttons do.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Click Turn on fast startup (recommended) so that the check mark disappears.
- Click Save changes.
Check if the not detected issue still occurs.
Partition your USB storage
- Type Computer Management in the search bar and choose Computer Management from the list.
- Click Disk Management.
- Find your USB drive. Easiest way to do that is to check the size of the drives in Disk Management.
- If your USB hard drive is unpartitioned, you should see a drive with Unallocated space. Right click it and choose New Simple Volume. Follow the instructions in order to partition your hard drive.
If the USB drive is partitioned but it has no drive letter then follow the following steps.
- Open Computer Management and go to Disk Management.
- Find your USB hard drive and right click it.
- Choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
- Click Add and assign a letter to this partition.
Check if the USB drive not recognized issue still occurs.
Try connecting the drive to a different port
Top eliminate the possibility that the problem is caused by a faulty USB port you should try connecting the drive to a different USB port.
The above listed troubleshooting steps are just some of the main ways to fix the USB drive not detected issue.
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