Fix USB device not recognized

Try another port and cable first, plugging straight into the PC rather than a hub. If Windows still shows Unknown USB Device, uninstall it in Device Manager and scan for hardware changes, turn off USB selective suspend, and install the chipset driver from your PC or motherboard maker.

Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.

USB-C port on the side of a laptop, the first thing to check when a device is not recognized

The short version

What to install and where it comes from. Every link goes to the manufacturer or Microsoft, never to a copy.

Typical errorDevice Descriptor Request Failed
Shows up underUniversal Serial Bus controllers
Most common causeCable, port or power
Driver to updateChipset (PC maker)

Official files only, nothing bundled

Step by step

  1. Swap the port and the cable

    Plug the device directly into a port on the PC, not a hub or dock, and try a different cable. Many USB cables only carry power, not data, so the device charges but Windows never sees it.

  2. Restart with the device unplugged

    Shut down fully, wait ten seconds, start Windows, then plug the device in. This clears a stuck USB controller state.

  3. Uninstall the unknown device

    Open Device Manager and expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right-click Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed), choose Uninstall device, then use Action, Scan for hardware changes.

  4. Turn off USB selective suspend

    Open Control Panel, Power Options, Change plan settings, Change advanced power settings. Under USB settings, set USB selective suspend setting to Disabled, then reconnect the device.

  5. Install the chipset driver

    USB ports are run by the chipset. Download the chipset driver for your exact model from your PC or motherboard maker and install it, then restart.

  6. Check Windows Update for driver updates

    Open Settings, Windows Update, Advanced options, Optional updates, and install any driver updates listed for USB or chipset.

Front ports and hubs are the usual suspects

Front panel ports on a desktop and unpowered hubs share power between devices. A portable hard drive or a phone can draw more than they supply, and Windows then reports the device as unrecognized. A rear port, or a powered hub, often fixes it on the spot.

When it only fails after sleep

If the device works after a restart but disappears after the PC wakes from sleep, the USB selective suspend setting in step 4 is the likely cause. Laptops on battery use stricter power saving, so test with the charger connected too.

Questions

The device works on another PC. Is my port broken?

Not necessarily. Try every port, including the rear ports on a desktop. If none work after the steps above, the USB controller driver or the port itself is the problem.

Why does it say Device Descriptor Request Failed?

Windows asked the device to identify itself and got no valid answer. That points to a bad cable, too little power, or a stuck controller more often than to a missing driver.

Do I need a driver for a USB stick or mouse?

No. Windows 10 and 11 include drivers for standard USB storage, keyboards and mice. If they are not recognized, the cause is the connection, power or the USB controller.

Can a driver updater fix this?

It can update the chipset and USB controller drivers, which is one of the steps above. It cannot fix a power-only cable or a damaged port.