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October 23, 2021

Fix Unknown USB Device in Windows 10 (Device Descriptor Request Failed)

You may find that when you connect an external USB drive, it doesn’t work on your computer. Instead, you get an error message: The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it. This may be because the device incompatible with your system. The USB Device Descriptor is responsible for storing information related to various USB devices connected to it so that Windows operating system may recognize these USB devices in the future. If the USB is not recognized, then the USB device descriptor is not working properly on Windows 10. The unrecognized device in Device Manager will be labeled as Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) cù un triangulu giallu cù un puntu esclamativu. The unknown USB device issue may arise due to various reasons. Today, we will help you fix the Unknown USB Device: Device Descriptor Request Failed error in Windows 10 PC.

Fix Device Descriptor Request Failed (Unkown USB Device)

Fix Device Descriptor Request Failed

How to Fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) in Windows 10

You may face these common errors due to an Unknown USB Device issue:

  • Device Descriptor Request Failed
  • Port Reset Failed
  • Set Address Failed

There can be several reasons behind this issue, such as:

  • Outdated USB Drivers: If the current drivers in your Windows PC are incompatible or outdated with the system files, then you may face this error.
  • Enabled USB Suspend Settings: If you have enabled the USB Suspend settings in your device, then all the USB devices will be suspended from the computer if they are not in active use.
  • Outdated Windows OS: In some circumstances, it could be that the Windows operating system running on your device is outdated and thus, conflicting with the device drivers.
  • Malfunctioning USB ports: Unclean surroundings might also contribute to the poor performance of your USB drive since the accumulation of dust will not only block the ventilation to the computer but also, cause USB ports to malfunction.
  • Siacci is not updated: This too may cause such problems.

A list of methods to fix Unknown USB Device: Device Descriptor Request Failed error in Windows 10 computers has been compiled and arranged according to user convenience. So, keep reading!

Metudu 1: Soluzione di prublemi di basa

Method 1A: Maintain Clean & Ventilated Ambience

Unclean surroundings and dusty USB ports may cause an Unknown USB Device error in your Windows 10 desktop/laptop. Hence, you should implement the following steps:

1. Clean laptop vents & Porti. Use a compressed air cleaner while being extremely careful not to damage anything.

2. Moreover, ensure enough space for ventilazione curretta of your desktop/laptop, as shown.

ventillated laptop computer setup. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

Method 1B: Resolve Hardware Issues

Sometimes, a glitch in the USB port or power supply might trigger an unknown USB device Windows 10 error. Hence, you should perform the following checks:

1. Sè u prublemu hè causatu da u supply power, allura pruvà re-inserting the USB device after unplugging the laptop da l'alimentazione elettrica.

2. Cunnette vi un altru dispusitivu USB with the same USB port and check if there is an issue with the port.

3. Cunnette u dispusitivu USB in a portu differente per escludiri prublemi cù i porti USB.

usb device ports laptop

Method 1C: Restart Windows PC

In most cases, a simple restart might fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue.

1. Disconnect u dispusitivu USB.

2. Restart u vostru PC Windows.

click on Restart. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

3.  Récapitanu the USB device and check if it worked or not.

Method 2: Run Windows Troubleshooter

You should try running the in-built Windows troubleshooter to fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue in Windows 10. You can do so in the two ways explained below.

Option 1: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

1. Press Windows + R chjavi simultaneamente per lancià u Run box di dialogu.

2. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic è cliccà nantu OK, cumu mostratu.

type in command msdt.exe id DeviceDiagnostic in Run command box and select OK

3. Here click on the Advanced opzione, cum'è evidenziatu quì sottu.

cliccate nantu à l'opzione Avanzata in Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

4. Verificate a casella marcata Applica riparazioni automaticamente è cliccà nantu Next.

check apply repairs automatically option in hardware and devices troubleshooter and click on Next

5. Once the process is completed, ripigliate u vostru PC and check if USB is being recognized now.

Option 2: Troubleshoot Malfunctioning USB Device

1. Da u barra di u travagliu, cliccate drittu nantu à u USB Device icon.

2. Sceglite u Open Devices and Printers opzione, cum'è mostra.

right click on USB icon at taskbar and select open devices and printers option

3. Cliccate cù u buttone drittu Dispi USB (per esempiu Cruzer Blade) è selezziunate Solucchju, cum'è evidenziatu quì sottu.

right click on usb device and select troubleshoot option in devices and printers Window. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

4. Troubleshooter di Windows will automatically detect problems and fix these as well.

Risolutore di prublemi di Windows rileva i prublemi

nota: If the troubleshooter states that it could not identify the issue, then try the other methods discussed in this article.

Also Read: Fix USB device not recognized by Windows 10

Metudu 3: Update Drivers USB

To fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue in Windows 10, you are advised to update USB drivers, as follows:

1. Type amministratore di sustegnu in u A barra di ricerca di Windows è cumbattu Intra chjave di lanciari.

Type Device Manager in u menu di ricerca di Windows 10.

2. Andate à a Controllers di Serial Bus Universal section and expand it with a double-click.

Double click on Universal Serial Bus Controllers in the Device Manager window

3. Avà, right-cliccate nant'à plug mutori (per esempiu Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller – 1.0 (Microsoft)) and select Prughjettu di l'aghjuntu.

right click on usb driver and select update driver. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

4. In seguitu, cliccate nantu Ricerca automaticamente i drivers. 

click on select Search automatically for drivers.

5A. Your driver will aghjurnamentu itself to the latest version.

5B. If your driver is already up-to-date, then you will get the message: The best drivers for your device are already installed.

If you driver is already up-to-date, then you will see the following screen. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

6. Cliccate nant'à chiudi to exit the window and Restà l'urdinatore.

7. Repetite the same for all USB drivers.

Method 4: Roll Back USB Drivers

If the USB device had been working correctly, but began to malfunction after an update, then rolling back the USB Drivers might help. Follow the given instructions below to do so:

1. Navigate à Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers cum'è spiegatu in Mètode 3.

2. Cliccate cù u buttone drittu Cunduttore USB (per esempiu Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller – 1.0 (Microsoft)) è selezziunate Joint, cum'è illustratu quì sottu.

right click on usb driver and select properties

3. In u USB Device Properties finestra, cambia à u cunduttori tabulazione è selezziunate Roll Back Driver.

Ppi: If the option to Roll Back Driver is greyed out in your system, it indicates that your system does not have any updates installed for the driver. In this case, try alternative methods discussed in this article.

roll back driver. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

4. Select Why are you rolling back? from the given list and click on pè cunfirmà.

select reason to roll back drivers and click Yes

5. After the process is finished, click on OK per applicà stu cambiamentu.

6. Finally, confirm the prompt and restituisce u vostru sistema per fà u rollback efficace.

Also Read: Fix Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller Driver Issue

Method 5: Reinstall USB Drivers

If the above methods to update or roll back drivers do not work, then you can try to reinstall your USB driver. Here’s how to fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue:

1. Andà à Manager di Dispositivi> Controllers di Serial Bus Universal, using the steps mentioned in Mètode 3.

2. Cliccate cù u buttone drittu Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller – 1.0 (Microsoft) è selezziunate Uninstall device, cumu mostratu.

right click on usb driver and select Uninstall device. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

3. Ora, cliccate nantu à Uninstall è ripigliate a vostra PC.

click on uninstall button to confirm uninstalling the driver

4. Now, download the latest USB driver from manufacturer website like Intel.

download intel USB driver. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

5. Once downloaded, install the latest USB driver. Then, connect your USB device and check if the said error is rectified.

Method 6: Disallow PC to Turn Off USB Device

The USB power-saving feature allows the hub driver to suspend any individual USB port without affecting the function of other ports, in order to save power. This feature, however useful, may still cause Unknown USB Device issue when your Windows 10 PC is idle. Hence, disable the automatic USB suspend feature using the given steps:

1. Navigate à a Dispożitu Manager cum'è mostratu in Mètode 3.

2. Here, double-click on Dispositivi di Interfaccia Umana espansione.

double click on the Human Interface Devices.

3. Cliccate cù u dirittu nantu à u USB Input Device è selezziunate Pruprietà.

Right click on USB input device and select the Properties. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

4. Here, switch to the Power Management tab and uncheck the box titled Permettenu à l'urdinatore per spegne stu dispusitivu per risparmià energia.

switch to the Power Management tab and uncheck the box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power

5. Infine, cliccate nant'à OK e restituisce u vostru sistema.

Also Read: Fix USB Continua a Disconnecting and Reconnecting

Method 7: Disable USB Selective Suspend Feature

The selective suspend feature too, helps you to conserve power while disconnecting USB sticks and other peripherals. You can easily disable the USB Selective Suspend feature via Power Options, as explained below:

1. Type cuntrollu panel francese in u A barra di ricerca di Windows è cliccate Open.

Type Panel Control in a barra di ricerca è cliccate Open.

2. Select Vede per > Icone grandi, è cliccate dopu Opzioni di l'energia, cumu mostratu.

go to the Power Options and click on it

3. Quì, cliccate nant'à Scambi di pianu cambià in your currently selected plan section.

selezziunà u Cambia paràmetri di u pianu.

4. In u Edite i paràmetri di u pianu finestra, selezziunate Cambià a configuración avanzata di putenza funziunalità.

In the Edit Plan Settings window, click on Change advanced power settings

5. Avà, doppia-cliccate Impostazioni USB espansione.

cliccate doppiu nantu à l'opzione di paràmetri USB in a finestra Cambia impostazioni avanzate di putenza

6. Una volta, cliccate doppiu Impostazione di sospensione selettiva USB espansione.

double click on usb selective supend settings in usb settings in Change advanced power settings window

7. Quì, cliccate nant'à A bateria è cambia l'impostazione in cacciatu from the drop-down list, as illustrated.

selezziunà nantu à i paràmetri di a batteria per disattivà in i paràmetri di supend selettivi USB in i paràmetri usb in a finestra Cambia impostazioni avanzate di putenza

8. Ora, cliccate nantu à Ammucchiata è cambia l'impostazione in cacciatu quì dinò.

click Apply then, OK to save changes after disabling usb selective supend settings in usb settings in Change advanced power settings window

9. Infine, cliccate nant'à Apply > OK to save these changes. Restart your PC and check if the issue is solved now.

Metudu 8: Turn Off Fast Startup

Turning off the fast startup option is recommended to fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue in Windows 10. Just, follow the given steps:

1. Andate à a Control Panel > Power Options cum'è illustratu in Mètode 7.

2. Quì, cliccate nant'à Scelta qualchissunu i buttuni di putere option in the left bar.

In the Power Options window, select the Choose what the power button does option, as highlighted below. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

3. Avà, selezziunà u Cambià apprupzioni chì ùn sò micca dispunibuli funziunalità.

Cliccate nant'à Cambia i paràmetri chì ùn sò attualmente dispunibili

4. Next, uncheck the box Attend in startup rapidu (cunsigliatu) è cliccate nantu Guardà i cambiamenti quì sottu.

uncheck the box Turn on fast startup and then click on Save changes as shown below. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

5. Infine, restituisce u vostru PC Windows.

Also Read: Fix USB Device not Recognized Error Code 43

Metudu 9: Update Windows

Always ensure that you use your system in its updated version. Otherwise, it will cause the said problem.

1. Type Verificate per aghjurnà in u A barra di ricerca di Windows è cliccate Open.

Type Verificate l'aghjurnamenti in a barra di ricerca è cliccate Open. Fix Unknown Dispositivo USB Descriptor Request Fallu in Windows 10

2. Avà, cliccate nant'à u Verificate per aghjurnamenti buttone.

select Check for Updates from the right panel.

3A. Segui u struzzioni nantu à u screnu per scaricà è stallà l'ultima aghjurnazione dispunibule.

Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the latest update available. Fix Unknown USB Device Descriptor Request Failed in Windows 10

3B. Sè u vostru sistema hè digià up-to-date, allura vi mustrarà Siate à ghjornu missaghju.

Windows aghjurnà u messagiu aghjurnatu

4. Restart your system and check if the issue is resolved now.

Metudu 10: Aghjurnate u BIOS

If the above method could not fix Unknown USB Device issue in your Windows 10 desktop/laptop, then you can try updating system BIOS. Read our elaborate tutorial to understand What is BIOS, How to check the current BIOS version, and How to update System BIOS here.

Pro Tip: Use the given links to Download Latest BIOS Version for Lenovo, Dell & HP laptops.

ricumandatu:

We hope that you could learn come si fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) issue in Windows 10 problem. Let us know which method helped you the best. Also, if you have any queries or suggestions, then feel free to drop them in the comments section.