We often use flash media to quickly transfer information between computers. There are situations when the computer does not see the USB flash drive, which creates a lot of problems. Consider why your PC does not recognize the connected device, how to fix it, and how to recover data from a broken flash drive.

How the problem manifests itself

The problem can occur in any version of Windows. The error appears as one of the following:

  • You connected the drive, but the computer does not show any signs of a new device. This happens even after restarting the PC multiple times;
  • The sound of the connected drive appeared, but desired folder not visible on PC;
  • Computer requires ;
  • A window appears with a message about an error in reading information;
  • PC freezes immediately after connecting a USB flash drive;
  • Problem with "Device not recognized" text.

Please note that only options are considered above when the flash drive itself is working, but not recognized by the computer. Connect the drive to another PC or smartphone. If the problem lies precisely in the flash drive, it is necessary to repair it.

Reasons why the computer does not see the flash drive

Among the reasons for the appearance of a problem can be both failures in the operation of the OS and hardware failures. First, we recommend trying to fix the problem with software ways. Then you need to check the health of the PC hardware components and the operation of the flash drive on other computers.

Software reasons:
  • System overheating.

The simplest and most common cause errors in the operation of a flash drive is a computer that is very hot. If a USB port located near the cooling system, an increase in temperature may forcefully shut down the operation of this port. Thus, the OS automatically protects the port from damage;

  • Unsuitable drivers.

The computer does not see the USB flash drive if there is no USB driver software or the program is incorrect. This situation is mainly faced by users who have recently reinstalled the OS and have not yet configured its operation;

  • The drive is not formatted.

The first connection of a flash drive to a computer may be accompanied by a message about the need to format the storage. This will erase all data and files. Without formatting, you will not be able to use the flash drive in this system, since its parameters are not compatible with the OS settings. To save the data you need, you must connect the drive to another PC.

  • Incorrect device definition.

When you hear the sound of a connected device, but do not see it in the explorer, you can say that an error has occurred in system partitions and drive name. This is the reason why the flash drive is not visible on the computer. The system simply assigned it the letter of an already existing drive;

  • The conflict between the file system of a PC and a flash drive.

In this case, you will be able to open the drive folder, but it will be empty. For example, if NTFS is configured on your computer, and on a FAT 32 flash drive, two devices will be able to set up a connection, but the user will not be able to view files or add them to the drive folder;

  • Infection of a flash drive with viruses.

According to statistics, more than 70% of all malware are written specifically for installation and distribution via external USB gadgets. It is possible that the built-in OS defender simply “does not let through” the USB flash drive so that the virus does not spread.

  • The USB port is disabled in BIOS settings.

In this case, the user needs to log into system menu and enable the port.

Hardware reasons:
  • The drive connector is dirty.

We often carry flash drives in our bags and pockets. So the device can be damaged by third-party objects. Be sure to check if the USB connector on the flash drive is dusty. If necessary, it can be cleaned with a dry cotton swab.

  • The USB port is not powered.

If you are using a desktop PC, the ports on the front of the case may not be powered. This happens when, at the assembly stage, the front panel of the PC was not connected to a common power system. You can fix the problem at any service center.

We also note cases when the computer does not see the Micro SD flash drive. This happens when the connector (the adapter that connects the memory card and the USB port on the computer) is faulty. Also, different file systems can be the cause of the problem.

What to do: diagnostics and correction

You need to start solving the problem by working with the standard diagnostic utility. This utility is installed by default. Its main advantage is the ability to determine exactly why the computer does not see a USB flash drive or other connected device.

Follow instructions:

  • Open the Notification Center and click on the "Settings" tile;

  • Next, click on "Update and Security", and in a new tab, go to "Troubleshooting";
  • On the right side of the screen, find the "Hardware ..." item and select it. The diagnostic utility will open, which will automatic mode identify the problem and resolve it.

To start the recovery tool in Windows 7, you must press the key combination Win + R and in the Run window that opens, enter the command shown in the figure. Click OK and the diagnostic utility will open in a new window.

Checking with Disk Management

Disk Management is a standard utility for analyzing and managing all disks in the system. If the diagnostic tool did not help, we recommend checking whether the system recognizes the connected USB flash drive at all.

The absence of a drive name in the list of drives indicates that it is defective. Follow instructions:

  • Connect the drive to the laptop;
  • Next, click on Win + R and enter "diskmgmt.msc" in the text field;
  • In the Disk Management window, look at each item in the list. Also, it is recommended to reconnect the drive. See if it appears on the list. It may be that the computer recognizes the flash drive, but due to the similarity in the names of the sections, it disappears.

To force open a folder containing the contents of a drive, select it in the list and click on the drive section at the bottom of the window. Also check if the partition is correct. Its status is displayed at the bottom of the window. To troubleshoot, right-click on the drive and select "Fix".

Forced Partition Rename to Flash USB

If you see that the letter of the flash drive is the same as already installed disk, you can be sure that the computer will not see the USB flash drive.

The user can independently assign another free letter to the device. To do this, in the "Disk Management" window, right-click on the name of the drive and click on "Change letter or path ...".

In the window that opens, click on the letter, and then on "Edit". Enter any other Latin letter that is not used by existing devices. Save the changes and reconnect the flash drive to the computer. Everything should work fine.

If the computer does not see the micro flash drive (Micro SD) even after changing the Disk Management settings, we recommend that you restart the computer and proceed to the following options solutions.

Flash drive not recognized after update

If the problems with connected USB devices in the system began after switching to new version Windows or after installing the next update package, we recommend that you remove all USB drivers and reinstall them through the Device Manager.

If the computer does not see the SD flash drive, micro flash drive, smartphone connected via USB, you must use command line to uninstall USB drivers. This will erase from the system even those drivers that were manually installed from unreliable sources. Follow instructions:

  • Disconnect all storage devices that are connected via USB from the PC (including a webcam, flash drives, smartphone, card readers). The mouse and keyboard can be left on;
  • Restart your computer;
  • Download the DriveCleanup program (a utility that can search and remove all USB hardware drivers through the command line). Link: http://drivecleanup.ru.uptodown.com/windows/download;
  • Install the utility;
  • Launch Command Prompt on your computer. To do this, press Win + R and enter the cmd command;

  • In a new window, enter the drivecleanup.exe command and press Enter to execute it;
  • Next, the removal of absolutely all drivers and related entries in the registry will begin. Wait for the process to complete and close the command prompt window.

Note that drivers for all USB devices are removed at once, so after performing the operation, the connected mouse or keyboard may stop working. To further control the computer, use the touchpad or reconnect the USB mouse. Its drivers will be installed automatically.

Now go to device manager. To do this, click right click mouse on the Start menu icon and select the appropriate item:

In the new window, find the field with the name of your computer (usually the top line of the list). Right-click on it and select "Update configuration" in the list of actions that opens. Thus, new “correct” drivers will be installed immediately for all types of devices. An Internet connection is required to perform this action.

Now restart your computer and check if the flash drive is still visible on the computer. In 95% of cases, this solution option helps to fix all types of software errors.

Fixing Registry Entries

Another solution is to use third party program USBOblivion for automatic search and editing erroneous registry entries that are related to the operation of USB. These errors sometimes occur during the transition to a new version of the OS.

Follow instructions:

  • Download the USBOblivion utility from the developer's website https://www.cherubicsoft.com/projects/usboblivion and install it on your computer;
  • Disconnect all previously connected flash drives;
  • Run the application and check the boxes "Real cleaning" and "Save undo file";
  • Click on the "Clear" button.

  • All keys with information about USB devices will be deleted. Now you can reconnect the drives. They will work in standard mode, and new correct entries will be created in the registry.

BIOS check

It happens that the computer does not see any

If one of the lines named "USB Controller" has the value Disabled , change it to Enabled . Save your settings, close the system menu and restart your computer. Now the port will work.

Now you know what to do if the computer does not see the flash drive. Write which method helped you solve the problem and whether you managed to recover files on the drive.


Sometimes at the most inopportune moment, when it is urgently necessary to transfer information from a USB flash drive to a PC, the computer refuses see new device. It's about causes We will try to describe this problem and its solutions in detail in our article.

Hardware failures

So if your computer does not seeUSBflash drive, then the first thing to do when a problem is found is to check the health of the USB flash drive and USB connector. A properly functioning device connected to a working port will have a steady blinking indicator light. If the indicator blinks, but the computer still does not recognize the USB flash drive, then the problem should be looked for in the operating system.

nutritional deficiency

Quite often, a flash drive does not function when connected to a port located on block front panel. It happens that such connectors are simply not connected to the main power supply, and sometimes they receive insufficient power. In this situation, you should try to connect the device to a free port on the back of the computer.

The flash drive may not work. in case of power failure. This happens when there is excessive current overload in the USB ports or USB hub, or when the power supply is malfunctioning. In addition, it happens that the computer does not see the flash drive because it is too large, but as a rule this is rare.

Flash drive failure

If, after following all the previous steps, your computer is still can't see flash drive, then the reason may be in the device itself. Should try connect it to another computer. If the USB memory does not function on other PCs, then it is safe to say that it is faulty. It should be referred to the diagnosis to a competent specialist.

It is possible to repair a flash drive, however, very often repairs are more expensive than the cost. Therefore, it is worth repairing the device with a strong need. In other cases, it is cheaper to buy a new drive.

BIOS settings

The problem is sometimes hidden in the settings of the operating system. For example, computer does not recognize flash drive unless USB support is enabled via the BIOS. When the setting in the BIOS is done, a message may appear that says " USB device not recognized". This may be due to the reasons discussed below.

The flash drive is automatically assigned a busy letter

A very common problem is when the system assigns an already occupied drive letter to the device. You can troubleshoot in this way:


It happens that computer does not see USB flash drive because required ones are missing or outdated. In this case, updating drivers will help. motherboard. The name of her model can be viewed through the Everest program. driver should download from the official website of the developer.

Missing USB driver

Sometimes there is no special driver on the computer and it is for this reason that the computer does not see the flash drive wherever we put it. You need to check such a guess in the following way:

  1. We go through Control Panel on the menu Device Manager;
  2. In the proposed list of devices, you need to find USB controllers. One or more USB devices, in the absence of a driver, will glow with a yellow question mark;
  3. You should remove the incorrectly functioning device and install it again.

Viruses in the system

Sometimes viruses in the operating system affect the correct functioning of the flash drive. In this case, you need to scan your computer with an antivirus program and.

File system incompatibilities

Another reason why the computer does not see the USB flash drive may be that the computer fails read file system. This most often occurs when a file is installed on the flash drive. FAT system. Need to try to execute devices per system NTFS or FAT32.

As you can see, incorrect operation of a flash drive can be caused by hardware or software problems. That is why in every separate case it is required to sort through different variants of the reasons.

At one fine moment, when the user inserts his storage device into the USB port, the computer may not react in any way. Up to this point, everything was fine: the system calmly identified the storage medium and could work with it. But now everything is different and the computer flatly refuses to even show that a USB flash drive was inserted into it. In such a situation, you should not panic, because everything can be fixed, the main thing is to know how to do it correctly so as not to completely ruin the drive.

In most cases, banal reconnection helps. If you removed and re-inserted your media, but the problem persists, then our guide will help you.

It is very important to adhere to the order in which all the steps will be described below. If you decide to use any method separately, this is unlikely to solve the problem. In the course of describing the methods, we will be able to check all possible reasons why the flash drive is not detected by the operating system.

Method 1: Check the device itself and the computer

First you need to do the following:

  1. Determine if the media itself is working. To do this, insert it into the USB port and see if the indicator light on it lights up. In some cases, a special sound is also used. In any case, there should be some kind of reaction on the flash drive.
  2. Connect the drive to a different USB port. It is advisable to use one that works exactly (this may be, for example, the connector that you use to connect a mouse or printer).
  3. Take a close look at your flash drive. Perhaps there is some debris or dust on it that prevents it from being detected by the computer.

Device problem

If your drive is detected (something lights up or there is a characteristic sound), but nothing happens, then the problem is in the ports or in the computer itself. But if the drive itself does not react to the connection, then the problem is in it.

To verify this, be sure to try connecting it to a different connector. First, thoroughly clean it from dust. To do this, use brushes and cotton wool with alcohol. Let the device dry and use it again.

Did the problem go away? Then the obstacle may be in the device itself, or rather, in its contacts. In this case, it can be taken for repair, but the restoration procedure will most likely be very expensive. It is often better to buy a new flash drive than to pay for the repair of the old one.


Port problem

If the drive has some kind of reaction to the connection, but the computer itself does not react at all, the problem is in the USB ports. To verify this, do this:

  1. Try connecting it to another computer (very handy if you have a PC and a laptop).
  2. Use the disk management tool on your computer. To do this, simultaneously press the buttons on the keyboard. Win and "R" to launch the program execution window. Enter command "diskmgmt.msc". Click "Enter". When the tool we need starts, try removing and reinserting your USB flash drive. If there is no reaction in disk management, then the problem is definitely in the ports. But if there is a reaction, everything is much simpler. Then use method 2-7 of this manual to solve the problem.


So, if you managed to determine that the problem is in the ports, do this:



It is likely that after these steps, the flash drive will begin to appear on the computer, at least in the disk management tool. If a this instruction did not help and the media is still unreadable, contact a specialist and send the computer for repair. It is possible that the problem is a complete malfunction of the ports and it would be better to simply replace them. Worse, if there is some fault in the motherboard. But all this can be verified only with a more detailed analysis using special tools.

Method 2: Use Windows USB Troubleshooter

So with USB ports everything is fine, the flash drive has some kind of reaction when connected to the computer, and it is displayed in the disk management tool as unknown device. But then nothing happens and the files, respectively, cannot be viewed. In this case, use the standard troubleshooter from Windows. Probably, the system itself will be able to determine what the problem is and how to solve it.

To do this, follow these steps:


Unfortunately, this program does not always allow you to correct errors. Therefore, if all else fails, perform the following methods manually.

Method 3: Update your drivers

There are two methods for performing this action: through the dispatcher Windows devices and through additional software. To use the first one, do the following:


Method 4: Check the flash drive and computer for viruses

This method is relevant for those cases when the drive is detected by the computer, but still does not open. Instead, an error appears. It may, for example, contain "Access denied" or something like that. Also, the media may open, but there will be no files on it. If this is not the case in your case, just scan your computer for viruses and if nothing is found, skip this method and move on to the next one.

Use your antivirus to make sure your computer is free of viruses. If you have a weak antivirus program, use one of special utilities to remove viruses. One of the best is. In the event that no virus is detected, do the following:


Method 5: Change the name of the removable media on the system

It is possible that there is a conflict due to the names of several drives in the system. Simply put, this means that the system already has a disk with a name that should identify your USB drive. However, it will still be detected in the disk management program. How to run it, we considered Above, in the first method. Therefore, open the Disk Management tool and follow these steps:


Method 6: Format the media

In some cases, when you try to open the drive, you receive a warning that the drive needs to be formatted before use. Then it would be more efficient to do so. Just press the button "Format disk" to start the process of erasing all data.


Even if the above warning doesn't appear, it's still best to format the flash drive.

To check the file system, "Computer", on the hard drive, right-click.

In the window that opens, go to the tab "General" and pay attention to the inscription "File system". It is very important that the flash drive is formatted in the same system.

If the drive still does not display anything, it remains to use one of the recovery tools.

Method 7: Restore your drive

You can accomplish this task using standard means Windows. To do this, do the following:


In addition, there are specialized programs for recovery removable media brands such as , and . As for devices from other manufacturers, the instructions for restoration of Kingston pay attention to method 5. It describes how to use the iFlash service of the flashboot site. It allows you to find special programs for flash drives of various companies.

Your computer does not see the flash drive, what should I do? First of all, you need to find out if this is due to hardware problems - a malfunction of the USB port or the drive itself. How to do it? When a good drive is connected to a working port, its LED should start flashing. This indicates that both the flash drive and the port in in perfect order, and the source of the problem is software in nature and is located in the operating system itself. Otherwise, the malfunction has a hardware cause. Let's take a look possible options in more detail.

Hardware reasons

  • It often happens that the computer does not see the USB flash drive connected to the USB port located on the front panel of the system unit. The main reason for this failure is that these ports are simply not connected to the power supply or insufficient voltage is supplied to them. To solve this problem, try connecting your drive to one of the ports on the back system block. Most likely, the flash drive will be easily determined.
  • It can happen that a USB device does not get enough power due to overcurrent in the ports or hub, or due to a malfunction in the power supply. Owners of older laptops may also experience this problem due to the large size of the USB drive. In such a situation, nothing can be done. Another reason is too many USB ports used at the same time. Turn off devices that are this moment are not needed and try reconnecting your drive.
  • If after that the computer does not see the USB flash drive, then most likely the problem is not in the ports. Connect it to another PC, or better - to several. If the situation has not changed, the flash drive is definitely faulty. You can try to repair it by giving it to the appropriate specialist. Most often, this will cost more than the cost of the drive itself. Therefore, you need to resort to this option only if the information contained on the flash drive is important, and you just need to restore it. In other cases, it is easier and cheaper to purchase a new one.

Software reasons

If the USB device turned out to be working, then the problem lies in the settings of the operating system. For example, often the computer does not see a USB flash drive when USB ports are disabled in the BIOS. If in the settings given interface connected, you may see a message when you connect the drive that says "USB device not recognized" and the icon safe extraction will change to an exclamation point. What could be the reason for this, we will consider further.

  • One of the most common problems is that when you connect a USB device, it is assigned a drive letter that is already present in the operating system, so the computer does not see the USB flash drive. Most often this happens when there are network drives. To fix this, you need to go to the "Control Panel" menu, then to the "Administrative Tools" section, then "Computer Management". In the window that opens, select the "Disk Management" line on the left. A list of disks will open on the right, visible to the system, which should include your USB drive. Select it and go to the context menu, find "Change drive letter or drive path". Assign any free letter to the flash drive.
  • Another reason may be outdated versions or no motherboard drivers at all. In order to determine its model, we recommend using the Everest program. Download the most current versions drivers from the official website of the manufacturer. We do not recommend installing software from other sources - this can cause irreparable harm to your PC.
  • It happens that everything is checked and in order, but the system does not see correct driver. To check this setting, you should use the "Device Manager", which can be accessed through the same "Control Panel". In the list that opens, pay attention to "USB Controllers": if at least one USB device has a yellow question mark next to it, remove it and install the driver again. The last resort is to uninstall all USB controller drivers. After reboot operating system will automatically install them again. It is important to note that it is better not to use this method without special need.
  • Sometimes viruses can be the reason for the "invisibility" of a flash drive. In this case, be sure to scan your PC for malware and get rid of the infected files. If you can't afford a paid antivirus program, it doesn't matter. There are now a large number free apps, or you can temporarily use the trial version of some well-known antivirus.
  • Also, do not discount the possibility of a conflict between the file systems of the USB drive and the PC. The most common option is when file system computer - NTFS, and flash drives - FAT. In this case, just reformat it to NTFS as well, that should help.