Fix Error Code 43 for USB on Windows 11 / 10

Being a Windows user you must have come across the USB Device not Recognized error on your system. Usually, this error is reported due to the device descriptor failure. When you insert a USB device you get a message that reads as

“The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it.”

In Device Manager, details for error code 43 are available when you view a device’s status in its properties which is displayed as below:

“Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (code 43).”

This error occurs if the device hardware fails or the device driver fails.  Most of the code 43 errors appear on video cards and USB devices like printers, webcams, and related peripherals.

Workarounds :

  1. Restart your computer and check again. The error may be caused by a temporary problem with the hardware.
  2. Plug the device into a different computer and then properly eject it from there. Plug it back into your computer to see if it fixes the code 43 error.
  3.  If there are any other USB devices connected to the computer, try unplugging them and restart the PC to check if it solved the issue.
  4. Replace the data cable that connects the device to the computer if it has one.
  5. Unplug the power supply to your PC. Restart and connect the USB to the port. Once the USB device is connected plug in the power supply again.

If the above workarounds did not work for you, try using the fixes below one at a time until the error is resolved.

Fix 1 – Update USB hub driver

1 – Open Device manager by searching it in Taskbar search and then clicking on Device manager icon from the search result.

Device Maanger Search Min

 

2 – Now, Expand Univeral serial Bus controllers from the list.



3 – Now, right click on Generic USB Hub and click on Update driver

Update Device Driver M

4 – Now, click on Browse my computer for drivers

 

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5 – Click on Let me pick from a list of available driver son my computers

 

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6 – Now, select Generic USB hub from the list and click Next

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Wait for it to auto update driver from local repository. After this try again.

Fix 2 – Flush Driver cache (Only for laptop users)

1 – Eject all USB devices from your PC including your mouse, keyboards etc.

2 – Shutdown your PC.

3 – Once your computer has fully shutdown (when all the lights get turned off), Take out the battery

4 – Wait for 5 more minutes and insert the battery again

5 – Turn on your computer by power button.

6 – Now, insert your USB devices and check whether your issue is sorted or not

Fix 3 – Insert the USB device into any other PC and eject it properly

1 – Take out the USB from your PC and insert it into any other PC.

2 – Now, let it load properly and after it has loaded, Just Right click on its icon located in taskbar and Eject it properly.

3 – Now, Insert it back to your system again.

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Fix 4 – Use Microsoft Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

1. Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows key + R together. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open a Command Prompt as administrator. If UAC prompts, then click on Yes.

Open Cmd In Run

2. Type the command below and press Enter.

Command Prompt Msdt

3. In the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter, click on Advanced.

Hardware Troubleshooter Min

4. Make sure Apply repairs automatically box is checked. Click on Next.

Hardware Device Troubleshooter Apply Repairs Min

5. Troubleshooter starts scanning the hardware and devices for problems. Once complete it gives the option to either Apply the fix or Skip the fix.

This must fix any error that the troubleshooter is capable of detecting. If the problem is not resolved, then move to the next fix.

Fix 5 – Uninstall Drivers

To fix this error, Microsoft suggests finding the device and uninstalling its drivers. This can be done through the Device Manager.

1. Press Windows + R key to open Run. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.

Devmgmt

2. In Device Manager, double click to expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers. The USB device throwing the error must be connected to your system.

3. On expanding, you will see an Unkown USB Device with a yellow sign. Right-click on it and click on Uninstall device to remove it.

Device Manager Usb Uninstall Min (1)

4. Windows displays a warning message, that you are about to remove a device from the system. Click on Uninstall to start the uninstallation process. The device manager reloads after the removal and that device will not be listed anymore in it.

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5. Restart your PC and the drivers will be automatically installed.

Fix 6 – Disable Fast Startup

1. Hold Windows + R to open Run. To open Control Panel, type control in the Run dialog and press Enter.

control run command

2. Search for Power Options in Control Panel.

Control Panel Search Box Power Options

3. In the Power Options window, select Change what the power buttons do.

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4. In the right pane, click on change settings that are currently unavailable.

Change settings that are currently unavailable

5. Move to  Shutdown Settings and uncheck Turn on Fast Startup.

6. Click on Save changes and reboot the system to check if the error code 43 is resolved.

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Fix 7 – Change the Save Power and USB Selective Suspend Settings

Users have come across error code 43 while using a laptop or any power plan with high performance. The save power feature may be responsible for devices throwing this error.

1. Open Device Manager as stated in Fix 2.

2. Locate USB Root Hub under Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Double-click on the first USB Root Hub device listed.

3. Right-click on it and select Properties from the options in the context menu.

USB Root Hub Properties

4. Switch to the Power Management tab in the Properties Window and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Min Usb Power Management

5. Click on OK and repeat the same for any other Root Hub Device listed.

Power Management feature in Power Options

1. Open Run by holding Windows key + R. Type powercfg.cpl and press Enter to open Power Options in Windows.

Run Command Powercfg.cpl Enter

2. Find the active power plan and click on Change the plan settings next to it.

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3. In the next screen, select Change advanced power settings.

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4. Navigate to USB selective suspend settings under USB Settings in the Power Options window. Change the settings to disabled, both the on battery and plugged-in settings.

5. Click on Apply to complete the process.

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Fix 8 – Update Generic USB Hub

If all the above fixes do not resolve the issue, then updating the device driver may help resolve it.

1. Using Run open Device manager as in Fix 2.

2. Locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers and expand them by double-clicking.

3. Right-click on Generic USB Hub and select Update driver.

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4. Windows checks for the updated drivers for this device, and if found, downloads and installs them. If no new driver is found, it is advised to check the manufacturer’s website if any new driver is available for the same.

Fix 9 – Update BIOS

To update your BIOS go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of BIOS and install it by following the steps in the installer. But before updating the BIOS, check the current BIOS version and compare it with the version on the manufacturer’s website.

Fix 10 – Enable and Disable USB controller

1 – Press Windows key and S key together to open Search

2 -Now, Type device manager in the search box and click on Device manager from the result of search.

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3 – Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers

4 – Now, Right click and disable the USB device.

5 -Now, again right click and enable the device.

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Thanks for reading.



Hope you found this article informative.