Update USB Drivers—a prompt that you may never see explicitly on your screen but is crucial to remember. When you connect a USB to your computer, you aim to transfer data. However, the process on the back end is not as easy. The only reason you can simply plug a device in and interact with it is drivers.
Device drivers are required for the proper communication between hardware and computer. Every device attached to your PC has a dedicated driver that enables proper connection. However, the most crucial driver for external device connection is your USB driver for Windows.
Therefore, when you encounter problems connecting printers, mice, digital cameras, and other peripheral devices that use a dedicated USB port, you must update the USB port drivers on your Windows PC.
You may be wondering exactly how to download USB drivers. What is the process, and how does it work? Well, do not worry—this post has all your answers! Here, you’ll learn how to download, install, and update USB drivers on Windows 11 and 10.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What is a USB Driver
Universal Serial Bus, popular as USB, was developed in 1994 as a joint effort between companies like Microsoft, Compaq, Intel, IBM, and others. This collaboration provides a common way to connect devices, including communication protocols.
Using a USB driver you can connect devices like –
- Keyboard and mouse
- Monitor
- Printer & scanner
- External storage, flash drive, backup drives.
- Game controllers
- Headset and speaker.
Why Is it Important to Update USB Drivers in Windows
It is recommended that you regularly update USB drivers on your PC, as this helps the operating system establish a seamless connection with the connected device.
Also, updating USB drivers is recommended to avoid issues like the mouse not working, the printer not being detected, the inability to recognize the camera, the connected USB device not being recognized, and more.
Benefits of USB Technology
Updating USB drivers is important to get the most out of available USB ports. Doing so ensures that not only does the USB work properly but also provides other advantages, as explained below:
- It avoids USB driver issues
- Enhances performance
- Keeps users updated and in sync with the latest technology.
Now we know the significance of updating to the latest USB driver on Windows. Let’s learn different ways to update USB drivers.
How to Update USB Drivers
Windows is a flexible OS that allows us to update USB drivers in multiple ways. Let’s examine each method individually and the steps to implement it.
Note : To use any of the methods explained below and update USB drivers, you need to have an active and glitch-free internet connection.
Must Read- How to Download USB PnP Sound Device DriversSound Device Driver
Method 1. Updating USB Driver Via Windows Update
Most of the time, a user does not have to manually update these drivers. That is because Windows Updates keeps sharing the necessary driver updates along with the regular security updates that it rolls out monthly. If your PC has not been updated for a while, there are chances that the pending update package has the driver update for you. Hence, updating Windows can be a good way to update USB drivers.
1. Press Windows + I
2. Hit Update & Security
3. Choose Windows Update from the left pane > Check for Updates.
4. Wait for Windows to search for available updates for the system and drivers. Download and install the updates. (if any are available).
5. Once downloaded, there are chances of drivers, including the latest USB driver for Windows, to be updated.
However, the downside of this approach is that it does not guarantee that you will fix the error. There is only a limited possibility that the security update will include necessary driver updates. Hence, you can try this method; however, if it does not resolve the issue, do not worry; we have other methods, too!
Method 2. Updating to The Latest USB Driver Via Device Manager
To manually update the drivers, you must find the exact USB controller causing the error. Device Manager contains all the device drivers working on your PC. Simply open it and spot the driver you want to update.
To use this method and update USB drivers on Windows, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + R
2. Here, type devmgmt.msc > Enter
3. Look for Universal Serial Bus Controller category > expand it to see all devices
4. Pick the device using which you are facing a problem.
5. Right-click and select Update driver
6. Select “Search automatically for drivers.”
7. Wait for it to look for a driver update. If available, it will guide you through the steps to download and install the latest USB driver for Windows.
If this doesn’t work, you can visit the manufacturer’s site for a USB driver update. Alternatively, you may use the driver version found in the properties of the concerned drivers.
While this method can help you update drivers on Windows easily, multiple factors do not go well with it. For instance, first, you need to be sure exactly which USB controller must be updated. Since there are multiple ports on a PC, it can get confusing to identify the correct port for updates.
Note : This method involves risk for beginners, as an incorrect driver update or download makes the system non-functional.
Method 3. Update USB Driver With Smart Driver Care
If you don’t want to spend much time on things that can be done easily, this method is just for you. Using this advanced driver updating utility, you can update USB and other drivers quickly. To use this top driver updater, follow the steps below:
1. Download and install Smart Driver Care
2. Launch the professional driver updater
3. Click Scan Now and wait for the process to finish.
4. When done, update the USB driver and other outdated drivers.
5. Restart the PC to apply the changes. Now try to connect the USB device you were facing a problem using.
Note : Smart Driver Care offers both trial and paid versions. You can use any to update drivers. However, there’s a catch. Using the trial version, you cannot update all drivers at once. While the Pro version allows updating all at one go. This means to update outdated drivers when using the trial version; you will need to click the Update Driver button individually next to each driver.
Furthermore, you can also update outdated software using Smart Driver Care and schedule driver scans. This will help avoid problems caused due to outdated drivers.
Must Read: Smart Driver Care – Updating Drivers Has Never Been Easier!
Windows 11 & 10 USB Driver Download
These methods can help you update and make the most of your USB drivers. Using the steps explained above, we hope you can download the latest USB driver and update it on Windows 11 & 10. Keep in mind that updating USB drivers is a crucial step to keep your PC optimized. In case you find it typical to go and check for updates manually, we encourage you to use Smart Driver Care.
If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them with us. We’d love to hear from you.
FAQ’s- About Latest USB Drivers
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A range of peripherals including webcams, printers, digital cameras, external hard drives, mice, keyboards, and scanners is connected to your PC via the USB connection. When these devices don’t work properly, you may need to reinstall the USB drivers to fix your problem.
There’re two ways you can reinstall your USB drivers on Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7. You may not try them; just choose your preferred one.
- Reinstall the drivers using Device Manager
- Automatically reinstall the USB drivers (recommended)
Option 1 – Reinstall the drivers using Device Manager
Device Manager is a Windows built-in tool that allows you to view and control the hardware attached to your computer and update the device drivers. To reinstall the USB drivers in Device Manager, follow the steps below:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time to open the Run command. Then, type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
- Double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers to view the devices under this category.
- Right-click one device at a time and click Uninstall device.
- Click Uninstall to confirm.
- After uninstalling all the device drivers under Universal Serial Bus controllers, reboot your PC to fully implement the changes. Then Windows will install the appropriate USB drivers.
It’s easy to reinstall the USB drivers via Device Manager, but the drivers on Microsoft’s driver library are sometimes outdated (see why). For an easier way to install the latest driver, you can go for Option 2.
Option 2 – Automatically reinstall the USB drivers (recommended)
If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to reinstall the USB drivers manually or if you want to get the latest USB driver, we recommend using Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
The Pro version of Driver Easy comes with full technical support.
If you need assistance, please contact Driver Easy’s support team at support@drivereasy.com.
There you have it: two ways to reinstall USB drivers, both easy and safe. If you have further suggestions or questions, feel free to leave a comment below and we’ll be glad to help.
Are the USB drivers asking for an update? Drivers are tiny programs that allow interaction between your computer and other components. In this guide, I will let you know how to update USB drivers in Windows 11/10.
What Are USB Driver Issues?
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards aimed to create a method of common networking for computer devices, including the protocol for exchanging data and instructions between computers and peripheral devices. Sometimes it may not work correctly.
If you upgrade your operating system or buy a new USB device like a printer or mouse, or external drive, you may encounter several types of problems such as:
- Your device is not recognized by the computer when plugged into the USB port.
- Although the device manager recognizes the device, a yellow warning icon indicates that you cannot use it in its current state.
- Windows has automatically installed a driver, but the device doesn’t seem to be working.
- Outdated drivers can cause conflicts with other devices
- Infecting or damaging drivers can cause your system to crash unexpectedly
You can solve these issues by updating the USB driver.
The USB driver needs to be updated after some time. Here are some of the methods that will help you update your USB driver.
- Using Windows update
- Using Device Manager
- Update your USB driver manually
You will need an administrator account to follow these suggestions.
1] Windows Update
Windows also update drivers using the Windows update functionality. It looks for drivers to upgrade on both scheduled and user-initiated Windows updates.
Follow these steps to update your USB driver using Windows Update:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
- Right under it, look for a clickable link—View optional updates.
- Under Driver Updates, a list of updates will be available, which you can choose to install if you are facing an issue manually.
- From there, you can choose to update your USB drivers to the latest stable version.
This feature is helpful as you can see all the driver updates available for your system here in one place. If you have a specific problem because of an outdated driver; then, you can choose to install it.
2] Device Manager
Use Win + X to open Power Menu and select Device Manager. Right-click on a device, and click on Update Driver. When it fails to find a driver, Device Manager shows a Search for updated drivers on Windows Update, which opens the Settings app to the Windows Update page. To find this button, right-click a device and select Properties. Select Update Driver and then Search automatically for drivers > Search in Windows Update on the Driver tab.
In case you get another option when you ask Windows to find an update. Click on the link— Search for updated drivers on Windows Update— and then select View optional updates > Driver updates to install the drivers manually.
3] Update your USB driver Manually
If you want to update your drivers manually, there are a few ways.
- Download the driver from OEM Website.
- Right-click the Start menu > select Device Manager.
- Select the USB device where you want to update the driver from the USB devices list.
- Right-click it, then select the Update Driver.
- Please select the option Browse my computer for the driver software for the new driver.
- A browser window will open, allowing you to select the file from the folder where you saved the downloaded driver.
- After you’ve selected the new driver, click Next to begin the update.
The driver will be updated with your downloaded file.
4] Update using Third-Party Driver Updater Software
If you do not want so many steps and all of it doesn’t sound very clear, it is best to use professional third-party software to download and install the driver. These applications maintain a database of thousands of drivers, and the chance of missing an update is low.
Some of these are paid, while others are free. So check the link, and figure out which one works best for you.
Update USB Drivers are accessible but can be tricky at times. I hope this post will help you update USB drivers on Windows 11/10. Windows Update can download the updates relatively quickly, but at times can result in issues.
Why is my USB not detected?
There could be many reasons for this; here are a few common problems and their solution for which the USB might not be showing up:
- Make sure your USB device is on. For some USBs, the power must be supplied by a separate cable or physical button that you must turn on manually for the device to be detected by your computer.
- Make sure the USB stick does not have cracks. You should check the flash drive physically to rule out any issues before trying again. It’s possible that the flash drive was damaged without your knowledge.
- It would help if you restarted your computer. There is no doubt that this is an old standby of tech support, but it fixes many problems, mainly resulting from software malfunctions.
- Make sure your computer is fully loaded: Just before connecting the USB stick. A slow computer can get overwhelmed with all the operations it has to perform during startup, so your USB stick might be ignored.
How do I open the USB on Windows?
- Place the flash drive in the USB port of your computer. Whether you have a desktop or a laptop, you may find a USB port located on your device’s front, back, or side.
- You may see a dialog box depending on your computer’s settings. To open the files, select the Open folder option if it appears.
- One can open the File Explorer in case no dialog box appears. Navigate to the left side of the window and click on the flash drive. Please note that a flash drive may have a different name.
USB devices have become indispensable in our daily lives, allowing us to connect a variety of essential hardware to our PCs. So, to ensure optimal performance and compatibility, it’s crucial to have the latest USB drivers installed.
To help with this, we’ll lay out the tools and knowledge needed to download and update USB drivers effortlessly.
Why Are USB Drivers Important on Windows?
You may not think about downloading drivers for your USB stick, but there are some good reasons why you should.
1. They Impact Your Overall Computing Experience
Updating USB drivers on your Windows 10 PC isn’t just a routine task; it can significantly impact your overall computing experience. For one, updated USB drivers enhance performance and compatibility, allowing your USB devices to function optimally with your Windows 10 PC.
Moreover, they facilitate efficient communication between your computer and USB peripherals, ensuring smooth data transfer, stable connections, and the proper functioning of device features. In addition, USB driver updates often provide bug fixes that ensure system stability.
2. They Ensure System Stability and Help Prevent Security Risks
The importance of updated USB drivers becomes even more apparent when we consider the effects of outdated or faulty drivers, such as compatibility issues and frequent disconnections. They also cause system instability, sluggish performance, and, in extreme cases, system crashes.
Furthermore, outdated USB drivers pose functional challenges and leave your system vulnerable to security risks. After all, driver updates contain critical security patches that address vulnerabilities that cyberattackers could exploit.
Bottom line? Installing these updates allows you to take advantage of the latest advancements, ensuring that your USB devices operate at their full potential. Whether it’s faster data transfer speeds, reduced latency, or improved power management, updated USB drivers unlock an array of performance enhancements that positively impact your Windows 10 PC.
How to Download USB Drivers From Official Sources
There are several official sources you can visit to obtain the latest USB drivers for your Windows 10 PC. So, let’s explore how to get them.
1. Figure Out Your USB Device’s Manufacturer and Model Number
Start by identifying the manufacturer of your USB device. This information can usually be found on the device itself, its packaging, or the manufacturer’s documentation.
If you can’t find the model name on any of these, plug your USB device into your PC. Then, open Device Manager and find your device on it. This will usually give the full manufacturer’s name and the model of the USB device.
2. Find Your USB Device’s Drivers
The first place to visit is the official website of the USB device manufacturer. Look for a «support» or «downloads» section that contains drivers. Then, locate the driver that matches your USB device’s make and model.
Manufacturers typically organize their drivers by device type and model number. This makes it pretty easy to choose the driver specifically designed for your operating system.
After selecting the appropriate driver, initiate the download process by clicking the provided link or button. Some manufacturers may require you to accept terms and conditions or provide information about your device before starting the download.
In any case, save the downloaded driver file to a location on your computer that is easily accessible. If the driver is compressed in a zip file, use the Windows 10 built-in extraction tool or third-party software to unzip the file.
You can also visit the Microsoft Downloads Center. Look for the specific page dedicated to Windows 10 drivers. Here, you’ll find many drivers designed to work seamlessly with your operating system.
Search for the specific USB driver you need based on your device’s make and model. Then, follow the instructions provided to initiate the download. Afterward, save the driver file to a convenient location on your computer and extract the contents.
How to Install USB Drivers on Windows 10
While Windows 10 provides built-in drivers for most USB devices, downloading and installing manufacturer-specific drivers can offer additional benefits. To this end, here’s how you can install USB drivers on your Windows 10 PC.
1. Install the Driver You Downloaded
Locate the USB driver file in your Downloads folder or any other specified location during the download process. Double-click on the USB driver file to launch the installation wizard, which will guide you through the necessary steps.
During installation, you may be prompted to review and accept the license agreement. Take the time to carefully read and understand the terms and conditions before proceeding.
After that, follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard. These instructions may include selecting an installation location, confirming installation settings, or connecting your USB device to the computer.
2. Restart Your PC
Once you have completed the necessary steps, the installation wizard will begin installing the USB driver. It’s best to restart your PC after installation to ensure that the newly installed USB driver is fully integrated into the operating system.
Upon restarting, your PC will recognize the installed USB driver. To verify the functionality, it’s best to connect a USB device and observe its behavior.
Note that the installation process may vary slightly depending on the USB driver or manufacturer. As such, you should always refer to the documentation or instructions provided by the manufacturer for any additional steps or specific requirements.
How to Troubleshoot USB Driver Issues
When facing USB driver issues on your Windows 10 PC, following these instructions will help you identify and resolve them as soon as possible.
1. Check Your USB Connection
First, check that the physical connection between the USB and your computer is secure. If it’s loose, the USB device won’t communicate with your PC properly.
If you’re using a USB hub, ensure it’s powered on and functioning correctly. Additionally, try connecting the USB device to different USB ports on your computer to rule out any port-specific issues.
2. Perform a Quick Restart
In some cases, a simple restart can work wonders. This is why we often recommend restarting your computer before trying any advanced troubleshooting methods.
So, close all applications and restart your computer. Then, check if the USB device is recognized and functioning correctly.
3. Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver
If restarting your PC does not resolve the problem, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the USB drivers. To do this, expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category on the Device Manager and right-click on the USB device or controller experiencing issues.
Choose Uninstall device and confirm the uninstallation. Afterward, restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the USB drivers.
4. Check Your Computer for Malware
You may also need to check whether your computer has malware, as malicious software can interfere with USB device functionality. Perform a full system scan, and if any malware is detected, follow your antivirus instructions to remove it from your computer.
In the rare event that none of these troubleshooting steps resolve your USB driver issues, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer’s support team for further assistance.
USB Drivers Made Easy on Windows 10
Downloading and updating USB drivers on your Windows 10 PC is essential to ensure maximum performance and compatibility with your USB devices.
However, USB drivers are just a small part of the wider driver ecosystem on your Windows 10 PC. Various drivers require regular management, updates, and troubleshooting, from graphics and audio drivers to network and chipset drivers.
One of the easiest and most popular ways to connect any external device to your computer is through Universal Serial Bus Connector or known as USB in short. All device manufacturers provide a USB port to connect and laptop manufacturers provide more than a couple of USB ports. This brings us to today’s topic on how to update USB drivers in Windows 10, but this also raises the question that is it really important to update USB drivers?
The answer to that is simply provided you know what drivers do in your system. Drivers are small programs or codes that help establish a communication between the software and the hardware. In other words, if the USB drivers are not updated, then any device you connect to the USB ports will not be recognized or detected by your computer. If you are facing any issues with your USB devices not working, then here are few troubleshooting methods to resolve USB issues focusing on how to facilitate USB update on Windows 10.
Different Methods On How To Update USB Drivers In Windows 10?
There are four Basic Methods on how you can perform a USB update in Windows 10. I have described all methods thoroughly below:
Method 1: Manufacturer Website
| Rate of Success | 75% |
| Does it consume time? | Yes |
| Does it require effort? | Yes |
| Does it require technical know-how and troubleshooting skills? | Yes |
The first method of updating drivers is to search, download and install them from the manufacturer’s website. All hardware manufacturers maintain a specific website where users can find drivers for their products. One of the greatest challenges in this method is the identification of the hardware make and model. If you cannot identify your hardware, then you should try a different method because installing mismatched drivers would not be beneficial.
In case of updating USB drivers in Windows 10, you would have to look for your motherboard or chipset drivers. The USB drivers would not be available separately as they form a part of the circuits on your mainboard in the CPU tower.
Method 2: Windows Update
| Rate of Success | 50% |
| Does it consume time? | Yes |
| Does it require effort? | Yes |
| Does it require technical know-how and troubleshooting skills? | No |
Moving on to the second method, you can use the Windows Updates feature to update your drivers. Microsoft provides regular patches to its Windows 10 users related to applications, security, drivers, etc. Most hardware manufacturers develop driver patches and send them to the Microsoft research team which then checks and analyzes the driver patch before releasing them to the Windows 10 users. However, the Windows Update for USB drivers is a slow process as these patches are downloaded from the Microsoft Server only.
Here are the steps to initiate Windows Update for USB drivers on your PC:
Step 1: Press Windows + I to launch the Settings window.
Step 2: Choose Update & Security and click on Windows Update in the left panel of the window.
Step 3: Now, click on Check for Updates button in the right panel and follow the onscreen instructions.
Step 4: Restart your computer after the update process is completed for the changes to take effect.
Note: If the manufacturer did not submit the latest update to the Microsoft Servers, then you will not be able to download it on your system through this method.
Method 3: Device Manager
| Rate of Success | 75% |
| Does it consume time? | Yes |
| Does it require effort? | No |
| Does it require technical know-how and troubleshooting skills? | No |
The next method for USB update in Windows 10 is to use Microsoft’s inbuilt driver utility known as Device Manager. This tool maintains all the records of drivers installed in the system and displays a list categorized by hardware in your PC. Unlike Windows Updates, users can use the Device Manager to download drivers for one particular hardware only like USB drivers. Windows Updates consist of large files and downloads that include a lot of patches other than drivers. Here are the steps to use the Device Manager on Windows 10 PC:
Step 1: Press Windows + I on the keyboard and type devmgmt.msc in the text box followed by Enter.
Step 2: A new window will open displaying all the drivers installed in your system. Scroll down and locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
Step 3: Click USB to reveal the dropdown and then right-click each item to reveal the context menu and select the Update Driver option.
Step 4: Next, click on Search Automatically For Updated Driver Software, and Windows will automatically search and download the latest driver for you.
Method 4: Driver Updater Application
| Rate of Success | 100% |
| Does it consume time? | No |
| Does it require effort? | No |
| Does it require technical know-how and troubleshooting skills? | No |
The final method to update drivers is by using a Driver Updater Application like Smart Driver Care. This application requires less time and effort with a 100% success rate as it is automated software. Smart Driver Care scans your PC and identifies all the driver issues with a few mouse clicks. Not only this, but it also searches its database and the internet for the latest updated drivers and installs them on your system. Here are the steps to use Smart Driver Care on your computer:
Step 1: Download and Install Smart Driver Care on your computer by clicking the link below.
Step 2: Once installed, open the application and click on the Start Scan button.
Step 3: Once the scanning process terminates, you will have a list of driver issues on your system. Click the Update driver link beside the USB Drivers in the list.
Step 4: Wait for the app to search, download and install the latest updated drivers on your PC.
Step 5: Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Smart Driver Care will carry out a USB update in Windows 10 if the present USB driver in your computer is missing, corrupt, or outdated. It will replace the current driver with the most compatible updated driver with ease.
Watch Video Tutorial:
The Final Word On How To Update USB Drivers In Windows 10?
If you observe that you are not able to connect and use devices through your USB port, then updating USB drivers on Windows 10 is one of the best possible solutions. You can use any of the four solutions provided above but notice the time, effort, tech skills required along with the rate of success. In other words, using a driver updater software is one of the best bets that can accomplish this task conveniently and deliver a smooth and faultless computer.
For any queries or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below. We would love to get back to you with a solution. We regularly post tips and tricks, along with answers to common issues related to technology.