6 Ways to Overcome Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) Windows 10

 When you connect a USB device to a PC, the USB device descriptor helps identify the connected device, determining which device driver to load.

If the USB device descripto doesn't work, your PC will not recognize your connected USB device. You will get an error message that reads, "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)".

If you are experiencing this error, read on to find out how to solve unknown usb device (device descriptor request failed) windows 10.

What Causes the Unknown USB Device Error?

The “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” error can occur due to a hardware or system specific problem. Here are the various causes of this error:

* Your latest software update encountered a problem and ended up corrupting the USB driver.

* There was an error when you replaced some parts of your PC.

* You have made an error while configuring the settings for your PC USB driver.

* The USB port is damaged.

* The USB device is damaged, corrupted, or infected with malware.

* USB driver is corrupt or out of date.

* System BIOS needs to be updated.

How to Overcome Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)

Now that you know what causes this error, here are six ways to deal with Windows 10 unknown usb device (device descriptor request failed).

1. Quick Fix

Before you implement some of the more detailed methods for dealing with errors, here are some quick tricks you can try:

1. Try rebooting your PC and see if this solves the problem.

2. Try connecting your USB device to a different USB port. If this solves the problem then the original USB port you were using is most likely faulty.

3. Plug your USB device into another computer. This will help you determine if the USB device is corrupted or if your system driver is having problems.

4. Disable the Windows fast startup setting. These settings boot up your PC fast and may cause some problems to your PC performance. Disabling it and rebooting your PC can help.

If this quick fix doesn't solve your problem, then move on to the next method.

2. Scan PC For Hardware Changes

The next method that you can try is to scan your PC for any hardware changes. When the scan is complete, your PC can recognize the connected USB device.

Scan PC For Hardware Changes

1. Plug the USB device into your PC.

2. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting Device Manager.

3. In the Device Manager header menu, click the Action tab and select Scan for hardware changes from the list.

Wait for the system to recognize all hardware changes and see if this solves your problem.

3. Reinstall USB Drivers

Incorrect USB drivers can cause this error. To solve this problem, you have to remove Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Failure) driver and reinstall it.

Reinstall USB Drivers

1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting Device Manager.

2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.

3. Right-click the Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) driver and select Uninstall device.

Once you have finished uninstalling the drivers, reboot your system. This will automatically reinstall the USB driver and will help get rid of the error.

4. Update Generic USB Hub Drivers

If the previous method doesn't work, you can try updating the Generic USB Hub driver. It is possible that this USB driver is outdated and is the reason you are having problems. Here's how to update the Generic USB Hub driver.

Update Generic USB Hub Drivers

1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting Device Manager.

2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.

3. Right-click the Generic USB Hub option and click the Update driver option.

In the new window, select Search automatically for drivers.

Your PC will search online for compatible drivers. When the update is complete plug in your USB device and check if this has solved your problem.

5. Use the Windows Troubleshooting Tool

You can also resolve the Unknown USB Device error using the Windows Troubleshooter. It is a built-in Windows 10 tool that helps you find and fix various system problems.

Use the Windows Troubleshooting Tool

1. Press Win + R keys to open a run box, then type cmd then press Enter.

2. Run the following command in cmd msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic then press Enter to run it.

3. Follow the instructions provided.

When the process is complete, close the troubleshooter and restart your PC to apply the fix.

6. Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

Another method that can solve your problem is disabling the USB Selective Suspend Setting.

Disable USB Selective Suspend Setting

1. Open Control Panel by typing Control Panel in the Windows Search Bar and selecting Best match.

2. Navigate to System and Security > Power Options > Change plan settings.

3. In the window that appears, select the Change advanced power settings option.

4. On the Power Options screen, find and expand USB settings.

5. Expand the USB selective suspend setting and disable the On battery and Plugged in options if you are using a laptop, if you are using a PC disable the Settings option.

6. Click Apply and then click OK.

Restart your PC to apply these changes. Plug in your USB device and check if this has solved the problem.

Conclusion

So those are some ways to deal with unknown usb device (device descriptor request failed) windows 10. Now the error "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" should be resolved. This is a frustrating error, but most USB problems can be resolved after reinstalling the USB driver.