A guide for when the computer doesn't see the USB flash drive

In most cases, a banal reconnection helps. If you removed and reinserted your storage media, but the problem persists, our guide will help you.

The computer does not see the USB flash drive: what to do

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

Method 1: check the device and computer

You must first do the following:

1. Determine if the medium itself is working. To do this, plug it into a USB port and see if the indicator light turns on. In some cases, a special sound is also used. In either case, there should be some kind of reaction from the flash drive.
2. Connect the unit to a USB port different. It is recommended to use the one that works exactly (this can be, for example, the connector that you use to connect a mouse or a printer).
3. Take a close look at your USB stick. There may be some kind of dirt or dust preventing the computer from detecting it.

Device problem

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

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

Has the problem disappeared? So the obstacle may be in the device itself, or rather, in your s. In this case, it can be taken in for repair, but the restoration procedure is likely to be very expensive. It is often better to buy a pen drive new to pay to repair an old one.

Ports problem

If the drive has some kind of reaction to the connection, but the computer itself does not react in any way, the problem is with the USB ports. To this, do the following:

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

So if you can determine that the problem is with the ports, do the following:

1. Open the cover of the PC system unit or disassemble the laptop. Check if the cable is connected from any USB port. If not, connect it to your motherboard. Even if this is the case, it is worth trying to use the motherboard to work with the ports. Determining what and where to connect is pretty easy. There is only one cable coming out of the ports inside the computer, only one connector on the "motherboard" is suitable for it.
2. Check if the ports we need are connected in the BIOS (or UEFI). As for the BIOS, you have to go in and find the item associated with USB, in most cases it will be called «USB configuration» . Click on it. In the next window, check that all parameters have the inscription "Habilitado" (if it's posible). Above all, we are interested in the parameter "USB driver" . If this is not the case, set the state to "Habilitado" , in other words, "Habilitado" . It is possible that due to some kind of failure, the system has disabled the ports.

It is likely that after these steps, the flash drive will start to appear on the computer, at least in the disk management tool. If this manual does not help and the media still cannot be read, a specialist and have the computer repaired. It is quite possible that the problem is a complete malfunction of the ports and it would be better to just replace them. It is worse if there is some kind of malfunction on the motherboard. But all this can only be verified with a more detailed analysis using special tools.

Method 2: use the Windows USB troubleshooter

So all is well with the USB ports, the flash drive has some kind of reaction when it is connected to the computer and appears in the disk management tool as an unknown device. But then nothing happens and the files consequently cannot be viewed. In this case, use the standard Windows troubleshooter. The system is likely to be able to determine on its own what the problem is and how to resolve it.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. the required program from the official Microsoft website. Run it, click "Following" to run the tool.
2. After that, you just have to see how the utility finds and fixes errors. It is true that you cannot fix all the problems, but in any case, you will see what is preventing the computer from seeing the USB flash drive.
3. As a result, the image will be displayed as the following photo. If an obstacle is found, it will be written on it in front of it. In this case, just click on the problem and follow the tool's instructions. And if there is no problem, it will indicate that "Article is missing" .
4. Even if no problems are found, try removing the media from your computer and reinserting it. In some cases, this solution also helps.

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

See also:

How to uninstall OneDrive in Windows 11

Method 3: update your drivers

There are two methods to do this: through Windows Device Manager and through additional software. To use the first, do the following:

1. From the Start menu (o el menu Windows depending on the version of your operating system), open the control  and look Device Manager there . The latter can be done through a search. Open it.
2. Expand the Other devices section . There you will see some unknown device or device named after your flash drive. It is also possible that in the section "USB controllers" there the same stranger or "Mass storage device ..." .
3. Click on it with the right mouse button and select the item "Update drivers ..." . Select option «Automatic search ...» and follow the instructions of the wizard.
4. If that doesn't work, follow steps 1 and 2 on this list again. Right click and select "Remove" .
5. Check if your removable storage device is working. It may well be enough to make it work.
   Then select the menu "Action" at the top of the open window and click on the option "Update hardware configuration" .
6. Follow the instructions of the wizard.

Method 4: check the USB flash drive and computer for viruses

This method is relevant for those cases when the computer detects the drive, but it still does not open. Instead, an error appears. One could say "Access denied" or something like that, for example. Also, the media can be opened, but there will be no files on it. If this is not the case in your case, just check your computer for viruses and if you don't find anything, skip this method and go to the next one.

Use your antivirus to make sure your computer is virus-free. If you have a weak antivirus program, use one of the special utilities to remove viruses. One of the best is Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. In case no viruses are detected, do the following:

1. Open the start menu" and use search to find a utility called "Show hidden files and folders" (this is exactly the query you need to enter in the search box). Open it.
2. In the window that opens, go to the tab "Watch" on top. Uncheck the box "Hide protected system files" , if it is there, and place it next to the inscription "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" . Click on Apply and then Accept at the bottom of the open window.
3. Open your USB stick. You will probably see a file inside called "Autorun.inf" . Delete it.
4. Remove and reinsert your drive. After that, everything should work fine.

Method 5: rename removable media on the system

There may be a conflict due to the names of various drives on the system. In simpler , this means that the system already has a disk with a name, under which your USB drive should be identified. However, it will still be detected in the disk management program. How to run it, we have considered Above, in the first way. So open Disk Management and follow these steps:

1. On the removable device, right-click (this can be done in both the top block and the bottom ). Select item "Change drive letter ..." in the drop-down menu.
2. In the next window, click the button "Change …" . After that, another will be opened, on it put a mark in front of the inscription "Assign a drive letter ..." , select a new name a little to the right and click "To accept" .
3. Remove and insert the USB stick into your computer. It should now be defined under the new letter.

Method 6: format the storage media

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

Even if the above warning does not appear, it is better to format the USB memory.

1. To do this, in "Team", right click on it (you can do the same in disk management tool) and select «Properties» . In the drop-down menu, click "Format" .
2. In the countryside "File System", be sure to put the same one used on your computer. Put a check mark on "Fast …" in the section «Formatting methods» . Then you can save all the files. Press "Start" .
3. I do not help? Then do the same, but uncheck the item "Fast …" .

To check the file system, in the "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 USB memory is formatted on the same system.

If the drive still doesn't show anything, all that's left is to use one of the recovery tools.

Method 7: recover your disk

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

1. On the required disk, right-click and select «Properties» in the drop-down list.
2. In the window that opens, go to the tab "Service" . Click the button "Check now" .
3. Check the boxes next to "Automatically correct errors" y "Check and repair bad sectors" . Click on el button Home .
4. Follow the instructions in the recovery wizard.

In addition, there are specialized programs to recover removable media from brands such as Transcend, Kingston, Silicon Power, SanDisk, Verbatim, and A-Data. For third-party devices, see Method 5 of the Kingston Recovery Instructions, which describes how to use the iFlash flashboot service. It allows you to find special programs for flash drives from various companies.