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

Recoverit Editorial Team

Oct 23, 2026 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions

What is the Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) error? Occasionally, when you plug your USB Flash Drive into the computer, this error message might appear on your screen. If the issue continues, your USB device may not be detected by Windows 10. Upon accessing the device manager, you will encounter an Unknown USB device (USB device descriptor failure) listed among the other bus controllers. An error with a yellow triangle will be displayed.

[5 Solutions] Fix Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) Windows 10 Error?

The USB Device Descriptor Failure error typically appears when Windows can’t recognize a connected USB device. It shows up in Device Manager as:

"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)"

This issue can stem from driver problems, power settings, or even faulty hardware. Here’s how to fix it step-by-step:

Solution 1: Replug the Power Supply

Remove the power supply from the computer and then restart the computer. Once this is done, insert the device for one more time. Then insert the power supply. If the problem is related to some sort of background program or something related to software that has been used, then the device would get detected perfectly.

Solution 2: Reinstalling USB Driver

The next step would be to uninstall the USB device driver. Open the device manager and then right-click on the name of the error. This would bring up an uninstall option. Click on this option and the device driver would be uninstalled from the computer. Now that the driver is not present in the computer, restart the computer. When the computer boots up, the computer would reinstall the driver on its own.

Solution 3: Disable the Fast Startup Option

Step 1. Press the Windows key and the letter R together.

Step 2. Type 'control' in the Run dialog box that appears. The Control panel will show up.

Step 3. Choose the power options.

Step 4. Click on "Choose what the power buttons do".

Step 5. Click the option chance settings that are currently unavailable.

Step 6. Uncheck the box right next to the Turn on fast startup. Save the changes that you just made.

Solution 4: Change the USB Selective Suspend Settings

Follow the previous steps up to open the control panel.

Step 1. Click power options and choose the option 'Show additional plans'.

Step 2. Click on "change settings that are currently unavailable".

Step 3. Choose the high performance and then click the 'change plan settings'.

Step 4. Choose "Change advanced power settings".

Step 5. Click 'change settings that are currently unavailable'

Step 6. Locate the USB settings and click on it. Expand the USB Selective suspend settings. Disable On battery and plugged in.

Ensure that you apply the settings. The settings would only come into effect after the computer is restarted.

Solution 5: Keeping the Drivers Up to Date Would Also Help

when it comes to solving the driver issue, updating the driver software is the most effective solution. This can be done manually from the device manager. But if you find this difficult, there are numerous application software that can be used to ensure that drivers are always kept updated. One such software is Driver Easy. 

Once Driver Easy is installed, scan your PC using the software. It would find out all the drivers existing on the computer. It would also check whether all the drivers are updated or not.

Once the scan is complete, click the drivers that are flagged. Click the update icon, this would update the driver quite easily. Also, there would be an option 'update all'. This would be useful if you want to update all the drivers on the computer without any effort. Also, the software would notify you if a new update is available for the drivers on your computer.

Solution 6: Check USB 4.0 / Thunderbolt 4 Backward Compatibility

If you are using a modern USB 4.0 port or a Thunderbolt 4 dock, the "Device Descriptor Request Failed" error often occurs because of a handshake protocol mismatch with older USB 2.0/3.0 devices. To fix this, try connecting your device through a powered USB 3.0 hub rather than directly into the USB 4.0 port. This acts as a "buffer" for the timing signals. Additionally, ensure your BIOS/UEFI is updated to the latest 2026 firmware, as many motherboard manufacturers have released patches specifically for USB4 "Unknown Device" stability.

Conclusion:

Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) error is a very common error. Make sure that you follow all the steps given above carefully. If the problem persists, even after these steps then it would be wise to consult an expert. If your data get lost, unfortunately, we sincerely recommend you try Wondershare Recoverit to recover lost data from a broken USB drive.

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