How to fix the "Unknown USB Device Device Descriptor Request Failed" error in Windows

See the message “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” In Windows, it can be incredibly frustrating: the USB drive doesn't appear, the USB mouse disconnects by itself, or an external hard drive starts making that typical plug-and-disconnect sound endlessly. Sometimes it happens with just one port, other times it doesn't matter where you plug the device in, and often Windows simply displays the dreaded error message. 43 code at the Device administrator.

The good news is that, although the error sounds very technical, in practice it is usually due to a handful of fairly well-known causes: from a physical failure in the port or in the USB itselfThis can range from corrupted drivers and overly aggressive power settings to BIOS/UEFI issues and even bad sectors on the drive. This article will provide a guide. very comprehensive and in Spanish, compiling and reorganizing everything explained in the best English guides, but explained in other words and with a more approachable tone, so you can rule out causes one by one.

What does “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” really mean?

When you connect a USB device, the first thing Windows does is ask for a kind of "identity card" called USB device descriptorThat descriptor includes information such as the manufacturer, the type of device, the product identifier (USB hardware ID)etc. If that request fails, Windows doesn't know what's plugged in and marks it as “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)”, usually with the status message: “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43). An error occurred while requesting the USB device descriptor.”

In practice, you'll notice it in several ways: notices like this will appear “USB device not recognized”The device manager displays a yellow warning icon over the affected USB controller, or you continuously hear the connection and disconnection sound. Sometimes the error is limited to a specific USB drive, other times it affects multiple drives. any USB peripheral: keyboards, mice, printers, card readers, hubs, etc.

The usual causes behind this situation are quite varied: from the fact that Windows cannot find or understand the descriptorCommunication problems due to a damaged cable or port, outdated or corrupted drivers, overly aggressive power-saving settings, or errors in the chipset's USB controller. BIOS or an outdated or misconfigured UEFI, or even the least desirable scenario: that the USB device is physically damaged or has defective sectors.

Typical symptoms when code 43 appears on a USB

Before you start changing settings, it's a good idea to determine if what you're experiencing matches this error. Typically, when you connect the device, you'll see one or more of these behaviors, all related to the message. “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” or “USB_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR_FAILURE”:

• Pop-up notice in the lower right corner: “The last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it.”
• At the Device administrator, within “Universal Serial Bus Controllers”, an item with a yellow triangle icon and the text “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” or similar.
• In the properties of that element, within “Device State”, the following appears: 43 code with the text indicating that Windows has stopped the device due to reporting problems.
• The USB connects and disconnects constantlyor stops responding after a few seconds.
• Other peripherals such as USB microphones, headsets, printers, or keyboards stop work intermittently or they don't even appear in the system.

If what you see matches this, then yes, you are looking at the famous device descriptor problem, and you can continue with the rest of the sections to go shrinking the circle.

Most frequent causes of the “Device Descriptor Request Failed” error

To have a clear visionIt's worth summarizing where the problem usually comes from before we get into the solutions. In short, the most common issues are:

• USB port damaged or with poor contact: dirt, dust, bent pins or a broken port on the motherboard or front of the tower.
• Defective cable or device: burnt USB drive, external hard drive with electronic failure, broken USB cable, etc.
• Old or corrupted drivers of the device itself, the chipset, or the USB controllers (including the “Generic USB Hub”).
• power settingsOptions such as Windows "Fast Startup" or USB selective suspend, which sometimes cut power to the port at an inconvenient time.
• USB controller or BIOS/UEFI with bugs, outdated, or with inappropriate compatibility options.
• Bad sectors or logical errors in the memory of the USB drive or disk, which prevent it from responding properly to system requests.
• Outdated Windows or with corrupted system files related to the USB stack.

With this list in mind, let's take a look, Step by StepHow to check everything from the simplest things (checking ports and cables) to the most advanced (drivers, BIOS, bad sectors and data recovery) so you don't miss anything.

Check the USB device and connection status

First, before touching Windows settings, make sure you're not dealing with a purely... physical port, cable or deviceIt may sound basic, but you'll save yourself hours if you rule this out from the start.

Start by unplugging and plugging the device back in. Do it carefully: safely expels If Windows even slightly recognizes it, wait a few seconds and plug it back in. Sometimes a temporary communication problem is fixed with that simple step, especially if you haven't used that USB drive in a long time.

Next, try with another USB port on the same computerIf you have rear ports connected directly to the motherboard and front ports on the case, alternate between them. If one port fails but another works perfectly, you most likely have a... loose internal connector or cable on the front panel, or a faulty port. In that case, the solution usually involves either stopping the use of that port or physically repairing it.

If it still doesn't work, try the device in another teamIf it doesn't work on that second computer either, or shows the same type of error, it's very likely that the The USB drive itself is to blame. (USB drive, hard drive, adapter, etc.). When the device fails on all computers, it's safe to assume it has a problem with hardware and start thinking about trying to recover the data before giving up on it.

Another small detail that many people overlook is the USB power problemsSome external hard drives and high-power peripherals require more power than a standard port can provide, especially in portableIf you suspect this is your case, try connecting it using a powered USB hub or directly to a port with more power. On laptops, sometimes unplugging the charger, turning it off completely, turning it back on, and plugging in the USB cable right after the Boot solves unusual behaviors.

Check internal connections, dust, and USB "ghosts".

In desktop towers, it is surprisingly common for the problem to originate from a internal cable of the front ports It might be loose or poorly connected to the motherboard. If you're feeling adventurous and the computer is out of warranty, turn off the computer, unplug it, open the case, and check that the front panel USB connector is properly seated in the corresponding header on the motherboard. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, consult guides on the USB port not recognized in Windows 10 to guide you.

Take the opportunity to also explore the ports themselves: a bent pin, dust or dirt residue These can cause intermittent contacts that Windows interprets as disconnections and reconnections. Often, a light blow of compressed air (without overdoing it, of course) is enough to eliminate the intermittent contacts.

On the other hand, in some systems they accumulate with There “ghost” USB devicesRemnants of old connections are sometimes left behind and can cause conflicts. You can view them in Device Manager by enabling the option to show hidden devices, or by using utilities like USBDeview to clean up entries for devices you no longer use. Deleting these remnants helps Windows correctly enumerate your connected devices.

Use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

Windows includes a wizard that, while it doesn't work miracles, sometimes gets it right when it comes to simple hardware problems. Is Windows 11 troubleshooter of Hardware and Devices, and remains accessible even though it is somewhat hidden in recent versions.

The most direct way to open it is to press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnosticThen click OK or press Enter. A wizard titled “Hardware and Devices” will open.

Within that assistant, tap on "Advanced Options" And make sure the "Apply repairs automatically" box is checked. Then click Next and let Windows analyze your system. If it detects any problems with drivers, USB settings, or other hardware components, it will suggest solutions. apply the correction .

When the troubleshooter finishes, accept the changes, close the window, and restart the computerThen reconnect the problematic USB device to check if the “Device Descriptor Request Failed” message has disappeared.

Uninstall and reinstall the USB device in Device Manager

If the problem persists, the next logical step is to "force" Windows to re-detect the device from scratchTo do this, you need to uninstall the problematic device from Device Manager.

Open the Run window with Win + R, writes devmgmt.msc and press OK. Device Manager will open. Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” category and look for an entry similar to “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” or “Unknown USB Device (Link in Compliance Mode)”.

Right-click on that item and select “Uninstall device”If a checkbox appears to remove the driver software for this device, select it and confirm. Once the uninstallation is complete, you can do two things: restart your computer directly, or, without restarting, click on the "Action" menu in Device Manager and choose “Check for hardware changes” so that Windows can try to detect what's connected again.

In many cases, this process of removing and re-enumerating the USB device allows Windows to correctly load the standard drivers and stop displaying code 43 associated with the device descriptor error.

Update chipset drivers, USB controllers and Generic USB Hub

When simply reinstalling the device isn't enough, it's usually because the real problem lies with the controller of the USB bus itself or of the chipset of the motherboard. In that case, it's advisable to go a step further and update all related drivers.

From the same Device Manager, in the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" category, locate the entries for “Generic USB Hub” and, if they appear, the USB host controllers. Right-click on “Generic USB Hub” and choose “Update driver.” In the window that opens, you can first try “Search automatically for drivers.” If it doesn’t find anything useful or the error persists, repeat the process, but this time select “Search for drivers on my computer” and then “Choose from a list of available drivers on the computer”, to force the installation of the generic “Generic USB Hub” model from Microsoft.

In addition, it is highly recommended to visit the website of manufacturer of your motherboard or computer (HP, Dell, LenovoASUS, etc.) and download the correct USB drivers from the chipset and USB controllers. These packages usually fix compatibility issues and improve communication between the system and devices. Install the recommended versions for your model and Windows version, restart, and test the device again.

If you're still having the same problem after updating specific drivers, it's worth making sure that Windows as a whole has all important updatesbecause many times the USB battery corrections arrive via Windows Update.

Disable Windows Fast Startup

The function of Quick start of Windows 10 and Windows 11 It significantly speeds up startup, but it does so by hibernating part of the system state instead of shutting down completely. On some computers, this causes Windows to fail to correctly "rediscover" certain USB devices upon startup, resulting in a device descriptor error.

To test if it's affecting you, open the Run window with Win + R, writes control and press OK to enter the classic Control Panel. In the search box, type "Power Options" and go to that section. In the left panel, you should see the option “Choose the behavior of the power buttons”Click there.

On the new screen, tap on “Change settings that are currently unavailable” To modify the grayed-out options, in the "Shutdown settings" section you'll see a checkbox called "Turn on fast startup (recommended)." Uncheck it to disable fast startup and save the changes.

Next, completely shut down your computer (don't restart it, just turn it off), wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Once the system has fully booted, connect the problematic USB device and see if the "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" message no longer appears. If the problem is gone, you know that Fast Startup was the culprit.

Disable USB selective suspend in power options

Another energy-saving feature that can backfire is the USB selective suspendThis option allows Windows to reduce power consumption by disabling USB ports that, in theory, are not in use. The problem is that sometimes it "puts a port to sleep" just when the device should be responding to the descriptor, causing the error.

To review this setting, go back into the Control Panel > Power OptionsNext to the active power plan, tap "Change plan settings" and then "Change advanced power settings." A window with a tree of options will open.

Expand the “USB Settings” section and then “USB Selective Suspend Settings”. Change the value to “Disabled” This applies to both "Battery" and "AC Power" (if using a laptop). For more control over these settings, see how control power saving on USB portsAccept the changes, apply them, and close all windows.

Restart your computer to ensure the new settings are applied correctly, and once you're back at the desktop, reconnect the problematic device. Many users have reported that after disable this option, their external hard drives and USB drives stopped disconnecting on their own and the descriptor error disappeared.

Scan and repair bad sectors on the USB drive

When the problem is concentrated on a specific USB drive or external hard drive, and you've already ruled out ports and drivers, you have to consider the possibility that the device has defective sectors or errors in memoryA sufficient number of damaged blocks can prevent the firmware from responding correctly to system requests, causing the descriptor to fail.

To check this more thoroughly, you can use disk diagnostic tools that allow you to perform a verification of sectorsIn the case of many guides, partition management software such as DiskGenius is recommended, which includes options to "Check or repair bad sectors" on USB drives, SD cards, external hard drives, etc.

The general operation is simple: you select the USB drive in the program, a sector scan is launched, and once finished, the tool indicates whether any bad blocks were found. From there, it usually allows you to try to fix them. repair them by marking them as bad so they are no longer used. However, it is very important to keep in mind that repairing sectors usually involves data lossTherefore, before pressing any "repair" button, it is advisable to recover everything that can be recovered.

If the analysis tool indicates that many sectors are damaged, the most prudent course of action is to start thinking about replace the unitContinuing to use it even if you manage to get it working again will only increase the chances of future corruption and encountering errors like the device descriptor error.

Recovering data from a USB drive that gives “Device Descriptor Request Failed”

Often, the faulty USB drive isn't just an empty flash drive, but a unit with important photos, documents or copies that you don't have anywhere else. Before forma tearInstead of repairing sectors or continuing to force connections and disconnections, the smart thing to do is try to recover the information.

If Windows fails to assign a drive letter, but a disk management tool—or Disk Management itself—can physically detect the device, there is still hope. In these cases, it makes sense to resort to professional data recovery softwarethat works at a low level and is capable of reading sectors even from partially damaged units.

The general idea is to launch a full scan (“deep scan,” “complete recovery,” etc.) by activating the option to search for known file types, so that the program reconstructs photos, documents, videos, and other files from their internal structure. During the process, you will see them appear. recoverable folders and filesMany programs allow you to preview images and documents to check if they are in good condition before saving them.

Once you've identified what you want to save, select those files and copy them to another disk or a healthy partition. Never try to recover data by overwriting the same damaged drive, because You could overwrite what little remained intactOnly when the data is safe does it make sense to consider repairing sectors, formatting, or permanently retiring the problematic USB drive.

Update Windows and check system files

The USB driver stack is part of the operating system itself, and as such receives Fixes and improvements through Windows UpdateWorking with a very outdated version can cause you to encounter bugs that have already been fixed.

To make sure that's not the case for you, open the app of Configuration Press Win + I, go to “Update & Security” and then to “Windows Update”. Click on "Search for updates" Let the system download and install all the important and recommended updates. Some updates may require several restarts and take a while, so it's best to do this when you have time and your computer is plugged in.

If you suspect that there may also be corrupted system filesYou can run the SFC and DISM utilities. Open a symbol of the system as administrator and launch first sfc / scannowWhen finished, if errors have been corrected, restart. If the problem persists, you can use DISM with commands such as DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to have Windows repair internal components using the system image itself or Microsoft servers.

Although these tools are not exclusively focused on USB, they do help to eliminate logical errors in the operating system from the equation which, indirectly, may be responsible for strange behaviors such as the error “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)”.

Review and update the BIOS/UEFI

When you've already gone through all the previous steps and the error persists, you have to look a little further down: the very BIOS/UEFI and firmware-level USB port configurationSome older BIOS versions have problems enumerating certain devices, and other computers come with unfortunate options enabled or disabled by default.

To enter the BIOS/UEFI, the easiest way in Windows 10/11 is to go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery Then, in the "Advanced startup" section, tap "Restart now." When the blue screen appears, select "Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI firmware settings" and confirm the restart. The device will boot directly into the firmware menus.

Once inside, check if there are any settings related to USB legacy, USB 3.0/2.0, legacy support, etc. In some specific cases, toggling between “Auto”, “Enabled” and “Disabled” for certain options allows the system to correctly detect devices that previously gave descriptor errors.

If you suspect it's a bug in the BIOS itself, you need to consider a Firmware updateThe exact procedure varies depending on the manufacturer, but generally involves downloading the latest BIOS version for your model from the official website or using tools such as EZ-Flash and USB BIOS FlashbackCopy the file to a USB drive or launch it from Windows, and start the update process following the manufacturer's instructions to the letter.

It is essential that, during the update, the team Do not turn off or lockA power outage or system crash during the process can render the system unusable. Therefore, it's a good idea to perform the update with your laptop connected to the charger or your desktop connected to a UPS, and not to touch anything until the computer restarts. Once the update is complete, test your USB devices again to check if the descriptor problem has been resolved.

What to do if the error persists after all tests

If you've carefully tried all the previous solutions—physical checks, drivers, power, sectors, Windows Update, BIOS—and you're still seeing the same problem “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” With the same device in any port and on any computer, the most sensible thing to assume is that The device is broken..

In that scenario, if it's still under warranty, you should contact the manufacturer or store to process a replacement. If you no longer have it but the data it contains is important, you should consider whether it's worth using a professional service. data recoveryThey are expensive, but they work directly on the memory chips or internal electronics and, in many cases, manage to extract content even from drives that no longer respond normally to the USB bus.

If the device is inexpensive or doesn't store anything critical, it's probably more worthwhile to replace it with a newer model. In any case, this type of failure serves as a reminder of why it's always a good idea to have backups. backup of the important in more than one medium.

The error “Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)” is simply Windows' technical way of saying that the initial exchange of information with a USB device failed. It didn't go well.Fortunately, in many cases It can be resolved by checking ports and cables, reinstalling or updating drivers, adjusting power options, correcting errors in the drive, or updating Windows and the BIOS. Only when all of that fails is it usually a serious physical problem with the device itself, at which point the priority becomes... Save the data and assess whether it's worth repairing or simply replacing the affected USB drive..