Windows 10 takes a long time to recognize my USB drive

Question

I’m having a small issue with Windows 10. When I connect a USB flash drive, it sometimes takes quite a while before it appears in File Explorer. The drive itself works normally on another computer.

I’ve already tried using a different USB port, but the behavior is still the same.

Is there a Windows setting or driver-related issue that could cause this? What would be the best way to check whether Windows is having trouble detecting the USB device?

Answer 1

Since the USB drive works normally on another PC, this is likely a Windows driver issue.

Open Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > USB Mass Storage Device > Uninstall device, then restart the PC. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-through-device-manager-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6

Answer 2

Yes. Windows can be slow to recognize a USB drive because of USB controller or power-management behavior, including USB selective suspend.

Since a different USB port was already tried, use this check path:

1. Reconnect the USB drive and wait briefly.
2. Open Device Manager:
   • Press Windows key + R
   • Type devmgmt.msc
   • Select OK
3. In Device Manager:
   • Select the computer name at the top
   • Select Action > Scan for hardware changes
   • Select View > Show hidden devices
   • Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
4. Right-click the relevant USB device or controller and select Properties.
5. Open the Details tab and check Status or Problem code.

If Windows is having trouble detecting the device, Device Manager can show whether the device is present, hidden, or reporting a problem code.

If the USB port or controller becomes unresponsive, a supported recovery step is to reinstall the USB controllers:

1. Open Device Manager with devmgmt.msc.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. Right-click the first USB controller and select Uninstall.
4. Repeat for each USB controller listed there.
5. Restart the PC.
6. Windows will rescan hardware changes and reinstall the USB controllers automatically.
7. Test the USB drive again.

Another possible cause is USB selective suspend. This feature saves power, but in some cases a USB device may not wake correctly and can appear unresponsive or delayed. As a workaround, selective suspend can be disabled by editing the registry.

Warning: incorrect registry changes can cause serious problems. Back up the registry first.

To disable selective suspend:

1. Press Start > Run.
2. Type regedit and select OK.
3. Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB
4. If DisableSelectiveSuspend exists, open it. If not, create a new DWORD named DisableSelectiveSuspend.
5. Set Value data to 1.
6. Select OK.

Important effect: disabling selective suspend affects all USB host controllers and USB ports, and connected USB devices can continue using power while connected.

For a basic hardware check, also unplug the USB device, wait briefly, and reconnect it directly to the PC without a USB hub.

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References:

• Universal Serial Bus Viewer in Windows
• USB port may stop working after you remove or insert a USB device
• Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows