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USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices are flash drives, external hard drives, web cams, mice, etc. Thus, USB devices make up the majority of external hardware. When you connect an external device to your desktop or laptop, Windows may not recognize it.
In this case, you will get an error message saying that “the last USB device you connected to this computer failed and Windows does not recognize it”. The device manager says, “Windows stopped this device because it reported a problem (code 43).”
In short, it’s error code 43, and here’s how to fix it in Windows.
Table of Contents:
What is the cause of USB error code 43 in Windows 10
An outdated BIOS can also be the cause of error code 43. Before updating, you should first check the current BIOS version through CMD. If it is indeed outdated, download the BIOS update file and then update the BIOS. In case of error code, 43 USB causes the Windows operating system does not recognize or does not recognize the USB drive, making the USB data inaccessible. It is quite necessary to learn how to recover data from unrecognized external drives in Windows.
Most Windows users wonder about the various error codes in Windows Device Manager. Error code 43 is one of the device manager error codes that reads, “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported a problem. (Code 43).” If you get error code 43 with USB or other devices, it probably means that the device driver has told the operating system that the device has failed.
This situation can also occur if the device hardware fails or the device driver fails.
To fix the USB 43 error code in Windows 10
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Updated: April 2025
Restart your computer and try a different USB port
Sometimes the USB 43 error code in Windows 10 can be fixed by rebooting the computer. Also, try plugging the USB device into a different port; the old port may not work properly.
If this simple solution didn’t help you get rid of the USB 43 error code, move on to the next method; you’re sure to succeed.
Try another PC and remove the USB drive correctly
Try plugging the USB drive into another PC; you can even use it with a different operating system. If the other PC works correctly, congratulations! To retrieve Code 43 from the USB drive, simply remove the USB drive correctly.
You can then try to reconnect the device to your previous computer, and most likely the Windows 43 error code will disappear.
If these steps don’t yield a positive result or you don’t have the option to use another computer, continue reading the following method.
Update or cancel the USB drivers
Another common cause of Windows 43 error code is outdated USB device drivers. You can download the latest updates from the manufacturer’s official website and follow the instructions to install them.
- Or you can do it yourself: right-click “Start” and select Device Manager.
- In the new window, you will see all the devices connected to your computer.
- Select USB with the right mouse button. Then click on Drive Driver > USB Disk.
- Now right-click and select the tab Driver Update > Automatically check for the driver software update.
The update process will take some time. Wait until it finishes and restart your computer. Now check if the error code Windows 43 has disappeared.
Use third-party recovery software
Professional third-party software allows you to recover any type of data from a corrupted storage device, including USB drives.
Third-party recovery software has a convenient and simple built-in wizard. Even if you’re not a professional, but a regular user, you can do well in file recovery. First of all, take advantage of the free trial version, which you can download right away. You only need to buy a license for this product if you want to save the recovered data.
Moreover, this application has a free preview function before recovery. As you can see, you just need to use this step-by-step guide and the program will do everything by itself.
- Connect your USB drive to your computer.
- Download and run the third-party recovery software.
- A new window will show you all the storage devices that are on your computer; left-click on the USB drive.
- Scan. Select the scanning method: fast or full (recommended). Wait until the process is finished.
- Preview. Select the file you want, right-click it and then click Preview in the new window.
- Save. Just buy a license and enter your license key. Then left-click on the Save icon.
- Back up your data to another safe location to avoid overwriting your data.
Here’s how to fix Windows 10 error code 43 for USB devices. If you’re using outdated USB hardware, note that it may not be compatible with Windows at all. In this case, you need to get a replacement device.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix USB error code 43?
Update or cancel the USB drivers. Another common cause of Windows 43 error code is outdated USB device drivers. You can download the latest updates from the manufacturer's official website and follow the instructions to install them. Update your USB drivers to get rid of the error code 43.
How do I fix that Windows stopped this device because it reported a problem code 43, USB device descriptor query failed?
Uninstalling and then reinstalling the device drivers is a possible solution to code 43 error. If the USB device is generating a Code 43 error, uninstall each device in the Universal Serial Bus Controllers hardware category in the Device Manager as part of the driver reinstallation.
What does it mean for Windows that this device has stopped because it has reported Code 43 issues?
Sometimes you may see this error message: Windows has stopped this device because it reported a problem (Code 43). This usually means that the driver (which is NOT from Seagate; this driver is from Windows) has lost communication with the drive, or the driver has failed.
How can I fix Windows 10 USB Device Not Found error 43?
To fix this error, disconnect all USB devices, turn off your computer and remove the battery (assuming you're using a laptop), let your computer rest for about 5 minutes, then reinsert the battery and restart your computer. Then reconnect the USB devices one at a time and make sure they work.