Windows 11 usually installs USB 3.0 drivers by default or automatically. If USB 3.0 devices aren’t working, however, the USB 3.0 drivers may be missing or corrupt.
Install USB 3.0 Drivers on Windows 11
Follow these tips to install USB 3.0 drivers on Windows 11:
Open the Windows Start menu and perform a Windows Search for Device Manager. Device Manager should appear as the first result. Select it.
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category in Device Manager.
If it is visible, right-click USB Root Hub (USB 3.0) and then click Uninstall device. If it’s not visible, proceed to the next step.
Some PCs will display multiples USB 3.0 hubs. Uninstall every entry shown before proceeding.
Open the Action menu in Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes. Windows 11 will automatically search for devices, including the USB Root Hub (USB 3.0) and install drivers.
If successful, the USB Root Hub (USB 3.0) will reappear in Device Manager. Reboot your PC if it does not appear.
Photo: Pixabay Install USB 3.0 Drivers With Windows Update
The steps above will install USB 3.0 drivers on Windows 11 but won’t update them. That could be a problem if your USB 3.0 driver is faulty. While you can update drivers through Device Manager, Windows Update is the better choice.
Open the Windows Start menu and select the Settings app.
- Select Windows Update from the left-hand menu.
- Tap Advanced options.
- Select Optional updates.
- Expand Driver updates and select the drivers shown. Then tap Download & Install. Download and installation may take some time, but you can continue to use your PC while this happens in the background.
Manually Install USB 3.0 Drivers on Windows 11
The steps in this guide will install USB 3.0 drivers on most PCs, but you may face issues if Windows 11 doesn’t recognize the make and model of your PC. You’ll need to track the drivers down and manually install them.
Your PC manufacturer’s support website will often provide these drivers. Support sites differ between manufacturers, so we can’t provide step-by-step instructions. However, you’ll generally need your PC’s model number or serial number to search for your PC. This can be found on a label printed on your desktop or laptop.
If drivers aren’t available through your PC manufacturer, or the PC is a custom build, you can try downloading drivers directly from the manufacturer of your PC’s motherboard. Download a Windows system information tool and launch it. Note the brand and model number of the motherboard manufacturer, head to the manufacturer’s support site, and search for the motherboard model number. This may lead you to USB drivers you can download and install.
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