How to See Connected USB Devices on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 10, 2025

USB devices are an essential part of modern computing — whether it’s your flash drive, external hard drive, keyboard, mouse, webcam, or smartphone. If you use Windows 11, knowing how to see connected USB devices can help you quickly identify hardware, troubleshoot issues, or manage your peripherals efficiently.

In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, we’ll show you multiple methods to view all connected USB devices in Windows 11, including hidden and previously connected ones. You’ll also learn how to check USB device details, fix devices that don’t appear, and manage USB connections like a pro.

Why Check Connected USB Devices in Windows 11?

Knowing which USB devices are currently connected (or were connected in the past) helps in several ways:

  • 🧰 Troubleshooting: Find out if Windows detects your USB flash drive or peripheral.

  • 🔒 Security: Identify unfamiliar devices that were connected to your PC.

  • 🗂️ Organization: Manage and safely remove devices to prevent file corruption.

  • ⚙️ Performance: Detect malfunctioning or power-hungry USB devices.

Whether you’re fixing a USB issue or simply auditing devices, Windows 11 gives you multiple tools to get the job done.

🔌 Different Types of USB Devices You Might Have Connected

Windows 11 supports a wide variety of USB devices. Here are some common examples:

Category Examples
Storage Devices USB flash drives, external HDDs, SSDs
Input Devices Keyboards, mice, game controllers
Multimedia Devices Webcams, microphones, headsets
Smart Devices Smartphones, tablets, wearables
Networking Devices USB Wi-Fi adapters, Bluetooth dongles
Power & Charging Devices USB hubs, docking stations

Each of these devices interacts with your system differently — some appear in File Explorer, others in Device Manager or Settings.

🧾 How to See Connected USB Devices on Windows 11 (Quick Overview)

You can view connected USB devices using one of several built-in tools:

Method Tool Used What You Can See
1 File Explorer External USB drives
2 Device Manager All USB hardware (active or inactive)
3 Settings App Connected input, audio, and Bluetooth devices
4 Disk Management USB drives and partitions
5 Command Prompt Command-line USB device list
6 PowerShell Detailed list of connected devices
7 Registry/Event Viewer History of connected USB devices

Let’s go step-by-step through each method.

🪟 Method 1: Check USB Devices Using File Explorer

This is the simplest method if you want to see USB storage devices like flash drives or external hard drives.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. In the left panel, click This PC.

  3. Under “Devices and drives,” you’ll see all connected drives — USB drives are usually labeled with a letter like E: or F:.

📘 Tip:
If your USB drive doesn’t show up here, try refreshing the window (press F5) or reconnecting the drive.

⚙️ Method 2: View USB Devices in Device Manager

Device Manager is the most detailed and reliable way to see all USB devices — active or hidden.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X → choose Device Manager.

  2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.

  3. You’ll see all USB ports and connected devices listed (e.g., USB Root Hub, Generic USB Hub, Mass Storage Device).

Bonus Tip:

To see what’s connected to a specific port:

  1. Expand Disk drives, Human Interface Devices, or Portable Devices.

  2. Right-click any device → select Properties → go to the Details tab.

  3. From the dropdown, choose Device instance path or Manufacturer to identify the USB device.

🖱️ Method 3: Use Windows Settings to See Connected Devices

Windows 11’s Settings app gives a simplified overview of connected hardware.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices.

  3. Click Devices on the right panel.

Here, you’ll find connected peripherals such as:

  • USB mice and keyboards

  • Webcams and microphones

  • Game controllers

  • Printers and scanners

While it won’t list storage devices, this view is helpful for input and accessory devices.

💽 Method 4: Check USB Devices via Disk Management

Use this if you want to see storage-based USB devices, including drives that might not appear in File Explorer.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X → select Disk Management.

  2. Look for drives labeled as Removable or with no drive letter.

  3. Right-click on them to assign a drive letter or format if necessary.

💡 Why this helps:
Sometimes a USB drive is detected but doesn’t have a drive letter assigned — making it invisible in File Explorer.

🧑‍💻 Method 5: Use Command Prompt to List USB Devices

If you’re a command-line fan, Command Prompt gives a quick overview of all connected USB devices.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

  2. Run this command:

    driverquery /fo table | find "USB"

    This displays all USB drivers currently active.

Alternatively, use:

wmic path CIM_LogicalDevice where "Description like 'USB%'" get /value

This lists every USB device detected by Windows.

🧩 Method 6: Use PowerShell to View All USB Devices

PowerShell offers even more detailed USB information.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X → choose Windows Terminal (Admin).

  2. Type the following command:

    Get-PnpDevice -Class USB

  3. Press Enter.

You’ll see a detailed list of all USB devices — including those connected in the past.

Bonus Command:

To export the list to a text file:

Get-PnpDevice -Class USB > "C:\USB_Device_List.txt"

Now you have a permanent record of all USB connections.

🗃️ Method 7: Check USB History Using Registry or Event Viewer

If you want to see previously connected USB devices, Windows logs this information in the registry and event logs.

Option 1: Using Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR

  3. You’ll see folders for every USB device ever connected to your PC.

Option 2: Using Event Viewer

  1. Press Windows + X → select Event Viewer.

  2. Expand Windows Logs > System.

  3. On the right pane, click Filter Current Log.

  4. Under Event sources, check Kernel-PnP.

  5. Click OK.

You’ll now see detailed connection/disconnection events for every USB device.

🕵️ How to See Hidden or Previously Connected USB Devices

To view devices that were connected in the past but are not currently plugged in:

  1. Open Device Manager.

  2. Click View > Show hidden devices.

  3. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers or Disk drives.

Hidden devices will appear slightly greyed out — these represent previously connected USB hardware.

🧯 USB Device Not Showing Up? Here’s How to Fix It

If your USB device doesn’t appear in any of the above methods, try these fixes:

1. Reconnect and Use a Different Port

Sometimes, a faulty port prevents detection. Plug the device into another USB port or directly into your PC instead of a hub.

2. Update USB Drivers

  1. Open Device Manager.

  2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.

  3. Right-click each item → Update driver → Search automatically.

3. Enable the USB Root Hub

  1. In Device Manager, double-click USB Root Hub.

  2. Go to Power Management and uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

  3. Click OK.

4. Use Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + R, type:

    msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

  2. Press Enter and follow the wizard.

5. Restart Your PC

A simple restart often refreshes USB controllers and solves detection issues.

🧠 Best Practices for Managing USB Devices in Windows 11

Tip Why It Matters
Safely eject drives Prevents data corruption.
Avoid cheap hubs Can cause connectivity issues.
Keep drivers updated Ensures maximum compatibility.
Label your drives Helps avoid confusion if using multiple USBs.
Use Storage Sense Automatically manage drive space and junk files.

📝 Summary: Key Takeaways

  • You can see connected USB devices using File Explorer, Device Manager, Settings, or PowerShell.

  • Use Disk Management if your USB drive doesn’t appear in File Explorer.

  • PowerShell and Event Viewer let you see both active and historical USB connections.

  • If a USB device doesn’t show up, update drivers or use another port.

  • Always safely eject USB drives to prevent data loss.

❓ FAQs About USB Devices on Windows 11

1. How can I see all USB devices ever connected to my PC?

Open Registry Editor and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR.
You’ll find all past USB connections.

2. Why isn’t my USB device showing in File Explorer?

It may not have a drive letter assigned. Check Disk Management and assign one manually.

3. How do I check if my USB ports are working?

Go to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers and look for warning icons. If present, update the drivers.

4. Can I disable certain USB ports in Windows 11?

Yes — you can disable individual USB ports in Device Manager by right-clicking and selecting Disable device.

5. Is there a way to monitor USB connections for security?

Yes. You can use Event Viewer or third-party tools to log when new USB devices are connected or removed.

By mastering these methods, you’ll always know exactly what’s plugged into your PC — keeping your Windows 11 system secure, organized, and running smoothly.

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