Troubleshooting Failed Device Installation on Windows


If you are experiencing issues with the device installation on Windows, usually indicated by a warning icon over a USB drive symbol in the system tray on the lower-right next to the clock, you can try the steps below to resolve the issue. The steps outlined below apply to the following operating systems:

  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
manual-icon.svg Note: Windows 8.1 has reached end of support as of January 10, 2023

 

1. Reinstall All Related Devices

  1. Insert your device into the computer.

  2. Open Control Panel.

  3. Click View devices and printers under the Hardware and Sound category. On Windows 11, you may need to click the View More Devices link.

  4. If you have a YubiKey, right-click on the YubiKey device, and select Remove device. Click Yes when prompted.

  5. If you have a Security Key, right-click on the Security Key by Yubico device and select Remove device. Click Yes when prompted.

  6. Remove and reinsert your device to the computer to trigger the device installation.

2. Update the Drivers

  1. In a web browser, navigate to your computer manufacturer’s driver downloads page.

  2. Locate the drivers for the model of computer you have.

  3. Download the latest drivers from the BIOS/UEFI, Chipset, and USB sections.

  4. Install the downloaded drivers.

  5. Reboot your computer to ensure the new drivers are loaded.

3. Repair or Reinstall Windows

If sections one and two did not resolve your issue, this may indicate an issue with your Windows installation. You can use the steps below to attempt to repair the installation.

Repair Windows

First, use the System File Consistency (SFC) check utility to verify the integrity of core Windows files.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

  2. Run: sfc /scannow

  3. Follow any prompts for resolving the issues that it finds.

On Windows 8.1 or newer, you can use the DISM utility to further inspect the system for issues and attempt to repair them.

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

  2. Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

  3. If the scan finds any issues, then run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Note: The DISM commands can take upwards of 10 minutes to complete, and may appear stuck. Give them time and let them finish.

Reinstall Windows

Consult your computer’s manual or your computer manufacturer's website for instructions on reinstalling Windows. Be sure you backup your data before reinstalling, as it may be wiped during the process.