[Hands-on Guide] How to Download and Update USB Drivers in Windows 10

When you use a digital camera, external hard drive, mouse, keyboard, webcam, printer, or scanner, you'll need a USB driver to connect the device to your computer. Your computer should prompt you to install the appropriate USB driver so that these devices work correctly with Windows 10.

In this article, you'll learn how to download and install the appropriate USB drivers for your USB flash drive, external device, keyboard, monitor, printer, scanner, and so on. You'll also find out how to update USB drivers in Windows 10 to make sure your devices work properly.

Part 1: How to Download/Install USB Drivers on Windows 10

In most cases, you shouldn't need to download drivers for a USB flash drive, as it's a plug-and-play device and doesn't require extra drivers. However, if you're using a scanner or a printer, you will have to download USB drivers.

The easiest way to get the right USB driver is to check the manufacturer's website. For example, I bought a new HP printer, so I visited the HP website and downloaded the USB driver for my product.

Step 1: Enter the name of your product and click "Submit".

Download the USB driver from the manufacturer's website

Step 2: Download and install the USB driver.

Download the USB driver from the manufacturer's website - 2

Then, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the USB driver installation in Windows 10.

Part 2: How to Update USB Drivers in Windows 10

There are several ways to update USB drivers, such as upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free or using a driver updater. The easiest way to get the latest USB drivers is by using the Device Manager. You won't need any additional software or to upgrade your Windows system. The process is straightforward and quick.

Step 1: Press Windows + X, and then choose Device Manager to open the Windows Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category.

Step 3. Right-click on your USB device and select “Update Driver.”

Click “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Windows will search your Windows 10 computer and download the latest USB driver.

If Windows can't find new drivers, try looking on the manufacturer's website for the device, and follow their instructions.

Part 3: How to Reinstall USB Drivers in Windows 10

If you can't update the driver, try uninstalling it, and then install it again.

Step 1: In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, then select Device Manager.

Step 2: Right-click (or press and hold) the device name, then choose Uninstall.

Step 3: Restart your computer. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.

Part 4: How to Retrieve Data from USB Devices after Driver Update

To recover deleted or lost files from a USB device or external device, we recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard tool. This USB data recovery software can restore data after accidental deletion, formatting, hard drive failure, or virus attacks.

Download and install the data recovery software. Follow these steps to recover data from your USB drive:

Step 1: Run the USB Data Recovery software

Connect your USB drive or flash drive to the computer, then launch the USB Data Recovery tool on the PC. Select the drive that's labeled “External Drive,” then click “Scan” to start looking for lost files.

Select the USB/flash drive to scan and find lost files

Step 2. Scan and search for lost files on the USB drive

The Data Recovery Wizard will thoroughly scan your USB flash drive/pen drive and find all lost data on it. After the scan is completed, use the "Filter" feature to locate the needed files.

Step 3. Recover all lost files from the USB

Double-click it to preview the files. Select the target file you want to restore, then click “Recover” to save them to a secure location on your computer or another external storage device.

Conclusions

One of the most common issues with USB drives on Windows 10 is not being detected, not working, or getting unrecognized. This article will explain how to install, update, and reinstall USB drivers to fix your problem. By the way, if you lose data after updating or reinstalling the driver, run the Data Recovery Wizard tool. It can easily recover lost files in Windows 11/10/8/7.