When you see an “Unknown Device” in the Device Manager, it usually means that Windows can’t find or install the correct driver for a piece of hardware. This can happen after a fresh OS install, system update, or if a device isn’t properly recognized.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ How to identify unknown devices
✅ Tools and methods to find and install the right drivers
✅ Best practices to keep your system updated
Let’s get started!
🧰 Why You See “Unknown Device” in Device Manager
An Unknown Device typically appears because:
- The device driver is missing or outdated
- The hardware ID isn’t recognized by Windows
- A newly installed component hasn’t been detected yet
- Corrupted driver installation
You’ll often see it under categories like:
- Other devices
- PCI Bus
- USB Controllers
- Network Adapters
✅ Step-by-Step: Identify and Install Drivers for Unknown Devices
📌 Step 1: Open Device Manager
- Press
Win + X→ Click Device Manager
📌 Step 2: Locate the Unknown Device
- Expand categories like Other devices or PCI devices
- Look for yellow icons with names like:
Unknown devicePCI\VEN_XXXX&DEV_XXXX
✅ Method 1: Use Device Manager to Update Driver Automatically
- Right-click the unknown device
- Select Update driver
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software
💡 Tip: Windows will try to download and install the correct driver from Microsoft’s servers.
✅ Method 2: Get Hardware ID to Search Manually
If automatic updates don’t work, use the Hardware ID to search online.
Steps:
- Right-click the unknown device → Properties
- Go to the Details tab
- In the drop-down menu, select Hardware Ids
- Copy the first entry (e.g.,
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9D71&SUBSYS_08431028...)
Now search this ID on Google or at:
🔗 https://pci-ids.ucw.cz – for PCI/USB devices
🔗 https://devicehunt.com – enter the full ID to identify the device
Once identified, go to the manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver.
✅ Method 3: Use Third-Party Driver Finder Tools
These tools scan your system and match unknown devices with their correct drivers:
🔹 1. Driver Booster Free
- Scans and identifies unknown devices
- Lets you update drivers manually
🔗 https://www.iobit.com/en/driver-booster.php
🔹 2. Driver Easy
- Identifies unknown devices
- Offers free and paid versions
🔗 https://www.drivereasy.com
🔹 3. Snappy Driver Installer R3
- Portable and offline version available
- Uses DriverPack solutions database
🔗 https://snappy-driver-installer.en.softonic.com
⚠️ Caution: Avoid installing bundled software during setup.
✅ Method 4: Use Manufacturer Websites
Once you know what the unknown device is (from the Hardware ID), visit the appropriate site:
| Component | Manufacturer Site |
|---|---|
| Intel Chipset/Wi-Fi | https://downloadcenter.intel.com |
| NVIDIA Graphics | https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx |
| AMD / ATI | https://www.amd.com/en/support |
| Realtek Audio / LAN | https://www.realtek.com.tw |
| USB Controllers | https://www.asix.com.tw |
| Motherboard | Your PC/laptop brand support page (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo) |
✅ Method 5: Use Windows PowerShell to Get Info
Open PowerShell as Admin and run:
Get-PnpDevice -Status Error | Format-ListThis lists all problematic devices. To get more info:
Get-PnpDevice -InstanceId "<InstanceID>" | Get-PnpDeviceProperty DEVPKEY_Device_HardwareIdsReplace <InstanceID> with the actual ID from the output.
🛡 Best Practices for Managing Drivers
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Keep your system updated | Use Windows Update regularly |
| Use built-in rollback | If a new driver causes issues, roll back via Device Manager |
| Create restore points | Before installing major drivers |
| Avoid untrusted driver sites | Only download from official sources |
| Use Device Manager regularly | Check for unknown or yellow-marked devices |
📊 Summary Table: Methods to Fix Unknown Devices
| Method | Difficulty | Automation Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device Manager Auto Update | Easy | High | Quick fixes |
| Hardware ID + Manual Search | Medium | Low | Precise identification |
| Driver Finder Tools | Easy | High | Non-technical users |
| Manufacturer Sites | Medium–Hard | Medium | Reliable downloads |
| PowerShell | Advanced | Medium | Scripting & troubleshooting |
🏁 Final Thoughts & Recommendation
Here’s how to choose the best method based on your situation:
| If You’re… | Then Do This |
|---|---|
| A beginner | Use Device Manager or Driver Easy |
| Tech-savvy | Use Hardware ID search or PowerShell |
| Offline user | Use Snappy Driver Installer (offline) |
| Need speed | Try Driver Booster Free |
| Want reliability | Go to manufacturer websites |
💡 Pro Tip: Combine methods — start with Device Manager, then move to manual search or tools if needed.
🏁 By following these steps, you can quickly identify and fix unknown devices in Windows — keeping your system running smoothly and ensuring all your hardware works as expected.
No responses yet