Unable to Open USB Drive on Windows 11/10 (Quick Fix)

Updated by

Linda 

Updated on April 22, 2024

One common issue users encounter after upgrading to Windows 11/10 is that they are unable to access their USB drive. The transition to Windows 11/10 generally goes smoothly, except when it comes to opening the USB drive to fetch necessary data.

If you're in a similar situation, this article from tools will help you resolve it promptly. So, let's dive right in and fix the issue together.

How to Resolve the Issue of Unable to Access USB Drive on Windows 11/10

Regardless of the reason, here are some methods you can use to fix the issue of a USB drive not opening. Try any of these approaches based on the root cause, and you should be able to access the drive normally.

#1. Insert the USB Drive into Another Computer

A common reason for being unable to open your USB drive can be due to damage in the USB port of your device or a broken USB drive. To ensure that the drive or the port is in good condition, connect it to another PC or laptop. A frequent cause of not being able to access your USB drive might result from damage to the USB port on your device or a faulty USB drive. To verify if the drive or the port is functioning properly, try connecting it to a different computer or laptop.

The drive should still work if the original PC's port is damaged; if it doesn't, check to see if it's showing up in Disk Management. If it isn't, your USB drive is broken and needs to be replaced with a new one.

If your USB drive isn't even recognized or visible in File Explorer, check out the following page for relevant fixes.

#2. Assign A New USB Drive Letter Translation: #2. Assign a New Drive Letter to the USB Device

If your USB drive is visible in File Explorer but still inaccessible, try changing its drive letter. You can do this easily using Disk Management.

Step 1. Search for and open "Disk Management" from the Start menu.

Step 2. A layout of partitions will appear. Now, select the USB drive and right-click on it. Click on the option "Change Drive Letter and Path."

Step 3. Click "Change" and specify the new location. Then, click "OK" to proceed with changing the drive letter.

#3. Create a Partition for the USB Drive

Creating at least one partition on your USB drive can be a solution to get it working again. Partitioning your USB drive involves dividing the drive into multiple segments that your device will access separately. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu icon and open Disk Management. Right-click the unallocated section of your USB drive and select "New Simple Volume." Click "Next."

Step 2. Next, specify the size of the volume you want to create, or select the maximum default size. Click "Next" again.

Step 3. A new dialog box will appear, giving you the option to format the drive or not. Choose your preferred option, click "Next," and then "Finish."

Create New Simple Volume wizard in AOMEI Partition Assistant

#4. Reinstall USB Controllers Translation: #4. Reinstall USB Controllers

Use this method if your USB drive isn't showing up in Disk Management. The best solution is to reinstall the USB controllers using the following steps.

Step 1. In the Start menu, search for "Device Manager" and launch it.

Step 2. Right-click on the USB Mass Storage controller and select "Uninstall" to remove it.

Uninstall USB Mass Storage Device

Step 3. After uninstalling the controllers, restart your computer. The USB controllers should reinstall automatically. Check if you can now open and use the USB drive.

#5. Format the USB Drive

If the file system of the USB drive is not compatible with your Windows operating system, you should attempt to reformat it to make it recognizable on your computer.

Step 1. First, plug your drive into the USB port on your PC or laptop. This method will work if you can see your drive in File Explorer.

Step 2. Once you find your drive, right-click on it and choose the "Format" option. Pick a different file system and begin the process.

Step 3. Formatting will take a few minutes, and your reformatted USB drive will be ready to use.

If your USB drive isn't showing up in File Explorer, try the methods on the page below to format it.

#6. Repair File System Errors

If the problematic file system is the root cause, attempt to repair it. For this purpose, you can utilize an efficient tool like tools Partition Master Free to fix your issue effortlessly. It is a comprehensive partition management tool equipped with numerous helpful features.

One such feature is "Check File System," which scans the disk and repairs corrupted file systems. This will facilitate the repair of the USB drive and make it functional again to access the required data. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to utilize it: 1. Connect the USB drive to your computer's USB port. 2. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). 3. Locate the USB drive in the list of drives, usually displayed under "Devices" or "External Devices." 4. Right-click on the USB drive icon and choose "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac). 5. In the Properties window (Windows), click on the "Tools" tab, then under "Error checking," click the "Check" button. A prompt may ask you to schedule the check for the next restart or proceed if the drive is not in use. Choose the appropriate option. 6. On a Mac, in the Get Info window, scroll down to the "Sharing & Permissions" section. Click the lock icon to make changes, enter your administrator password, then click "Unlock." Next, click the "+" button to add an admin user (if necessary), select "Read & Write" under "Privilege," and click "Apply." 7. Now, unmount or safely eject the USB drive by right-clicking on its icon and selecting "Eject" (Windows) or dragging it to the Trash icon (Mac). 8. Restart your computer (if prompted in Windows) or simply mount the USB drive again (Mac). 9. The file system check will begin automatically when the USB drive is remounted (Windows) or after restarting (Windows). It may take some time, depending on the size of the drive. 10. Once the process completes, reconnect the USB drive to see if the issue has been resolved. If the problem persists, you might need to consider using data recovery software or seeking professional assistance.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition you wish to check, and select "Advanced" > "Check File System."

Step 2. In the Check File System window, select the "Try to fix errors if found" option and click "Start".

Check the pop-up instructions:

Step 3. The software will begin checking your partition file system on your disk. When it completes, click "Finish".

#7. Check for Bad Sectors

You won't be able to open the USB drive if it's corrupted or contains bad sectors. In such situations, you can resolve the issue by running the CHKDSK command:  chkdsk E: /f /r /x (Replace "E" with your USB drive letter). This command will fix any disk errors and locate and repair bad sectors.

You can also use tools like Partition Master to perform a deep scan for bad sectors and fix the issue right away.

Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master. Right-click the hard drive that you want to check and choose "Surface Test".

Step 2. The operation will be performed at once and all bad sectors will be marked in red.

Once you get your USB drive accessible, you may need help from the following page to recover the partition on the drive if there's data loss.

4 Steps to Recover Deleted or Lost Partition

Follow the detailed guide in this article to recover deleted or lost partitions on Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11 and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012. Read more >>

Why Can't I Open the USB Flash Drive

The reasons for being unable to open your USB drive can range from a straightforward issue to a more complex technical error. It's beneficial to comprehend the problem before seeking solutions. Here are some possible reasons why you might not be able to access your USB drive:

Once you've identified the cause, delve into the following sessions to discover the most effective method for resolving the issue. Share this article to help others encountering similar problems find straightforward and prompt solutions.

Final Words

It's best to address the root cause of the issue first so that an appropriate solution can be selected. Any of these methods, coupled with handy tools like Partition Master, can assist you in resolving the issue of being unable to access a USB drive. Furthermore, Partition Master provides numerous free features to help users correct errors on their drives.

"Can't Open USB Drive" FAQs

If you still have doubts about why your USB drive is not accessible, check out the frequently asked questions below.

1. Why can't I access my USB drive?

There are numerous reasons why you might be unable to read your USB drive, ranging from a damaged drive to corrupted file systems. Here are some common reasons why you might not be able to access your USB drive: 1. **Damaged or Defective USB Drive**: Physical damage to the USB drive, such as broken connectors or internal components, can prevent it from being recognized by your computer. 2. **Corrupted File System**: A corrupted file system, like FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT, can cause issues with reading files on the USB drive. 3. **Virus or Malware Infection**: Infected USB drives can have their files hidden or become inaccessible due to malicious software. 4. **Incorrect Drive Letter Assignment**: Sometimes, the drive letter assigned to your USB drive might conflict with another device, making it invisible in File Explorer. 5. **Unrecognized File Format**: If the files on the USB drive are in an unsupported format, your computer may not be able to read them. 6. **Operating System Compatibility Issues**: Compatibility problems between your USB drive and the operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) can lead to unreadable drives. 7. **Power Issues**: Insufficient power supply to the USB port can cause connectivity problems, preventing the drive from functioning properly. 8. **Bad Sectors**: Overuse or age can result in bad sectors on the USB drive, which can lead to data loss and difficulty in reading the drive. 9. **Driver Issues**: Outdated or corrupted USB drivers can cause your computer to fail to recognize the drive. 10. **Write Protection**: If the USB drive has been set to write-protected mode, you won't be able to read or write data to it. To address these issues, try different troubleshooting methods, such as checking the USB connection, scanning for viruses, formatting the drive, or updating drivers. Always remember to back up your important data before attempting any repairs.

1. USB drive is not partitioned: "USB drive has no partitions" 2. USB drive needs a drive letter: "USB drive requires a drive letter assignment" 3. Disk driver is outdated: "Disk driver is out of date" 4. Errors in the file system: "File system errors exist" 5. USB RAW file system: "USB drive has a RAW file system" 6. I/O device error: "Input/Output device error"

2. Why isn't my USB drive recognized?

A broken USB drive or a damaged USB port on your PC or laptop can prevent detection. Always test it with another device to identify the problem. If it's the port, the drive should work on a different device. If it's the drive itself, it won't appear in Disk Management.

3. How to fix the issue of seeing but not being able to access a USB drive?

If you can see the USB drive in File Explorer but can't access it, try any of the following methods to resolve the issue:

• Reinstall USB controllers
• Create a new USB drive letter
• Reformat the drive
• Repair file system errors
• Check bad sectors
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