[2022] How to Fix USB Error Code 43 Once for all

Help, USB unknown device code 43!

I think I need some technical support. This morning, when I plugged my Kinston 3.0 USB stick into the computer, I saw the message “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems (code43)”. The stick didn’t appear in File Explorer at all so I couldn’t access my files. Could anyone let me know how this error happens and what I can do to fix the USB stick error code 43? Thanks a lot!

What is USB error code 43?

The error message error code 43 could mean there’s a true hardware issue or it could simply mean that there’s a driver error that the OS can’t identify as such but that the hardware is being affected by it. It will almost display as the following image shows.

You can find details on USB error code 43 when you check a device’s status in its properties. The error code could apply to any hardware device in device manager, and mostly, they are printers, webcams, iPhones, and related peripherals.

What happens if the error code appears?

When USB stick error code 43 appears, many issues could happen to your devices.

1. Unreadable

2. OS notify drive failure

3. Unrecognizable by PC

4. Files inaccessible, etc

So, as you can see, the error code 43 can bring much trouble. It’s time to figure out a way to resolve it. In the following paragraphs, 4 most practical ways will be provided to help get it done.

4 ways to fix the error code issue

As mentioned above, USB unknown device code 43 could bring much trouble. If you still have no idea how to fix it or are still wandering on the internet trying to find a solution, then, just read on. The top 4 methods have been listed 1 by 1 for you to refer.

Method 1. Restart the PC and try a new USB port

This is the easiest way that can possibly fix the problem. Removing the plug is not recommended as it may cause file or system corruption. To restart your PC, do as follows.

1. Disconnect the USB stick from the PC.

2. Shut down the system.

3. Wait around 10 minutes and then, reboot the system

4. Plug the USB stick into the PC again.

If it doesn’t work, then, move to the next method.

Method 2. Update/roll back the USB driver

Option 1. Update the USB driver

If the USB driver is outdated, you could fail to access it. So, when you encounter the error code issue, first make sure the driver has been updated to the latest version.

1. In the “Search” box on the desktop, type “device manager” and hit “ENTER”.

2. Find and right-click the USB drive and select “Properties”.

3. Click “Driver” and then, select “Update Driver.”.

4. Hit “Search automatically for updated driver software”.

Option 2. Roll back the USB driver

If your USB driver is already in the latest version but the USB error code 43 still pops up. Maybe the version doesn’t suit the device pretty well. In this case, try rolling the USB stick back to the previous edition and it may settle it down.

1. Go to “Device Manager”.

2. Right-click on the problematic USB device and select “Properties”.

3. Head to “Driver” > “Roll Back Driver”.

Method 3. Reinstall the USB driver

Some users report that they solved the error code issue by uninstalling and reinstalling the USB driver. Now, let’s see how to do it.

1. Go to Device Manager in the way mentioned in Method 2.

2. Expand disk drive and right-click on the USB drive. Click on “Uninstall”.

Hit “OK” when prompted with a warning.

3. Right-click you PC name in Device Manager and click “Scan for hardware changes”.

Then, Disk Manager will scan your OS and automatically reinstall the USB device.

4. Go to the “General” tab of the device’s “Properties” dialog box. In Device status, you should notice the message “The device is working properly”

Method 4. Re-enable the USB stick

If you have tried the methods above, you should be very familiar with Device Manager now. Then, this method won’t take much time or consume you any energy.

1. Go to Device Manager and expand Disk drives.

2. Right-click on the USB stick you want to fix and select “Disable Device”.

3. Hit “Yes” for confirmation.

4. Re-click the device and select “Enable Device”.

Optional: fix USB MBR error

Sometimes, your USB won’t be shown in File Explorer due to MBR corruption. When MBR is damaged on a USB stick, you’ll not be able to access any partition of it because the partition table of that disk is damaged. So, data on that USB drive will be lost and you’re not able to use the device for further purposes.

However, this time, I’ll recommend a powerful third-party disk manager AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. With this impressive software, you can rebuild MBR for your disk quickly within only a few clicks. Meanwhile, it’s also able to check bad sectors for partitions or disks to improve the performance for your computer.

Step 1. Connect the problematic USB drive to your PC, install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard.

Step 2. Right-click on the problematic USB device and select “Rebuild MBR”.

Step 3. Select the type of MBR for the current OS.

Step 4. Hit “Apply” and then “Proceed” to commit the rebuilding operation.

Step 5. When asked to make a confirmation, click “Yes” and wait for the process to be completed.

Conclusion

How to fix USB error code 43? This could be a headache for novices without any knowledge of computing. To help you out, in this post, 4 reliable solutions are given along with their detailed steps. In the final part of the article, a free utility AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is also introduced to help fix MBR error for your USB device. To try other features including partition alignment, quick partition and recovering lost data, please upgrade it to the professional edition.