"Windows Has Stopped This Device Because It Has Reported Problems (Code 43)" — How to Fix It

A device — often a USB drive, webcam, or controller — shows a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager, and its Properties → General tab reads “Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43).”

Why: Code 43 means the device itself told Windows it had a fault, so Windows shut it down. Per Microsoft, the usual cure is to reinstall or update the driver; it can also be a genuinely failing device or simply a port that isn’t supplying enough power.

Fix 1: Reinstall the driver (uninstall + scan)

This is Microsoft’s primary remedy for Code 43.

1. Press Win + R, type the command, and press Enter:

   devmgmt.msc

2. Find the device with the yellow mark (often under Universal Serial Bus controllers as Unknown USB Device, or under its own category).

3. Right-click it → Uninstall device → confirm with Uninstall.

4. In the menu bar, click Action → Scan for hardware changes.

5. Windows reinstalls the device driver. Check whether the Code 43 flag clears.

Tip: a quick reboot before all this often clears a one-off Code 43 on its own — try unplugging the device, restarting, and replugging first.

Fix 2: Update the driver

If reinstalling the in-box driver didn’t help, get a newer one.

1. In devmgmt.msc, right-click the device → Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.
2. If Windows finds nothing, also run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates (and Advanced options → Optional updates for driver packages).
3. Still stuck? Download the latest driver from the device manufacturer’s support page and install it manually.

Fix 3: Roll back a recently updated driver

If Code 43 started right after a driver or Windows update, revert the driver.

1. In devmgmt.msc, right-click the device → Properties → Driver tab.
2. Click Roll Back Driver (greyed out if no previous version is stored).
3. Pick a reason, click Yes, and reboot.

Fix 4: Rule out power and the port

Code 43 is frequently a hardware/power issue, not software.

• Plug the device directly into a rear USB port — bypass hubs and front-panel headers, which can under-deliver current.
• Try a different cable and a different PC. If Code 43 follows the device everywhere, the device itself is most likely failing.

FAQ

Does Code 43 mean my device is dead? Not necessarily — it most often clears with a driver reinstall (Fix 1). But if it persists across reboots, ports, cables, and another PC, the hardware is the likely culprit.

It’s my graphics card showing Code 43, not USB. Same error code, GPU-specific steps. Use Microsoft’s graphics Code 43 guide.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Error codes in Device Manager in Windows (Code 43)