How Do I Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows

How Do I Enable a Device in Device Manager in Windows?

Enable a disabled device in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP

By Tim Fisher Tim Fisher Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability Emporia State University Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 18, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Each hardware device listed in Device Manager must be enabled before Windows can use it. Once enabled, Windows can assign system resources to the device. By default, Windows enables all hardware that it recognizes. A device that isn't enabled will be marked by a black arrow in Device Manager, or a red x in Windows XP. Disabled devices also generate a Code 22 error in Device Manager. You can enable a device from the device's Properties in Device Manager. However, the detailed steps involved in doing this vary depending on which Windows OS you're using; the small differences are called out below. These steps work in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. See What Version of Windows Do I Have? if you're not sure which of those several versions of Windows is installed on your computer.

How to Enable a Device in Windows

Open Device Manager. There are several ways to do this, but the quickest is usually through the Power User Menu in newer versions of Windows (WIN+X keyboard shortcut), or Control Panel in older versions. If you've opened Device Manager from the Command Prompt and you need to remain using the command line, you can enable a device there using DevCon. Microsoft explains where to download DevCon. Within Device Manager, locate the hardware device you want to enable. Specific devices are listed under the major hardware categories, such as Display adapters, Keyboards, etc. Navigate through the categories by choosing the > icon, or [+] if you're using Windows Vista or Windows XP. After finding the hardware you're looking for, right-click the device's name or icon and select Properties. Make sure to right-click the device, not the device's category. You'll know during the next step if you've selected the wrong one (you won't see the correct tab). Choose the Driver tab. If you don't see this tab, select Enable Device from the General tab, follow the on-screen instructions, and then choose the Close button. You're done! Windows XP Users Only: Stay in the General tab and choose the Device usage: drop-down box at the very bottom. Change it to Use this device (enable) and then skip down to Step 6. Select Enable Device or Enable, depending on your version of Windows. You'll know the device is enabled if the button immediately changes to read Disable Device or Disable. Choose OK. This device should now be enabled, and you should be returned to the main Device Manager window and the black arrow should be gone. If a yellow exclamation point appears in Device Manager after the black arrow or red x disappears, you should troubleshoot that issue separately. The yellow exclamation point is a different kind of warning concerning your hardware's configuration. You can verify that the hardware should be working properly by checking the device status in Device Manager. See How to Disable a Device in Device Manager if you need to do that. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How Do I Disable a Device in Device Manager in Windows? Device Manager (What It Is and How to Use It) Why Is There a Black Arrow in Device Manager? How to Open Device Manager (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7...) How to Access Device Manager From the Command Prompt How to Update Drivers in Windows How to View a Device's Status in Device Manager How to Properly Reboot (Restart) a Windows Computer How to Create a Password in Windows How to Scan a Hard Drive Using 'Error Checking' How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) How Do I Reset My Windows Password? 35 Best Free Data Destruction Tools (October 2022) How to Disable Windows Automatic Restart on System Failure 32 Best Free File Shredder Programs (October 2022) How Do I Create a Windows Password Reset Disk? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies