If the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is unable to locate your USB drive, try the following tips to get it working again. You can easily download the Windows 10 Home or Pro versions using the Windows Media Creation tool. This tool, however, is prone to a number of issues, including the error “Windows 10 Media Creation tool can’t find USB drive.”
Typically, this is due to a problem with the external USB drive. However, this error can be caused by a variety of system-related issues in some cases. As a result, let’s look into what’s causing this error and how we can fix it.
What Causes the “Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Can’t Find USB Drive” Error?
The following system-specific and hardware-related issues can cause this error:
- The USB drivers have become obsolete or have become corrupted.
- Your USB device is infected with malware, corrupted, or damaged.
- The USB port is either broken or faulty.
- The system files on your computer are corrupted.
- The BIOS needs to be updated.
Now that we’ve gone over the possible causes of this error, let’s look at how to fix it.
Quick Fixes for the “Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Can’t Find USB Drive” Error
Here are some quick fixes you should try before applying the detailed methods in this article:
- Restart your computer to see if that solves the problem.
- Use a different USB device, preferably one with an 8GB or larger storage capacity.
- Change the port where your USB device is plugged in. If this solves your problem, the original port is most likely broken.
- On a different computer, test your USB storage device. If it works, your computer has a problem. However, if the problem persists, the USB device is to blame.
- Disable the Windows fast startup option for the time being. This feature speeds up the startup of your PC, but it may compromise its performance.
If you’re still having trouble solving the problem, here are some more options to consider.
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Change the USB Format to FAT32
If you’re using an external USB device with an unsupported format, you’re likely to run into this problem. If your computer supports UEFI, make sure the USB is formatted as FAT32. Because most USB devices are formatted as NTFS, it’s always a good idea to double-check the format first.
Also, keep in mind that formatting your USB device will wipe out all of the data on it. So, before you go any further, make a backup of your files on an external USB storage device.
Otherwise, you can check the format of your USB device as follows:
- Right-click on the USB device and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Properties tab and ensure that the File system reads as “FAT32“.
If the File system value reads “NTFS” or “exFAT”, here’s how you can reformat the USB device:
- Right-click on your USB device and select Format.
- Click the File system drop-down menu and select FAT32 (Default).
- Uncheck the Quick Format box and then click Start.
Update or Reinstall the USB Drivers
If corrupted USB drivers are the cause of the problem, you can either update or reinstall the drivers.
So, first, let’s take a look at how to update your USB drivers:
- Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu options.
- Double-click the Universal Serial Bus controllers option to expand it.
- Right-click your computer’s USB adapter and select Update device.
To complete the process, follow the on-screen instructions and restart your computer.
Try reinstalling the USB drivers if this doesn’t fix the problem. Here’s how to go about it:
- Open the Device Manager and expand the USB adapters as per the previous steps.
- Right-click your PC’s USB adapter and select Uninstall device.
Navigate to the Action tab and select Scan for hardware changes. Restart your PC when the process is complete.
Disable the USB Selective Suspend Setting
The USB selective suspend feature helps you save energy by lowering the power consumption of your computer. When this tool is turned on, it suspends one of your USB ports to prevent power drain. However, it’s possible that this tool is causing problems with the Media Creation tool.
You could try temporarily disabling the USB Selective Suspend Setting to solve the problem. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
- Type Control Panel and press OK.
- Click the View by drop-down menu and select Large icons.
- Next, click the Power Options and then select Change plan settings.
- In the next window, click Change advanced power settings.
- Locate and expand the USB settings option.
- Expand the USB selective suspend setting and disable the On battery and Plugged in options.
Click Apply and then click OK. Finally, restart your PC to apply these changes.
Use the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
You can also use the Windows Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to fix this problem. This built-in Windows tool assists you in quickly locating and resolving a variety of system issues.
Here’s how you can run this tool:
- Type Troubleshoot in the Windows search bar and select the Best Match.
- Select the Hardware and Devices option and then press the Run the troubleshooter button.
Close the troubleshooter when it’s finished and restart your computer to apply the fixes.
Use the DISM and SFC Tools
If this is a system-specific issue, the DISM and SFC tools may be of assistance. These are trustworthy Windows utilities that assist in the recovery of corrupted or missing system files.
Here’s how to use the DISM tool to get started:
- Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
- Type CMD and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthAfter running this scan, type the following command and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRestart your PC when the process is complete.
From there, you can now run an SFC scan by following these steps:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt as per the previous steps.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannowClose the Command Prompt and restart your computer once the process is finished.
Use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Without a Hassle
The error “Windows 10 Media Creation tool can’t find USB drive” is extremely annoying. It should not, however, prevent you from downloading Windows to a bootable USB drive. All you have to do now is apply the fixes we’ve provided, and you’ll be fine.
