How to Scan for hardware changes in Windows 11/10?

In this article, we will show you how to scan for hardware changes in Windows 11/10. All the peripheral devices that we connect to our system require a dedicated driver. These drivers are required for the proper functioning of the devices. Windows installs the device driver automatically when we connect a device to our system.

Scan for hardware changes is a feature of Windows 11/10 in which Windows scans for the hardware changes on a system and installs the driver whenever a device is connected to the computer. Windows scans for hardware changes every time you connect a device to your system and remove a device from your system.How to scan for hardware changes in Windows 11/10

Although Windows 11/10 automatically checks the hardware settings every time you connect a new device to your formula and remove the connected device from your formula, you can manually check the hardware settings. We will show you the following strategies to check hardware settings in Windows 11/10. Using the Device Manager Command Prompt

Below, we explain those two strategies in detail. Check the hardware settings in the Device Manager.

You can check the Device Manager hardware settings by following the commands written below:

Press the Win R keys to open the Run command box. Type devmgmt. msc and click OK. This command will open Device Manager. Select any category in the Device Manager. Click the Action menu and check for hardware changes.

Alternatively, you can also click on the respective icon on the Toolbar of the Device Manager. In the Device Manager, different icons are available on the Toolbar. Hover your mouse cursor on each icon to view its name. In this way, you can identify which one of them is the icon of the Scan for hardware changes.

One more way to scan for hardware changes in the Device Manager is to right-click on any device category or on your computer name in the Device Manager. Right-click on any device category or your computer name and select Scan for hardware changes in the right-click context menu.Scan for hardware changes using Command Line

The next step to check the hardware settings in Windows 11/10 is to use the command prompt. Open an extended command activation, copy the following command, and paste it into the administrator command activation window. After that, press Enter. pnputil. exe /scan-devices

You will see the following message in the Command Prompt window.

Analysis of hardware changes.

After scanning is complete, the Comand Prompt should show the following message:

Full scan.

You can now close the command prompt. Look for hardware settings or pnputil/working scanning devices.

Above, we looked at two tactics for checking hardware settings in Windows 11/10, one through Device Manager and the other through Command Prompt. But if the hardware settings check or pnputil /scan-devices is running on your Windows computer, you can use the following fixes to fix the problem.

Usually, when a device stops working or doesn’t work properly, uninstalling and reinstalling its driver will fix the problem. During this process, users are prompted to uninstall the problematic device driver through the Device Manager and then restart their computer. , they can check for hardware tweaks after uninstalling the device driver. Windows installs the missing driver when the computer rests or when it searches for hardware settings.

For some users, Windows was unable to install the missing driver. They also tried to manually check the hardware settings in the Device Manager and Command Prompt, but to no avail.

If Check hardware settings or pnputil /scan-devices option is not working on your Windows 11/10 computer, follow the tips below to fix the issue. Restart your computer. Make sure you use an enhanced command prompt. Create a new user account. Manually install the missing driver1] Restart your computer

I experienced this problem on my laptop. The Scan for Hardware Changes command was not working for me. I restarted my laptop and the problem was fixed. Sometimes issues occur due to a minor glitch which can be fixed simply by restarting the computer. Hence, we suggest you restart your computer and see if it helps.2] Make sure that you are using the elevated Command Prompt

If you are analyzing hardware settings through the command prompt, it is mandatory to enable it as an administrator. Otherwise, the command won’t run, and you’ll see the following error message:

Failed to scan for devices.Access is denied.3] Create a new user account

Sometimes, access a quick user account. This occurs when the user account gets corrupted. Create a new user account on your system and then see if that helps. 4] Manually Install the Missing Driver

We need to scan for hardware changes when we uninstall a device driver or if Windows does not scan for hardware changes automatically. If you have uninstalled a device driver and now you are facing trouble reinstalling it, you can install it manually. Download its latest version from the manufacturer’s website and run the installer file to install the device driver.

If the above-mentioned fixes do not work, you can try to restore your system to the previous working point or reset your PC.

Read: The touchpad driver appears in Windows Device Manager. Check for missing hardware changes

Some users have reported that they were unable to locate the Check Hardware Changes option in the Action menu of the Device Manager. If the Check Hardware Settings option is missing from your formula, you can use the following solutions for the problem. Before proceeding, check for Windows Update manually and install it if available. Select a category in Device Manager Repair Your Formula Files Perform a System Restore Reset this PC1] Select a category in Device Manager

When manually searching for hardware changes, it’s vital to choose a category in the Device Manager; otherwise, you may not see this option in the Action menu. You can also choose your computer’s call in Device Manager. Now, click on the Action menu. This time I deserve to show you the option Check Hardware Changes. 2] Repair Your System Files

Corrupt formula files may be the cause of this problem. If after deciding on a category in Device Manager, you are still missing the hardware settings search, your formula may have corrupt files. Run SFC and DISM scan to repair corrupt formula files. 3] Perform system restore

System Restore is a rugged tool on Windows computers that helps users repair their formula to its previous running state in case something goes wrong. System Restore may work in this case. Perform System Restore. While performing this action, the date prior to which the challenge did not exist. 4] Reset this PC

You can reset your PC to the factory default settings without deleting the data. This should fix the problem.

That’s it. I hope this helps.

Read: Device Manager flashes or flashes in Windows. How do I install my hardware on Windows 11?

You can check the specifications of your hardware in Windows 11 through the formula information. Click Windows Search and enter System Information. Select the correct type from the search results. You can now view your formula summary, component details, and more. You can also install a third-party tool like HWiNFO. How do I check the hardware settings on my network adapter?

The procedure for checking the hardware settings on your network adapter or any other hardware device is the same. Open the Device Manager and the required device category. Now, move on to Action> Check Hardware Changes.

Read next: List of Device Manager error codes on Windows PC with solutions.

Posted on September 26, 2023 Tags: DevicesRelated ArticlesHow to Rename Hardware in Device Manager in Windows 11/10Device Manager Shows Sound, Video, and Game DriversHow to Locate the Base in Device Manager in Windows 11NishantGola @TWC

Nishant holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He worked as an automation engineer in the automation industry, where his work included PLC and SCADA programming. Helping friends and loved ones solve their PCs is his favorite pastime.

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