USBDeview: A Complete Guide to Viewing and Managing USB Devices

USBDeview Tips & Tricks: Clean Up Old USB Device EntriesUSBDeview is a small but powerful utility from NirSoft that lists all USB devices currently connected to your computer, as well as those previously connected. Over time Windows accumulates entries for devices you no longer use — old flash drives, keyboards, printers, phones — and these orphaned entries can clutter device lists, cause confusion, or occasionally interfere with reinstallation. This guide explains how to use USBDeview safely and effectively to identify, clean up, and manage old USB device entries, plus tips to avoid problems.

What USBDeview shows and why it matters

USBDeview displays each USB device entry with useful columns such as Device Name, Description, Device Type, Serial Number, Connected (Yes/No), Last Plug/Unplug Time, VendorID/ProductID, and more. Some practical reasons to clean old entries:

• Reduce clutter when troubleshooting driver or recognition issues.
• Remove records of stolen or lost devices from logs.
• Fix conflicts where Windows tries to reuse old drivers for a device that needs a fresh install.
• Improve clarity when exporting device lists for inventory or auditing.

Safety first: backup and precautions

Before removing entries:

• Create a System Restore Point or backup your registry. USBDeview typically deletes only the device entry keys under the device driver database, but mistakes can cause system instability.
• Run the tool as an administrator to ensure proper access.
• Do not delete entries for currently connected devices unless you intend to remove and reinstall them.

Installing and running USBDeview

1. Download USBDeview from NirSoft (choose the appropriate 32-bit or 64-bit build).
2. Extract the ZIP and run USBDeview.exe. Right-click and choose “Run as administrator” if you’ll be removing entries.
3. The main window will populate with all USB device entries (both connected and previously connected).

Identifying old or unnecessary entries

Use these columns and tips:

• Connected: No indicates a device not currently attached.
• Last Plug/Unplug Time: shows when the device was last seen; older timestamps often indicate candidates for removal.
• Serial Number / Device Name: helps confirm physical device identity. If you see a device you no longer own, it’s safe to remove.
• VendorID/ProductID: useful when multiple devices share similar names.
• Device Type: filter by type (e.g., storage, HID, hub) to focus on specific categories.

Tip: use the “Options > Show Previously Connected Devices” and sorting to bring old entries to the top.

How to clean entries safely

Step-by-step:

1. Sort or filter to find entries with “Connected = No” and an old Last Plug/Unplug Time.
2. Select one or multiple entries (Ctrl-click or Shift-click).
3. Right-click and choose “Uninstall Selected Devices” (or press Delete).
4. Confirm the action. USBDeview will remove the registry entries for the selected devices.
5. Reboot if you removed driver-related entries to ensure the system refreshes.

If you later need to reconnect a removed device, Windows will detect it as new hardware and reinstall drivers.

Advanced options and automation

• Command-line support: USBDeview supports command-line parameters for exporting lists, uninstalling devices, and running reports. This is useful for admins who need to batch-clean multiple machines.
• Export: use File > Save Selected Items to save CSV/HTML lists of devices before making changes.
• Detect duplicates: sort by Serial Number or VendorID/ProductID to find redundant entries created by repeated plug/unplug cycles.
• Scheduled cleanup: combine USBDeview’s command-line uninstall with Task Scheduler to run periodic cleanups on maintenance windows.

Example command (run as admin):

USBDeview.exe /uninstall_devices "Connected=No;LastPlugTime<2024-01-01" 

(Adjust syntax and parameters to match USBDeview’s current CLI options; check NirSoft documentation.)

Troubleshooting common issues

• Device reappears after uninstall: Windows may reinstall it automatically if the device is still connected — unplug it first, uninstall the old entry, then reconnect.
• Driver problems after removal: if a device fails to reinstall correctly, use Device Manager to “Scan for hardware changes” or manually update drivers.
• Missing information: some entries lack serial numbers or friendly names — use VendorID/ProductID plus timestamps to deduce identity.
• Permission denied: ensure USBDeview is running with administrative privileges.

When NOT to delete entries

• Do not delete entries for the system’s internal USB hubs or built-in devices (touchpads, internal webcams) unless you understand the consequences.
• Avoid removing entries related to devices that are intermittently used (e.g., occasional external drives) unless you plan to reinstall them.

Best practices checklist

• Run as administrator.
• Export a device list before major deletions.
• Focus on entries with Connected = No and old Last Plug/Unplug Time.
• Reboot after removing driver-related entries.
• Keep a recovery plan (System Restore) in case of unwanted side effects.

Cleaning old USB entries with USBDeview is quick and effective when done carefully. It declutters device records, helps resolve driver confusion, and gives you clearer visibility into what’s been connected to your system. Use exports, backups, and cautious filtering to make the process safe and reversible.