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Code 43: Windows has stopped this device

Code 43 means the device itself reported a problem and Windows shut it down. It hits graphics cards and USB devices most often. It looks scary, but the hardware is usually fine: in most cases the culprit is a driver or USB power, and the fix is a rollback, a clean driver reinstall or simply reconnecting the device. The checks below go from fastest to most thorough.

Why this happens

  • A device driver failure - the most common cause, especially with NVIDIA graphics in laptops.
  • A USB device froze or is underpowered (a hub, a damaged cable).
  • Windows Update replaced a working driver with an incompatible version.
  • A faulty port or cable.
  • Rarest of all - a device that has actually failed.

Quick checks first

1Reconnect the device and restart the PC

A full restart, not Sleep. On a desktop, shut down and unplug the power cord for a minute - that resets power to the USB controllers, and a stuck Code 43 often clears on its own.

2Try another port and another cable

Plug a USB device straight into the computer, bypassing any hub. On a desktop prefer a rear port - the front ones connect over internal extenders and get weaker power.

3Recall when Code 43 first appeared

If it was right after a Windows Update, open the update history (Settings → Windows Update → Update history). A driver update installed the same day is the prime suspect - the rollback fix below targets exactly this.

4Turn off USB power saving

Device Manager → Universal Serial Bus controllers → for each USB Root Hub: Properties → Power Management → untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.

5See which device was stopped

In Device Manager find the device with the yellow warning icon: a graphics card, a USB device or a Bluetooth adapter - what you treat next depends on which one it is.

If Code 43 survived all the checks above, the problem is almost certainly the driver of one specific device. The next step is to identify that device and reinstall its driver - the Hardware ID makes this precise even when the name in Device Manager tells you nothing.

Drivers most often behind this problem

Fixing it manually

Roll back the driver (if the code appeared after an update)

  1. Device Manager → the device with the warning icon → Properties → Driver tab.
  2. Click “Roll Back Driver” if the button is active.
  3. Reboot and check whether the code is gone.

Reinstall the driver cleanly

  1. In Device Manager, uninstall the device and tick “Attempt to remove the driver for this device”.
  2. Reboot - Windows will redetect the device and install a driver.
  3. If Windows picked a generic driver and Code 43 came back, install the manufacturer's package: for a laptop graphics card that means the laptop maker's version, not the universal one.

Find the driver by Hardware ID

  1. Open the device Properties → Details → Hardware Ids and copy the first value.
  2. Search that ID in our database - the driver page shows versions for your Windows and step-by-step install instructions.
  3. Create a restore point before installing, and download only from the official source linked on the page.

Know the exact device model?

Search the driver database by device name, computer model or Hardware ID, and pick the release that matches your Windows version and architecture.

Graphics cards report IDs starting with PCI\VEN_10DE (NVIDIA) or PCI\VEN_1002 (AMD); USB devices start with USB\VID_. Open Device Manager → the stopped device → Properties → Details → Hardware Ids to see yours.

Try for example: GeForce MX130 · read the Hardware ID guide

Frequently asked questions

▸Does Code 43 mean the device is dead?

Usually not. Formally the code says “the device reported a problem”, but in practice the driver or USB power is to blame far more often than the hardware. Consider a real failure only if the device throws Code 43 on another computer too.

▸Why is Code 43 so common on NVIDIA graphics in laptops?

Laptops run two graphics chips in tandem (Intel plus NVIDIA), and a broken driver pairing is the classic cause. Installing the laptop maker's drivers - Intel first, then NVIDIA - may clear it.

▸A flash drive shows Code 43 in one port only - what is that?

Most likely the port, not the drive: a worn connector or weak power. If the code appears in every port and on another PC as well, then it is the drive itself.

▸Will a BIOS update help?

Sometimes - makers do fix USB power and GPU initialization bugs in BIOS releases. But treat it as the last step, after drivers are ruled out, and only with a file strictly for your exact model.

Other common problems