How to Scan for Hardware Changes in Windows 11

Why Scan for Hardware Changes?

• If Windows doesn’t automatically detect your new device, scanning helps your computer find it.
• It allows Windows to 💿 install the right drivers (software that helps your device work).
• It can also find some older devices that don’t tell Windows when they’re connected.

Scanning for hardware changes in Windows helps your computer find new devices if it doesn’t see them automatically, which is useful when Windows needs a little nudge to recognize something new.

Method 1Use Device Manager to Scan for Hardware Changes

Step 1Open Device Manager

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

Step 2Scan for hardware changes

You can scan for hardware changes in Windows 11 using the Device Manager tool by clicking the ‘Scan for hardware changes’ button, which looks like a computer with a magnifying glass, right on the toolbar.

• Click the Scan for hardware changes button in the toolbar (it looks like a computer with a magnifying glass).
• Or, click on the top device name (like your PC name), then click Action in the menu bar, and select Scan for hardware changes.

Here’s what it looks like:

Click the Scan for hardware changes button

Or use the Action menu to scan

Method 2Use a Command in Windows Terminal

If you like using commands, you can do this:

Step 1Open Windows Terminal as an administrator

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. ⚠️ Admin Required: If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.

Step 2Run the scan command

In the terminal window, type or copy-paste this command and press Enter:

pnputil /scan-devices

This command tells Windows to look for new devices and 💿 install the necessary drivers (software that lets devices communicate with your computer).

Step 3Wait for it to finish

When it finishes, you can close Windows Terminal.

Learn more about this command on the official Microsoft page: PnPUtil Command Syntax – Microsoft Docs

Summary

To make sure your Windows 11 PC recognizes new hardware, you can use Device Manager’s ‘Scan for hardware changes’ button or menu option to help Windows find and set up new devices without needing to 🔄 restart your computer.

• Use Device Manager’s Scan for hardware changes button or menu.
• Or run the pnputil /scan-devices command in Windows Terminal.
• ⚠️ Admin Required: You must be signed in as an administrator to do these steps.
• These steps help Windows find and set up new devices without you needing to restart.

Following these steps helps fix hardware detection issues fast, keeping your devices running smoothly.