How to Fix Device Manager Error Code 45 on Windows

How to Fix Device Manager Error Code 45 on Windows

By Robert Rhodes 2 years ago

There’s nothing worse than connecting a device to your computer and seeing an error code.

If you see error code 45 in the Device Manager, you’re not alone. It mainly appears due to a temporary system glitch, but sometimes, a corrupt or outdated driver can also trigger this error code. We’ll walk you through exactly how to resolve the Device Manager error code 45 so that you can continue using different devices on your computer without hassle.


What Is Device Manager Error Code 45?

The Device Manager is a handy tool that manages the hardware devices installed in your system. Each of these hardware devices generates a status code that reports whether the device is operational or not. One such status code is code 45, which indicates an issue with the connected device.

The code 45 comes with an error message that says, “Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer (Code 45). To fix this problem, reconnect this hardware device to the computer.”

You can see this error code on viewing the properties of the problematic device. In most cases, the error code 45 appears when the device whose properties you are viewing is no longer connected to the computer. But sometimes, it can occur even when the device is connected to the computer. In this situation, follow the below fixes to troubleshoot the issue quickly.

1. Reconnect the Problematic Device

The first thing you must try to fix the error code 45 is reconnecting the problematic device. More often than not, the error code can appear as a one-time Device Manager glitch, and the best solution, in this case, is to reconnect the problematic device.

Sometimes a damaged cable or any kind of interference in the connection can be responsible for the problem. Thus, ensure that the connection between the problematic device and the computer is secure and properly seated.

It can also be the case that an issue with your computer is causing the problem. To confirm this, you can try to connect the problematic device to a second computer. If the device works, you now know that your original computer is the culprit, not the device. This mainly happens due to a software problem. You can resolve it by trying the following fixes.

2. Restart the Computer

Restarting your device is another basic but important step you must take before getting into advanced troubleshooting. It will eliminate any temporary bug or glitch interfering with the connection between your computer and the device.

So, remove the problematic device and then quickly restart your computer. After that, plug the device and check if you still see the error code 45.

3. Download the Latest Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly releases updates to enhance system performance and eliminate minor bugs and glitches. If the error code has appeared due to a system glitch, you can try downloading the latest Windows update to resolve it.

Here’s how to download the latest Windows update:

  1. Open Settings using one of the many ways to open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Windows Update from the left panel.
  3. Click on Check for updates option.

Windows will now look for and automatically download any available update. Once you have downloaded the updates, you will have to restart your system to install them.

Next, try to connect the device and check if it’s working properly or not.

4. Disable and Then Re-enable the Device

The Device Manager lets you manually enable or disable all the installed devices on your computer. You can disable and then re-enable a device to solve various issues, including error code 45.

Follow the below steps to disable the device:

  1. Open the Device Manager, and expand the category with the problematic device.
  2. Right-click on the problematic device, and choose the Disable option from the context menu.

  3. Click Yes on the confirmation box that crops up.

The disabled device is no longer available for use. To enable the device, open the Device Manager, expand the category of the problematic device, right-click on the device and choose the Enable option.

That’s it. Now check if you’re still facing the problem. If yes, try the next solution on the list.

5. Run Windows Troubleshooters

Windows comes with various troubleshooters to fix different system issues. Since this is likely a hardware and device problem, you’ll have to use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

Here’s how to use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter:

  1. Open the Run dialog box, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and press Enter.
  2. Click the Advanced option and then checkmark the Apply repairs automatically box.

  3. Click Next.

The troubleshooter will begin the search and try to detect all the problems. Once the search is complete, it will suggest various fixes for the problem. Apply these fixes to resolve the issue.

6. Update the Problematic Device

The issue can also result from a corrupt and outdated device driver. The solution, in this case, is to download the latest driver update. Here’s how:

  1. Open Device Manager > Expand the problematic device category > Right-click on the problematic device.
  2. Choose Update driver from the context menu.

  3. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Windows will now look for the available update; if any is found, it will install it without much user input.

7. Run SFC and DISM Scan

Corrupt system files are a prime reason behind the code 45 error. You can detect and replace these corrupt files by running an SFC scan.

You can run an SFC scan by following the below instructions:

  1. Open the Start Menu, type Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator from the right pane.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

The scan will take a few minutes to finish. Once it’s complete, check if you’re still facing the problem.

If SFC is unable to solve the problem, you can use DISM to restore your disk’s health. Here’s how to run the DISM scan:

  1. Type the following command in the elevated Command Prompt window and press Enter. 
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

  2. Once the command is successfully executed, give a quick restart to your system and check for the problem.

Fixing the Device Manager Error Code 45

Hopefully, the above fixes helped you resolve the problem. In most cases, the Device Manager error code 45 can easily be fixed by simply reconnecting the problematic device. But sometimes, you will have to try the advanced fixes mentioned in this post to eliminate the issue.

In the worst-case scenario, if none of the above fixes were helpful, you will have to perform a system restore. Restoring will roll back the system settings to a point where everything is working fine in your system.

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