USBDeview

USBDeview is a software utility that lists all USB devices currently connected to a computer, as well as all USB devices that were connected previously. It displays detailed information about each device, including the name, description, last connection/disconnection date, manufacturer ID, product ID, serial number, and more. The tool allows uninstalling USB devices that were previously connected, disconnecting currently connected USB devices, and exporting the device list to a text, HTML, or XML file.

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• Complete device enumeration. USBDeview scans and displays all USB devices currently connected to the system, as well as the history of all devices that have been connected in the past. The information is obtained directly from the Windows registry, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate list of all devices, even if they are no longer physically present on the system.
• Detailed device information. For each device in the list, the utility displays an extensive set of technical parameters. This includes the Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID), which uniquely identify the device manufacturer and model, the serial number, the exact dates and times of the first and last connection, the device description, its class, the name of the installed driver, and the firmware version, if available.
• Uninstallation of previously connected devices. This function allows the complete removal of information about any USB device that was previously connected from the system registry. This is relevant for removing obsolete or erroneous entries, which can resolve device conflict issues and clean up the hardware list in the Windows Device Manager.
• Forced disconnection of active devices. USBDeview has the ability to safely disconnect a USB device that is currently connected and functioning. This operation is performed through a direct call to the Windows API to eject the device, similar to the system’s "Safely Remove Hardware" function, but with greater control over the process.
• Advanced list filtering. The program incorporates mechanisms to filter the device list based on multiple criteria. Users can filter devices by their current status (connected/disconnected), by type (storage, HID, hub, etc.), by manufacturer, or by connection date. This facilitates the quick location of specific devices in systems with an extensive history.
• Data export. All collected information about USB devices can be exported to various external file formats for subsequent analysis or documentation. Supported formats include plain text (TXT), where data is organized in tab-delimited columns; HTML, for display in web browsers; and XML, which allows structured data processing by other applications.
• Command-line interface (CLI). In addition to the graphical interface, USBDeview offers a command-line operation mode. This allows task automation, such as generating periodic reports, uninstalling multiple devices via scripts, or integrating the functionality into larger system administration workflows without manual intervention.
• Device marking. The interface allows selecting and marking multiple devices in the list to perform batch operations. The user can select several items and apply a common action to all of them, such as uninstalling or disconnecting them simultaneously, saving time when managing large quantities of devices.
• Storage device detection. The utility specifically identifies and highlights devices belonging to the USB mass storage class. For these devices, it displays additional relevant information, such as the assigned drive letter, total capacity, and available free space, which is crucial for managing flash drives and external hard drives.
• Advanced property viewing. It provides access to deep technical metadata about the device that is not visible through the standard Windows interface. This includes device status codes, installation error codes, bus addresses, port numbers, and the USB version supported by the device (USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0).
• Integrated search. Includes a quick text search function that scans all visible fields in the device list. Users can enter any term (part of a name, ID, serial number) to instantly find all matching entries, facilitating the location of specific devices in long lists.
• Driver information. Displays precise details about the device driver associated with each USB hardware. It shows the full path to the driver file (.sys), its description, the vendor version, and the driver date—information valuable for troubleshooting compatibility or performance issues related to outdated or corrupted drivers.

USBDeview was developed by Nir Sofer, an Israeli programmer known for creating compact and functional system utilities. Development of the tool began around 2005, responding to the need to effectively manage the growing ecosystem of USB devices on Windows systems. The program is written primarily in the C++ programming language, giving it high performance and a small file size.

Alternatives to USBDeview: