How to fix device disabled (error code 22) in Windows 10/11

Is the “This device is disabled” code 22 error in Device Manager preventing you from using a new or old device on your PC? Don’t worry because we are here to help you solve this problem. A code 22 error means the device has been manually disabled and sometimes re-enabling it does not help. Whatever the cause, here are 10 ways to fix the “This device is disabled” code 22 error on Windows 10/PC and make that hardware work again.

1. Unplug and Reinsert New Hardware

The new hardware you plug into your PC may start working again after a quick removal and reinstallation. So if it's a device plugged in via USB, go ahead and unplug it. Then, wait a few seconds and plug it back in. Now, check if the device is showing up in Device Manager without error code.

Reinsert the USB device

If it is hardware installed in the motherboard slot inside the desktop computer, you must uninstall the device by opening it and performing and reinstall to perform the same operation.

2. Re-enable the hardware in Device Manager

If you haven't tried this fix yet, we recommend that you check to see if the device has been accidentally disabled. If this is the case, you need to enable it. So, follow these steps:

1. First, launch the search and open the Device Manager using the "Windows S" keyboard shortcut in Windows 11/10.

2. Next, right-click on the problematic device and click Enable Device.

3. Update your device

Another common reason why you may encounter a Code 22 error could be due to outdated drivers. We have a dedicated guide on how to update drivers in Windows 10/11, which includes native and third-party tools for downloading newer drivers. Windows Update also provides a driver repository for most drivers, so just update the driver in Device Manager.

1. Use the Windows S shortcut again to start the search and open Device Manager.

2. In Device Manager, right-click on the device suffering from Code 22 error. Now, click Update Driver.

3. Next, click Search automatically for drivers.

4. Then, click "Search for updated drivers using Windows Update".

4. Windows will automatically download the latest, stable version of the driver for your hardware. This will hopefully fix the “This device is disabled” code 22 error on Windows 10/11.

4. Restart your PC

Restarting your PC may be a mandatory step when setting up a new device, so try this now. You can restart your PC by clicking the Start menu and then clicking the power button. Here, click "Restart". Just turning the PC off and on will work too.

5. Completely uninstall the device driver

1. Open the Device Manager on your Windows 10/11 PC again.

2. Next, right-click on the device showing the code 22 error. Then, click "Uninstall device".

3. Additionally, you may choose to completely remove the driver for the device. Make sure this specific checkbox is checked.

6. Install older drivers

Newer drivers can cause problems, making them the culprit rather than the solution. Therefore, rolling back to an earlier version of the driver may fix the "This device is disabled" code 22 error for you. This is especially true if the device used to work fine but now has errors for some reason.

1. To roll back a driver, you need to find the manufacturer's web page, which contains a list of drivers released for your specific hardware.

2. Once you find this problem, find an older driver (months or weeks depending on when you started having problems) and download it from the manufacturer's website.

#2. Use the previous fix (fifth) to completely uninstall the device driver before proceeding to the next step. After uninstalling, do not update the driver.

3. Go to the location where you downloaded the old device driver and open the installation package. You may need to unzip (.zip) the file on Windows to access it. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the legacy driver.

NOTE: By the way, if it is the GPU driver that is causing the Code 22 error, make sure to click the checkbox next to "Perform a clean installation." Once done, check if your device has started running optimally.

If you get a Code 22 error with your graphics card, make sure you select the clean install option.

7. Perform a System Restore

If the "This device is disabled" code 22 error has recently started occurring, and your device was previously working fine, performing a system restore may resolve the issue . To perform a system restore, you need to already have a restore point. If you don't remember making a restore point, you can still perform this step because Windows and other programs tend to create restore points before making changes to the system.

1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows S to launch Windows Search. Then, type the words "Restore".

2. When the suggested result "Create a restore point" pops up, click it.

3. Next, click “System Restore”. When the "System Restore" window pops up, click "Next".

4. Find a restore point with a suitable date and time that is close to showing the Code 22 error The device did not have any issues within the time frame. Once you find the right one, click on it and then click Next. On the last screen, it will ask you to confirm the restore point. Click "Done".

5. Windows will now perform a system restore, which may take some time. After that, the "This device is disabled with code 22" error will disappear as long as the problem did not occur at the specific time when the restore point was created.

6. If you don’t have any system restore points, you need to reset your PC. This involves factory resetting your PC from Windows Setup, or performing a clean installation of Windows 11 using a media creation tool or a USB drive. This is your only option if you don't have a system restore point

8. Update your BIOS

Updating your BIOS/UEFI to the latest version is optional in most cases, but In some cases, the latest BIOS updates contain necessary vulnerability patches, firmware updates, and hotfixes for your hardware. Therefore, please follow the recommended instructions recommended by the manufacturer to update your BIOS.

Force BIOS update example

9. Reset BIOS settings

Resetting BIOS settings to default can definitely help solve the code 22 error, especially if recent changes in settings are causing the problem. So, when your PC boots up press F2/Delete to enter the BIOS (here are more ways to enter BIOS/EUFI in Windows PC) and then navigate to the last menu.

In most cases you will find the "Reset BIOS settings to defaults" option here. In our case (ROG Z790-E motherboard) it's called "Load Optimized Default". When you find this setting in your PC's BIOS, go ahead and select it. After resetting the BIOS, your PC will restart. If necessary, refer to the official instruction manual to reset the BIOS.

10. Replace the device

If all else fails, you may need to replace the device with a new one to resolve the problem in Windows 22 or 10 "Code is disabled for this device" 11 error.

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