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DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-45

Device Manager Codes Device Manager Code 45: Currently, This Hardware Device Is Not Connected to the Computer Applies to: Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11

What it means

Usually much simpler than most other Device Manager codes: this is a leftover entry for a device that was once connected but genuinely isn't plugged in right now — Windows keeps a record of previously-connected devices, and this code just reflects that.

Also seen as: Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer (Code 45), Code 45 error

Quick fix steps

  1. Check whether the device is actually plugged in and powered on — this resolves the large majority of Code 45 cases, since it's the expected, correct message for a disconnected device.
  2. If the device genuinely is connected and you're still seeing this, try a different USB port or cable, since a bad physical connection can also produce this code.
  3. If it's a leftover entry for a device you no longer own or use, it's generally safe to just ignore it — right-click and Uninstall device if you'd like to clear it from the list, though it's not causing any actual problem by sitting there.
For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see Understanding Device Manager Error Codes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows keep a record of devices that aren't connected?
It's intentional — Windows remembers previously connected devices so it can quickly reconnect and reconfigure them without needing to fully redetect everything each time you plug them back in.
Should I clean up these leftover entries regularly?
It's not necessary for normal operation — they don't cause any actual problems by sitting there, so cleaning them up is purely a matter of personal preference for a tidier Device Manager list.

Other error codes

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-10 — Device Manager Code 10: This Device Cannot Start

One of the most common, generic Device Manager codes — Windows tried to start the device and couldn't, usually because of an outdated or corrupted driver, though it can also point to a temporary hardware fault.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-28 — Device Manager Code 28: The Drivers for This Device Are Not Installed

Exactly what it says — no driver is currently installed for this device at all, as opposed to a driver being present but broken.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-39 — Device Manager Code 39: Windows Cannot Load the Device Driver for This Hardware

Different from Code 28 — here a driver is present, but Windows can't actually load it, usually because the driver file itself is corrupted or missing a required component.

DEVICE-MANAGER-CODE-43 — Device Manager Code 43: Windows Has Stopped This Device Because It Has Reported Problems

A deliberately vague, catch-all code — the device itself reported a problem to Windows, which stopped it as a protective measure, but the specific reason isn't included in the code itself. Common causes range from a genuinely failing piece of hardware to a driver conflict to, on graphics cards specifically, a crashed or hung GPU.