USB devices are everywhere — from keyboards and mice to storage drives, smartphones, and custom hardware. But when something goes wrong with a connection, or when developers need to understand exactly how a USB device is being recognized by Windows, the built-in tools often don’t provide enough detail.
That’s where USBView (USB System Viewer) comes in. Developed by Microsoft, USBView is a lightweight utility that displays a complete tree of all USB controllers, hubs, and connected devices on your system. It lets you drill down into each device’s descriptors, power requirements, and connection details.
Developers use USBView to debug custom USB hardware and drivers. IT professionals turn to it for troubleshooting devices that won’t show up correctly. Testers rely on it to validate that devices are enumerating as expected.
In short: USBView is Microsoft’s go-to tool for exploring, monitoring, and diagnosing USB devices in a detailed and structured way.
What Is USBView?
USBView (USB System Viewer) is a free utility created by Microsoft that provides a detailed look at all USB devices connected to a Windows system. It presents this information in a hierarchical tree view, starting from the USB host controllers, through hubs, and down to each connected device.
The tool is designed to give in-depth visibility into device descriptors, connection speeds, power requirements, and endpoint details — information that isn’t easily accessible through standard Windows tools like Device Manager.
Originally, USBView wa bundled as part of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK), a set of resources used by developers to build and test Windows drivers. Today, Microsoft also offers it as a standalone download, making it easier for IT professionals and hardware developers to access without installing the entire WDK.
Key Features of USBView
Microsoft’s USBView comes with a focused set of features that make it especially useful for developers, testers, and IT professionals working with USB devices:
- Device Tree View – Displays all USB host controllers, hubs, and devices in a clear tree structure, making it easy to see how everything is connected.
- Device Descriptors – Provides detailed information such as Vendor ID (VID), Product ID (PID), device revision, and serial number, which are essential for identifying and troubleshooting devices.
- Endpoint Information – Shows details about device endpoints, including supported transfer types (control, bulk, interrupt, isochronous) and bandwidth requirements.
- Power and Speed Reporting – Reveals whether a device is operating at Low, Full, High, or SuperSpeed (USB 3.x), along with its power draw and hub capabilities.
- Debugging Details – Offers deep technical information that developers and hardware engineers can use when building, testing, or debugging USB drivers and devices.
Why Use USBView?
USBView isn’t just another system utility — it fills a specific gap when working with USB devices. Here’s why it’s useful:
- Troubleshooting Connection Issues – If a USB device isn’t working properly, USBView can help you see whether the system recognizes it at all, how it’s enumerating, and what might be going wrong.
- Debugging Driver Development – Developers building or testing USB drivers can use USBView to confirm that descriptors and endpoints are exposed correctly.Inspecting Device Descriptors – Unlike Device Manager, USBView provides raw descriptor data (VID, PID, revision, serial number) without needing third-party software.
- Identifying Unknown Devices – When Windows lists a device as “Unknown USB Device,” USBView can give more detail, making it easier to track down what the hardware actually is.
How to Get USBView
Microsoft distributes USBView in two main ways:
- Windows Driver Kit (WDK) – USBView is included as part of the WDK, which developers often install when working with Windows drivers.
- Microsoft’s Official Download – The latest WDK, including USBView, can be downloaded directly from Microsoft’s website.
- Standalone Binaries on GitHub – For convenience, Microsoft also publishes prebuilt USBView binaries on its official GitHub repository, so you can run the tool without installing the entire WDK.
👉 Tip: Always download USBView from Microsoft’s official site or GitHub repo to avoid outdated or unsafe versions.
How to Use USBView
Using USBView is straightforward once you have it installed. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1 – Install and Launch
- Download USBView as part of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) or grab the standalone binaries from Microsoft’s GitHub.
- Extract the files (if using GitHub version) and run usbview.exe — no installation required.
Step 2 – Explore the Device Tree
- When the program opens, you’ll see a tree structure starting with USB host controllers.
- Expand nodes to view hubs, ports, and connected devices.
- Each level provides more detail, helping you visualize how devices are connected to your system.
Step 3 – Check Device Descriptors
Select any device in the tree to display its descriptors:
- Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID)
- Device revision
- Serial number (if available)
- Supported speeds (Low, Full, High, SuperSpeed)
- Power requirements
Step 4 – Troubleshoot and Debug
- Compare the actual descriptors with the expected values (useful for developers testing custom firmware).
- Identify devices that aren’t enumerating correctly.
- Spot problematic hubs, bandwidth limitations, or misreported capabilities.
Example Use Cases
USBView is used by a wide range of professionals. Some practical scenarios include:
- Developers – Verifying that a custom USB device or firmware exposes the correct descriptors and endpoints.
- IT Technicians – Troubleshooting a USB device that won’t enumerate or keeps failing to connect.
- Security Researchers – Examining unknown or suspicious USB peripherals to see how they present themselves to the system.
Tips & Best Practices
To get the most out of USBView, keep these best practices in mind:
- Run as Administrator – This ensures USBView has full access to device and driver information.
- Cross-Check with Device Manager – Use Device Manager alongside USBView to confirm driver issues or missing devices.
- Leverage Event Logs – For complex problems, combine USBView’s descriptor insights with Windows Event Logs to trace driver or hardware errors.
- Download from Official Sources – Always use Microsoft’s site or GitHub repo to avoid outdated or tampered versions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about USBView
1. Is USBView free to use?
Yes. USBView is a free utility provided by Microsoft. You can download it as part of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK) or grab the standalone version from Microsoft’s official GitHub repository.
2. Do I need to install the full WDK to use USBView?
No. While USBView is included in the WDK, Microsoft also provides precompiled binaries on GitHub, so you can run usbview.exe without installing the entire toolkit.
3. Can USBView fix USB device problems?
Not directly. USBView is a diagnostic tool — it helps you see detailed information about your USB devices and connections. While it won’t fix issues on its own, it provides the insights you need to troubleshoot and solve problems.
4. Does USBView work on all versions of Windows?
USBView is supported on modern versions of Windows (Windows 10, Windows 11, and corresponding server editions). For older systems, you may need the matching WDK release.
5. How is USBView different from Device Manager?
Device Manager shows drivers, device status, and general info. USBView, on the other hand, reveals low-level USB details like descriptors, endpoints, speed, and power usage — information that Device Manager doesn’t display.
Conclusion
USBView may look like a simple utility, but it’s one of the most powerful tools for anyone who needs to understand what’s happening under the hood with USB devices on Windows. Whether you’re a developer verifying a custom driver, an IT technician troubleshooting connection issues, or a researcher digging into device behavior, USBView provides the detailed visibility that standard system tools can’t.
Because it’s free, lightweight, and Microsoft-official, you can trust its accuracy and reliability. By pairing it with other system tools like Device Manager and Windows Event Logs, you’ll have a complete toolkit for diagnosing and resolving USB-related problems.
👉 Takeaway: If you work with USB devices in any professional capacity, USBView is a must-have utility to keep in your toolkit.