Top 8 Ways to Fix Driver Error Code 43 on Windows 10

Windows users would know that “error code 43” is associated with Device Manager, a troubleshooting tool that we often recommend for updating / reinstalling drivers to resolve common PC issues. Since Device Manager is a hardware management tool, the error code basically indicates that there is a problem with one of your hardware devices. This can be internal or an accessory that you have connected externally.

The first thing you need to do is identify the device that is not working properly like keyboard or mouse, external hard drive / SSD, monitor, etc. This will help you in the troubleshooting steps as some of them will need this information. Usually launching an application or performing a task triggers the associated hardware device, which helps with identification. For example, you should start with the graphics card if launching a game triggers the “error code 43” message on your screen.

Let’s start.

1. Incompatible material

Sometimes connecting an incompatible accessory or device can trigger such a response. Check if the device is working properly. You can also check the specifications and whether it meets the requirements of the device. Some hardware devices come with an installation CD containing the necessary driver files. You can also find these files on the manufacturer’s website.

2. Restart

Before moving on to more complicated solutions which will take a lot longer, I recommend that you restart your Windows computer once. It can fix “ error code 43 ” and can fix many common issues.

3. Reconnect the hardware device

Another way is to delete the device and then reconnect. Have you recently connected something via the USB port?

Disconnect and reconnect the hardware device to see if that fixes the problem. This step is suitable for externally connected devices and not for those that require disassembling your computer. At this point, you can also try replacing the cable you use to connect the hardware device externally. A faulty cable can cause such errors.

4. Troubleshoot

Windows 10 comes with a troubleshooter for many services. Some of them adapt to hardware devices like printers, bluetooth, sound and others. You can choose the appropriate troubleshooting option based on the hardware device throwing “error code 43” on your screen.

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings and go to Update & Security> Troubleshoot> Additional Troubleshooters.

2nd step: You should now display a list of troubleshooting options. Select one according to your needs and follow the on-screen instructions to see if that helps.

5. Reinstall, update, restore drivers

Sometimes you will need to reinstall, update, and restore drivers for the software and Windows system to work normally. You can do this from Device Manager itself. First, you will need to determine which hardware component is having this problem. For example, let’s say it’s the graphics card.

Step 1: Find and open Device Manager from the Start menu. You can also find this option in a context menu that appears when you press Windows key + X.

2nd step: You can find the graphics card under the Graphics Cards heading. You should see the make and model of the card listed here. Right click on it to access the options menu.

You can find more details on what drivers are, why they are needed, and how to troubleshoot them at the link shared above. Do the same.

6. Reactivate the device

We will revisit Device Manager to enable / disable the device. Again, you need to know which hardware device is not working properly before proceeding to this method.

Step 1: Open Device Manager from the Start menu as you did previously.

2nd step: Suppose Bluetooth is not working as it should. So we will expand the Bluetooth menu and right click on the name of the Bluetooth device to select Properties. On the Driver tab, you should view Enable device.

If you display Disable device instead, it is already enabled. You can turn off and on again to check if that fixes “error code 43” on Windows.

7. Different computer

Do you have access to another computer or perhaps a computer owned by a friend? External plug-n-play devices are easy to test on another computer. This will rule out the possibility that there is something wrong with the device itself or perhaps the USB port it is connected to.

8. Problem with NVIDIA applications

Gamers will agree, NVIDIA applications often cause errors. We recommend that you uninstall the following three NVIDIA applications using Revo Uninstaller to ensure that no traces are left behind.

Restart your computer and reinstall the NVIDIA graphics card driver and other software. You can download the latest versions from the links above.

The code is the law

“ Error code 43 ” is a fairly common error that many Windows users face when working with all kinds of hardware devices. They are also easy to repair and you can always swap out or replace the device if that is an option available to you.

If you were able to find a different solution to the problem, please share it in the comments section below.