Your HP Chromebook 14, or any laptops running Chrome for that matter, is loaded with all necessary generic drivers to be able to detect and recognize all possible flash drives or external storage devices (like a USB) you connect to it. Unlike Windows PCs that will install the drivers once a new external device is connected, Chromebooks can automatically recognize those devices without having to install their drivers.
However, we are receiving reports from our readers who have encountered this kind of problem that’s why we need to tackle it in this post to help those who might still be experiencing it. We will look into every possibility and rule them out one by one until we can determine what the problem is. If you’re one of the owners of this laptop and are currently experiencing similar issues, continue reading as this post may help you.
But before we go to our troubleshooting, if you are looking for a solution to a different issue, drop by our HP Chromebook 14 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common problems with this laptop. Odds are that there are already existing solutions in our website, so try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work or if you need further assistance, fill up our questionnaire and hit submit to contact us. We will be more than willing to help you with your problem.
Troubleshooting HP Chromebook 14 that can’t recognize USB
There are some practical things we can do that won’t compromise the state of your Chromebook. I think that’s all we need to do. After all, it’s possible the problem is with the USB device and not your laptop.
Connect a different USB device to your Chromebook
Well, it won’t fix the problem but will surely give you an idea if the problem is with your laptop or not. If other flash drives work perfectly with your laptop, then it’s clear that the one you were having issues with is also the one that has a problem. In this case, if you have a Windows or a Mac computer, try to connect it and see if it works. If it does and you have important files in it, make sure you make a backup and then try to format it. It’s clear to see that the problem isn’t really about the hardware but it could be just a minor corruption in the partition. Formatting it may fix the problem
After you’ve reformatted the USB device, try to use it with your laptop and see if it works this time. If still no, then try doing other methods below.
Connect the USB device to other ports
It’s also possible that the problem is with the port you’re connecting the USB to. After reformatting it and your Chromebook still doesn’t detect or recognize it, then try to connect it to other ports. You may have to try all the remaining ports you haven’t tried just to be thorough. If all of them fail to detect the device, then at this point we can say that you simply cannot use it with your Chromebook. It could be corrupted, damaged or even incompatible with Chrome. Needless to say, you have to buy a new one to replace it.
Bottom line
As long as other USB devices work with your Chromebook, you can rest assured that the problem isn’t with your laptop, otherwise, you have to bring it to the shop and have the tech take a look at it.
Problems that have something to do with external devices can’t be pinned on the device that can’t detect or recognize them especially if such device works perfectly with other external devices. In this guide, all we did was rule out the possibility that the problem is with your laptop and once we’ve validated that, it’s clear to see where the problem lies.
I hope that somehow this troubleshooting guide can help you fix an issue or two with your HP Chromebook 14.
Other posts you may also be interested in reading:
- How to troubleshoot your HP Chromebook 14 that’s not charging [Troubleshooting Guide]
- What to do if your HP Chromebook 14 won’t turn on [Troubleshooting Guide]
Connect with us
We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.