USB Device Information Tool: USBDeview

USBDeview is a free and lightweight USB diagnostics utility developed by NirSoft. This portable USB analyzer lets you view and manage every USB device that has ever connected to your system, active or disconnected. It displays detailed USB device information such as serial numbers, device names, Vendor and Product IDs, device types, and the exact timestamps of connection or removal. Whether you're troubleshooting, auditing, or maintaining USB hygiene, it's a reliable tool for professionals and everyday users alike.

As a fully portable USB monitoring tool, USBDeview runs without installation and leaves no traces behind. This makes it especially useful for technicians working across multiple systems, security analysts performing USB audits, or anyone who needs fast insight into USB device activity on Windows systems.

View USB Device History and Device Details

USBDeview acts as a comprehensive USB device history viewer, allowing you to see every USB storage device, hub, printer, camera, or peripheral that has ever interacted with your computer. Devices that are no longer connected remain listed, making it easy to identify previously used flash drives or troubleshoot lingering driver issues.

This level of visibility is especially helpful when diagnosing USB conflicts, identifying unknown devices, or investigating system slowdowns caused by faulty USB hardware.

Technical Specifications

• Developer: NirSoft
• Initial Release: 2006
• License: Freeware
• File Size: 201 KB
• Platform: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP
• Price: Free
• Category: USB Monitoring Tool
• Editor's Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
• Official Site: Project Page

Core Features of This USB Monitoring Software

This portable USB monitoring software, USBDeview acts as a USB device manager and USB history viewer, providing detailed insight into all connected and previously used USB devices on a Windows PC. It is well suited for hardware diagnostics, digital forensics, IT support, and removable media monitoring.

• USB Device Information Viewer: Displays detailed USB info including device name, description, serial number, Vendor ID, Product ID, power usage, connection status, and first and last connected timestamps.
• USB History Tracker: View a complete log of all currently connected and previously connected USB drives, storage devices, and USB hubs.
• USB Device Manager Tools: Enable, disable, uninstall, or safely disconnect USB devices, including permanent removal of old USB entries from the Windows registry.
• USB Speed Benchmark: Test read and write performance of USB flash drives, external hard drives, and SSDs.
• Color Coded Device Status: Instantly identify active, disconnected, disabled, or problematic USB devices at a glance.
• Remote USB Device Viewer: View USB device history and status on remote computers when administrative access is available.
• Command Line Interface Support: Perform advanced USB management tasks via CLI, ideal for scripting and automation.
• Export USB Reports: Export USB device data to HTML, XML, or CSV format for audits, documentation, or forensic reports.

Why Use USBDeview?

This USB device information tool is also a favorite among IT administrators and field techs for good reason. Here are some compelling use cases:

1. Inspect USB Properties: Review unique identifiers, product IDs, and full connection history.
2. Remove Problematic Drivers: Resolve USB issues by uninstalling stuck or duplicate devices.
3. Audit USB Usage: Detect unauthorized USB usage by reviewing timestamps and device names.
4. Speed Test USB Drives: Benchmark flash drives to identify slow or failing storage.
5. Run It Anywhere: Launch the tool directly from a USB stick without installation.
6. Enable or Disable Devices: Control USB access with a simple right click.
7. Create USB Inventories: Export logs for documentation, audits, or compliance needs.
8. Support Incident Response: Identify suspicious removable media usage during investigations.

How to Use This Portable USB Analyzer

USBDeview has a simple interface that displays all USB devices in a sortable table. No configuration is required.

1. Download USBDeview from NirSoft.
2. Extract the ZIP file to any folder or USB flash drive.
3. Launch the USBDeview.exe file.
4. Review device details such as status, serial number, and timestamps.
5. Right click a device to uninstall, disable, export, or run a speed test.

Run a USB Speed Test

The utility includes a built in benchmarking feature to measure flash drive performance. This is useful when comparing USB sticks, testing new hardware, or diagnosing slow file transfers.

1. Right click any listed USB storage device.
2. Select "Speed Test."
3. Click "Start Test" to begin.
4. View real time read and write speed results.

Security and Privacy Considerations

USBDeview is often used in security conscious environments because it provides visibility into removable media usage without installing background services. This makes it valuable for identifying unauthorized USB devices, enforcing USB policies, or maintaining a clean system registry.

While the tool can disable devices, it does not actively block future connections. For prevention based solutions, it pairs well with endpoint security or group policy controls.

USBDeview Verses USB Oblivion

Looking for something more privacy focused? Here's a comparison between USBDeview and a popular alternative:

Feature	USBDeview	USB Oblivion
Main Purpose	Monitor and manage USB devices	Erase USB traces
Device Info	Full USB device details	No device details
Connection History	Yes	No
Device Management	Enable, disable, uninstall	No
Portability	Yes	Yes
Best For	Diagnostics and auditing	Privacy cleanup

Frequently Asked Questions

My Take on this USB Device Information Tool

I feel USBDeview remains one of the most powerful and reliable free USB drive monitoring tools available for Windows. Its portable design, minimal footprint, and deep access to USB device information make it one of my top recommended choices for flash drive diagnostics, auditing, and system maintenance.

While privacy tools like USB Oblivion focus on erasing history, this USB history viewer excels at providing actionable insight. If you need to track USB usage, diagnose driver issues, or benchmark removable storage, this USB Device information tool makes for a nice addition to any stand alone portable pendrive apps toolkit.

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