FIX: 3G USB dongle doesn’t install properly in Windows 10/11
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Key notes
- It's possible that you've encountered issues when installing a 3G USB dongle and restarting your PC.
- Reinstalling the 3G USB dongle after checking for updates with Windows is the quickest method to rekindle it, but keep the USB connected throughout this time.
- If the problem persists, you should check your Windows Firewall and antivirus software, as well as do some hardware and device troubleshooting.
- Fixing the problem is easier than you think, and we're here to help you every step of the way.
Those of you who have tried installing a 3G USB dongle on a Windows 10 computer might have encountered some issues after you restarted or shut down the operating system.
The installation seems to work fine at first, but after rebooting your Windows 10 OS and plugging the 3G USB dongle back in, the installation restarts. However, this time the computer won’t recognize the device.
So check out the tutorial below for detailed explanations on how to get the 3G USB dongle work on Windows 10.
How can I fix 3G USB dongle issues on Windows 10?
- Temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall
- Reinstall the USB Dongle driver
- Keep your 3G USB Dongle permanently connected
- Run Windows Update
- Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
- Contact your 3G USB Dongle manufacturer
1. Temporarily disable your antivirus/firewall
Your antivirus and firewall may somehow identify the USB dongle or its drivers as a threat and block installation.
So first, try turning off your antivirus and firewall during the installation process. You can then enable antivirus protection as soon as you’ve installed the 3G UBS Dongle.
2. Reinstall the USB Dongle driver
- Go to Start and launch Run.
- In the Run dialog box, enter devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
- In the Device Manager window, locate your 3G USB Dongle driver (it should be located under Modems).
- Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
- Reboot your Windows 10 device.
- Right-click on the 3G USB dongle executable file when the device starts copying it.
- In the menu, select the Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Select Run this program in compatibility mode for.
- From the drop-down menu, select the operating system on which this driver for the USB Dongle worked.
- Hit Apply.
- Now, right-click on the driver executable file and select Run as Administrator.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation process.
- Reboot the device and check to see if your 3G USB Dongle is working properly.
If the method above did not update your PC’s drivers successfully, we recommend using an automatic driver repair.
Outbyte Driver Updater takes updates to the next level of importance, which is essential for the health and performance of your PC. A missing driver may disrupt communication between the device and the OS.
For prevention, we advise you to have software that will maintain your drivers up to date, ensuring that you are protected against typical computer issues and device malfunctions.
3. Keep your 3G USB dongle permanently connected
Keep the 3G Dongle USB always plugged in your Windows 10 system when you reboot the device:
Apparently, if you install the driver with the 3G USB dongle plugged in and you keep it there, you should not have any issues if you reboot the operating system.
If you unplug the USB dongle from the device and reboot the operating system, you will be asked again to install it and you might encounter further errors.
4. Run Windows Update
Make sure that you’re running the latest OS version on your computer.
It is worth mentioning that Windows Update automatically installs the latest drivers on your machine, so you can also use this solution to update your 3G USB dongle drivers.
What you have to do is to manually hit the Check for updates button in the Update & Security section of your system settings.
If you can’t launch the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.
5. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
- In your device Settings, go to Update & Security.
- Select Troubleshoot in the left-side menu.
- Scroll down to Hardware and Devices and click on Run the troubleshooter.
In the less likely situation that the Troubleshooter stops before completing the process, use this guide to give it a push.
6. Contact your 3G USB dongle manufacturer
If nothing worked, try contacting your dongle’s manufacturer for support. They will offer you more information on how you can quickly fix this problem and enable an Internet connection on your PC.
If you are looking to buy a new 3G dongle for your Windows 10 device, here are some of the best options currently available. Or if you’re looking for extra speeds, then you definitely need to go for a 4G dongle.
So these are a few solutions to fix the 3G USB dongle issues. We hope at least one worked for you.
Also, if you need further help regarding this subject, please write us in the comments section below and we will help you as soon as possible.
Visit the Utilities & Tools section for some inspiration on the devices you need in your digital life, and refer to the Troubleshooting Hub to become an expert in fixing common software errors.
