How to Check the Hardware ID for a Windows Device

All hardware equipment inside and connected to personal computers uses an identifier to uniquely identify itself. This allows operating systems to recognize the device and install the necessary software for it. In Windows, this generally means that a device driver for the hardware is installed. The hardware ID for a device can be checked to locate a driver for it.

The hardware identifier is a combination of the bus type, the hardware manufacturer (or vendor), and the device identifier. In some cases, additional sub-system identifiers and revision information is included to distinguish between variations of a device.

So when you are looking for a device driver for a piece of hardware, it is useful to know the hardware id of the device. This can tell you which manufacturer made the device and help you find a device driver. Read on to find out how to check the hardware ID for a device in Microsoft Windows. The steps are valid for Windows XP all the way up to Windows 11.

Check the Hardware ID using the Windows Device Manager

The hardware id for a device in Windows can be found in the Windows Device Manager. To check the hardware id for a device, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Device Manager from the Control Panel. You can also type “devmgmt.msc” at the Run option in the Start menu (or menu Search option for Windows 7 and newer).
  2. In the Device Manager, right-click the device, and select Properties in the popup menu.
    Windows Device Manager device details
  3. Next, select the Details tab.
  4. Now select the entry called Hardware Ids in the Property dropdown list.
    Check the Hardware ID

As you can see in the screenshot, there can be multiple hardware ids for a device. The top one is the most specific identifier, and going down, the identifiers are more generic. The reason this is done is to allow a device driver to be selected based on a match to any of these hardware identifiers. This allows drivers to be used that are applicable to variations of devices.

The hardware manufacturer in this example is NVidia, which is identified by VEN_10DE.

Obviously, this is a device for which a driver is already installed, and the manufacturer and model for the device are shown. But the hardware id is also available for unknown devices and not recognized devices. This way, the hardware id, or Windows device ID, can be used to find the correct driver for the device. If no exact match for the driver is available, you can also check out the Compatible Ids by selecting that as the Property selector.

Compatible Windows device id

Note: Depending on the hardware device, the number of tabs in the device properties dialog will vary. But there will always be a Details tab as used in the steps in this guide.

Hardware device details tab

Programs like DriverFinder use the hardware id and the compatible id to find a matching driver for a device as well. This way these programs can find a driver for a device to match the hardware and Windows version.

FAQs

What is a hardware ID?

The hardware ID for a device is an identifier for a piece of computer hardware. Think of a sound card, or a webcam, for example. The hardware ID is vendor-specific. A hardware ID consists of a device class, vendor identifier, device identifier, subsystem identifier (different versions of the device), and a revision number. An example of a hardware ID is: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9A49&SUBSYS_14321043&REV_01

Revisions can be used for updates of firmware on the same device for example.

Is hardware ID the same as Device ID?

Yes, the hardware ID is often referred to as the device ID.

Is the hardware ID the same for all Windows versions?

A hardware ID is specific to a device. So, it is linked to the equipment, not the operating system. The hardware ID will not change for different Windows versions.

How do I find the hardware ID?

The hardware ID for a device can be found in the Windows Device Manager. In each version of Windows, the steps are the same. Open the Device Manager, right-click the device, select Properties, select the Details tab, and under Property select Hardware Ids. The Value shown contains the hardware ID(s) for the device.

What is the hardware ID used for?

The hardware ID is used by Windows to identify the device and find a device driver for it. Microsoft finds a driver in the repository or the Windows Update catalog. If no driver is available with Microsoft, a driver from the manufacturer needs to be installed to allow communication between Windows and the device.

What is a compatible ID?

The compatible IDs for a device are also hardware IDs. The difference is that a hardware ID is unique to a single device, while compatible IDs can apply to multiple devices. The compatible IDs identify the device as a piece of equipment of a certain category that can be used for certain functions. This is important if no unique device driver is available for a device. A driver for a compatible ID of the device can enable Windows to still communicate with the device.

Do Virtual Devices also have a hardware ID?

Yes, virtual devices in Windows also have a hardware ID. These devices also need software to function, and need to be identified as a device within Windows. Examples are:

Intel(R) Virtual 82566 Gigabit Network Connection (PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_10B7)

Logitech Gaming Virtual Mouse (LogiDevice\VID_046D&PID_C231)

HP 530T DP Virtual Bus Device (pci\ven_14e4&dev_16af&subsys_18d3103c)

Entry Filed under: Device Drivers

318 Comments Add your own

  • 1. ODION  |  May 3rd, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    @Andy – finally, thanks, i really appreciate

  • 2. kinz  |  May 5th, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&SUBSYS_18E3103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&SUBSYS_18E3103C
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&CC_028000
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&CC_0280

    windows 7 ultimate, Hp655
    please help a brother out,network controller driver is not installed and wireless is not listed in hp 655

  • 3. Andy  |  May 6th, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    @ODION – Glad it all worked out for you now!

    @kinz – The device you are listing is a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter. So you would need to use the Atheros Wireless Lan driver. Try the driver from the Toshiba site.

  • 4. Thomas  |  May 9th, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&SUBSYS_3397103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&SUBSYS_3397103C
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&CC_0C0330
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&CC_0C03

    AND

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&SUBSYS_3397103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&SUBSYS_3397103C
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&CC_0C0500
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&CC_0C05

    windows 7 Professional HP Compaq Elite 8300 Small Form Factor PC

    Please help, 4 USB 3.0 ports not working

  • 5. Andy  |  May 12th, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    @Thomas – HP has drivers for the USB 3.0 ports of your computer on the support site. Including the Windows 7 drivers. Have you tried those?
    The file you need is sp63720.exe, which is the driver for the Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller.

    The second device is the Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SMBus Host Controller, which does not really need a driver, the driver just makes sure the device gets a description, but Windows will support it out-of-the-box.
    You can install the Intel Chipset Support for Microsoft Windows driver from the HP site for it is you want.

  • 6. Junaid Alam  |  May 18th, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&SUBSYS_217F103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&SUBSYS_217F103C
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&CC_028000
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&CC_0280

  • 7. Dhiraj Kumar Paswan  |  June 9th, 2015 at 10:14 am

    my pc hp pavillion dechatable 10 x2 n driver not supporting wireless network adapter ver 5.93.103.1
    SD\VID_02d0&PID_a94d&FN_1
    SD\VID_02d0&PID_a94d

  • 8. Brayan.  |  June 18th, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_3577103C&REV_01

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_ 5209&SUBSYS_3577103C

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FG0000

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FG000

  • 9. Joshua  |  June 18th, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    Hi Andy, mine is a HP2000 notebook PC windows 7 32-bit
    PCI/VEN_168C&DEV_0032&SUBSYS_1838103C&REV_01
    PCI/VEN_168C&DEV_0032&SUBSYS_1838103C
    PCI/VEN_168C&DEV_0032&CC_028000
    PCI/VEN_168C&DEV_0032&CC_0280

  • 10. Andy  |  June 22nd, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    @Joshua – You will need the Qualcomm Atheros QCA9000 Series Wireless LAN driver from the HP support site.

  • 11. Matin  |  June 30th, 2015 at 2:57 am

    hi
    I have hp ProBook 4540s. I changed my operation system from 7(64bit) to 8.1(64bit) and i saw heat problem in the left side of the laptop near the mouse pad. I think my problem is about graphic driver which is wrong installed.

    my hardware id is :

    PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6841&SUBSYS_17F4103C&REV_00

    could u help me please?

    in the device manager there are two driver with yellow question mark with name : “unknown device”

    the hardware ids for this two are:

    ACPI\VEN_HPQ&DEV_6001
    ACPI\HPQ6001
    *HPQ6001
    ————-
    and
    ————-
    ACPI\VEN_HPQ&DEV_6000
    ACPI\HPQ6000
    *HPQ6000

    how can find the drivers for these too?

    thank u very much

  • 12. Andy  |  July 1st, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    @Matin – The first hardware ID you list is indeed for a AMD graphics device. I suggest you download and install the AMD video driver and control panel from the HP support site.

    The second device (HPQ6000) is the HP Wireless Button. The driver for Windows 8 is here.

    The third device is the HP Mobile Data Protection Sensor, for which you need this driver.

    Hope this helps!

  • 13. Felics  |  July 17th, 2015 at 3:47 am

    hi
    I have hp 2000 notebook pc running Windows 8 32bit. Could you get me a link to download drivers for this hardware ID.
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0036&SUBSYS_217F103C&REV_01
    and for Bluetooth.
    Thanks

  • 14. Andy  |  July 18th, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    @Felics – Your device is a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter. Have you tried the HP driver for this?

  • 15. Bernard  |  July 23rd, 2015 at 11:23 am

    my laptop compacq presario x1000 have been using window xp. i need to change to window 7 now. can you tell me what hardware I have to change. the correct ids and drives ? 32 or 64 bit ? Thank you

  • 16. Andy  |  July 27th, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    @Bernard – There is some information on installing Windows 7 on a compaq presarion x1000 here.
    From that it seems that all devices are supported. The only important recommendation is to upgrade your memory (RAM) to 2 GB (the memory slot under the keyboard).
    If you have installed Windows 7 and still have unrecognized devices, you come back here and list the hardware IDs!

  • 17. Mak Rider  |  August 5th, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    sir thank you in advance could you help me what kind of device for this id’s. I am using windows 7 32 bit
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_166F103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_166F103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF00

  • 18. Andy  |  August 5th, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    @Mak Rider – Your hardware ID is a Realtek PCIE CardReader device. The card reader drivers from the Realtek website should work fine.

  • 19. robe  |  August 14th, 2015 at 4:34 am

    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&SUBSYS_21F7103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&SUBSYS_21F7103C
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&CC_0C0330
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&CC_0C03

    Need win7 64bit

  • 20. Andy  |  August 20th, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    @robe – Your PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&SUBSYS_21F7103C device is a AMD USB 3.0 controller. Try the generic AMD chipset driver for Windows 7.

  • 21. Julius  |  August 23rd, 2015 at 5:10 am

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_1688103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_1688103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF00

    and

    ACPI\HPQ0004
    *HPQ0004

    TIA

  • 22. Albert  |  September 11th, 2015 at 5:48 am

    Hi Andy, can you help me out please? I’m having trouble identifying this since upgrading to Windows 10:

    USB\Vid_1597&Pid_1001&Rev_0000

    Thanks!

  • 23. Andy  |  September 11th, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    @Albert – You got me seriously puzzled here.
    I have absolutely no information on that device, nor the manufacturer actually.
    All information available online is dubious or unconfirmed as far as I can see.
    Do you know if this is an internal device or an external device? Can you let me know the computer brand and model as well?
    And lastly,, you mention “since upgrading to Windows 10”, so before it worked okay under Windows 7 or 8? If so, can’t you get the old drivers to work under Windows 10?

  • 24. sha  |  October 20th, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    i need a Universal Serial Bus controllers drive and ethernet controller

  • 25. straygoose  |  October 26th, 2015 at 2:12 am

    Any chance you might know wehre to find drivers for these?

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_165B103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_165B103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF00

    Many thanks, in advance.

  • 26. Andy  |  October 26th, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    @straygoose – Your device is a Realtek PCIE CardReader. You can download the driver for that device from the Realtek website.
    The file you need is named: 0003-RtsXStor_10.0.370.102.zip

  • 27. D.M  |  October 27th, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Hi Guys

    I got a Compaq CQ58 laptop and I tried all the link but nothing works. …
    no Ethernet controller
    no network controller
    no pci device
    no pci simple communication controller
    no sm bus controller

    Please help its urgent

  • 28. D.M  |  October 27th, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E3A&SUBSYS_1854103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&SUBSYS_1854103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_1854103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_1854103C&REV_05
    PCI\VEN_168C&DEV_0032&SUBSYS_1838103C&REV_01

  • 29. Andy  |  October 29th, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    @D.M. – What Windows version are you running?

  • 30. Nick  |  October 30th, 2015 at 12:01 am

    Hey Guys,
    Doing a downgrade for a budy of mine, but need the following drivers. Can someone help?

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV5229&SUBSYS_1995103&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV780B&SUBSYS_1995103C&REV_16
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_7814&SUBSYS_1995103C&REV_09
    ACPI\HPQ6007

    Its for Win7 32bit, by the way on an HP m6-k022dx

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