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. Andy  |  September 15th, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    @Elias – Your device is a Broadcom 43225 802.11b/g/n wireless device. If you can let me know the exact HP pavilion dv6 model and the Windows version, I’ll see if I can get you the link for the driver.

    @anums – Your device is a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter, but without the Windows version, I can’t give you a driver link.

  • 2. roh  |  September 15th, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3288&SUBSYS_10CB1734&REV_10
    PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3288&SUBSYS_10CB1734
    PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3288&CC_040300
    PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3288&CC_0403

  • 3. roh  |  September 15th, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    i nEEd a conExant SEt api

  • 4. Maria  |  September 29th, 2014 at 1:27 am

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&SUBSYS_1629103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&SUBSYS_1629103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&CC_028000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&CC_0280

    I have HP Pavilion g7 running WIN7

    thank ypu in advance

  • 5. Andy  |  September 30th, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    @Maria – There are many variations of the G7 series, but your device is a Realtek Wifi adapter, so try the driver from HP for that.

  • 6. Raymond  |  October 1st, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_196E103C&REV_07
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_196E103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_020000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_0200

    I have HP Pavilion 14-e014TX win7 64

  • 7. hr  |  October 6th, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&SUBSYS_183A103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&SUBSYS_183A103C
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&CC_0C0330
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&CC_0C03
    where to download the driver

  • 8. Andy  |  October 6th, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    @Raymond – Your device is a Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller, you can download the driver from the Realtek download site.

    @hr – That’s an Intel USB 3 controller. Just download the driver from the manufacturer’s website. You need a driver for the compatible hardware id: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31.

  • 9. waleed  |  October 11th, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Device PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_29D4&SUBSYS_281E103C&REV_02\3&33fd14ca&0&18

  • 10. sammie  |  October 17th, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&SUBSYS_1629103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&SUBSYS_1629103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&CC_028000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8176&CC_0280

    Please I need the driver for the above ID. Windows 7 32bits

  • 11. Nikola  |  October 18th, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1419&SUBSYS_14191022&REV_00
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1419&SUBSYS_14191022
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1419&CC_080600
    PCI\VEN_1022&DEV_1419&CC_0806
    help please?!

  • 12. Andy  |  October 18th, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    @sammie – Your device is a Realtek RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter.
    Try this driver from Toshiba.

    @Nikola – The device ID you are listing is for a AMD IOMMU device (this is a chipset device). I suggest you try to download and install the chipset driver for your computer or motherboard first.

  • 13. Nikola  |  October 19th, 2014 at 12:35 am

    @Andy link pleasee ? 🙂

  • 14. Siddiqui  |  October 25th, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_1656103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&SUBSYS_1656103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&CC_FF00

    Please help me with this

  • 15. Manikanta  |  November 2nd, 2014 at 9:41 am

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C22&SUBSYS_220E103C&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C22&SUBSYS_220E103C
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C22&CC_0C0500
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C22&CC_0C05

  • 16. Wani Faizan  |  November 10th, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    i have hp 15 notebook pc.

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_2211103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_2211103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&CC_FF00

  • 17. Andy  |  November 11th, 2014 at 8:49 am

    @Wani Faizan – Your device is a Realtek Cardreader. Since you did not mention the Windows version and the notebook model 15 is actually a series indicator, I cannot point you to the download link.
    I suggest you check the actual model number of the notebook on the bottom and then download the Realtek Card reader driver from the HP support site.

  • 18. Rewat Karki  |  November 14th, 2014 at 9:27 am

    I need help with ethernet controller drivers for card of the following device id …..Hp pavilion g6 notebook pc (i5 1221sx)
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_166F103C&REV_05
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_166F103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_020000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_0200

  • 19. Andy  |  November 15th, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    @Rewat Karki – The device you are listing the hardware ID for is a Realtek PCIe network controller.
    The drivers for this device can be downloaded from the HP support site.
    This is the Windows 8 64-bit driver, but there are also versions for Windows 7 or the 32-bit Windows 8 edition.

  • 20. Janet  |  December 12th, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Hi please help me resolve this issue i am having with me Hp Pavillion g series laptop. i run windows 7
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5209
    PCI\VEN_10EC&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&CC_FF00
    PCI\VEN_10EC
    PCI\CC_FF0000
    PCI\CC_FF00

  • 21. Andy  |  December 13th, 2014 at 10:14 am

    @Janet – The device you are listing the hardware ID for is a Realtek PCIE CardReader. You can get the card reader driver from the HP support website, or simply use the Realtek driver from the manufacturer’s site directly.
    Just select a download location in the first row of the first table (Card reader driver for XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1).

  • 22. jmac  |  December 15th, 2014 at 4:26 am

    my pci driver is: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E3A&SUBSYS_84CA1043&REV_04
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E3A&SUBSYS_84CA1043
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E3A&CC_078000
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E3A&CC_0780

    where can i find the driver

  • 23. Ronan  |  December 15th, 2014 at 6:07 am

    Andy Thank you so much for helping me get my internet back up you are the best and I love you for taking your own time out to help these people in need.
    -Ronan

  • 24. Ahmad  |  January 28th, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    please my pc is hp655, i don’t know how to download it’s wireless driver, can you help me please? I am using window 7

  • 25. Andy  |  January 29th, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    @Ahmed – You can find the drivers for your wireless device in the HP 655 notebook on the HP support website.
    The link shows the drivers for Windows 7 32-bit, but you can switch to 64-bit according to your Windows 7 version.
    There are different wireless driver download, because the notebook ships with different wireless network configurations. It is either Ralink, Relatek, Broadcomm, or Atheros. You can check the hardware ID for your device to see which one you need.

  • 26. Samm Jutt  |  January 30th, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    hi help me plzzzzzzz….

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_2212103C&REV_01
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&SUBSYS_2212103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&CC_FF0000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_5229&CC_FF00

  • 27. dilip  |  February 11th, 2015 at 7:34 am

    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_1604103C&REV_02
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&SUBSYS_1604103C
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_020000
    PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8136&CC_0200

    plz help me
    my virtual wifi miniport adapter

  • 28. Andy  |  February 11th, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    @Samm Jutt @ dilip – What is the Windows version of your computers?

  • 29. dilip  |  February 13th, 2015 at 8:54 am

    windows 7 home premium
    plz help ,me
    there is problem on my virtual wifi miniport adapter

  • 30. Andy  |  February 13th, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    @dilip – Your device is a Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller. The driver file you need for this device is named Install_Win7_7091_01212015.zip.
    It is available on the Realtek website.
    Use the link and select the “Win7 and Server 2008 Auto Installation Program”.

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