How to Fix USB Composite Device Driver Error on Windows 10

USB 3.0 breaks data transfer limitations. However, USB 3.0 hub sometimes will not compatible with your old devices. For example, the PlayStation Classic hack requires you to use a USB 2.0 drive.  

If you want to use an old printer via the USB 3.0, you may encounter the error “USB composite device can’t work properly with USB 3.0”. To resolve this problem smoothly, please keep reading the following context.

Fix 1. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

The first and simplest method is to run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. It is a Windows built-in tool that can help you resolve some hardware issues. Now, follow the quick guide below:

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select the Settings from the context menu.

Step 2. Then go to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot one by one.

Step 3. Find the Hardware and Devices section on the right pane, and then double click it and click on Run the troubleshooter.

Then the troubleshooter will detect the problems automatically for you. Once this process ends, restart your computer and see if USB composite device driver error is fixed.

Fix 2. Update USB Controller Drivers

If the above method fails to work, you can try updating or reinstalling USB controller drivers. That may fix the incompatible problem. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select the Device Manager from the context menu.

Step 2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers menu, and then right-click the USB driver that comes with the error and select Update driver.

Step 3. Then you will see a pop-up window asking “how do you want to search for drivers”. You can update it automatically or manually based on your needs. After updating your USB driver, you can check if the problem is gone.

Fix 3. Update the Printer Driver

The outdated printer driver can also lead to the error “USB composite device can’t work properly with USB 3.0.” So, you can try updating your outdated printer driver. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1. Open your Control Panel, and then change the View by to Category and select the Hardware and Sound section.

Step 2. Inside the Device and Sound window, click on the Devices and Printers section. Then you can check if the printer icon comes with an exclamation point. If yes, you need to download some drivers from the official websites. And then you can follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Fix 4. Use a USB 2.0 hub or Expansions Card

As mentioned above, the USB hub incompatibility is the major factor that leads to the USB composite device driver error. If all the above methods fail to fix the error, you may need to consider using a USB 2.0 hub or expansion card. Compared with USB 3.0, USB 2.0 has better compatibility with some old devices.