Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWindows assigns each detected device one or more hardware IDs. These strings help Windows match the device with a compatible driver package and can also help you identify an unknown device when troubleshooting.
The most reliable graphical method is through Device Manager. The documented steps and property names are the same for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Get a hardware ID from Device Manager
- Open Windows Search, type Device Manager, and select it from the results.
- Find the device in the device tree. Expand the relevant category if the device is not immediately visible.
- Right-select the device and choose Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
- Open the Property drop-down list.
- Select Hardware Ids.
The values shown in the list are the device’s hardware IDs. A device commonly has several entries rather than one. They are normally ordered from the most suitable identifier to less-specific identifiers.
Which hardware ID should you use?
If a support instruction or driver lookup asks for the hardware ID, use the first entry in the Hardware Ids list unless it specifically asks for all IDs. The full list can matter when Windows or a driver package needs to match a less-specific identifier.
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Hardware IDs can look different depending on the device’s bus or enumerator. For example, a PCI device might expose an ID such as:
PCI\VEN_1000&DEV_0001&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_02
Another device may use a format such as:
ROOT\*PNP0F08
Do not change the characters, backslashes, ampersands, or underscores when copying an ID.
Hardware Ids versus Compatible Ids
Hardware Ids and Compatible Ids are separate entries in the same Property list. They do not return the same identifier set.
If you need the hardware ID specifically, select Hardware Ids, not Compatible Ids. Choosing the latter is a common reason a supplied identifier does not match the instructions you are following.
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Hardware ID versus device instance ID
A hardware ID is not the same as a device instance ID. Microsoft treats hardware IDs, compatible IDs, and device instance IDs as different identifier types.
- Hardware ID: a vendor-defined string Windows uses when matching a device with a driver package.
- Device instance ID: identifies a particular instance of a device.
If a driver guide asks for a hardware ID, return to the Property list and select Hardware Ids rather than Device instance path or another identifier property.
Get hardware IDs from the command line
Microsoft’s documented replacement for the DevCon hardware-ID command is PnPUtil:
pnputil /enum-devices /deviceids
Open a Command Prompt or another command-line window, run the command, and inspect the device entries and their IDs. PnPUtil ships with every release of Windows. Microsoft recommends using it instead of DevCon because it uses more reliable and secure APIs.
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Older DevCon command
The older DevCon syntax for displaying hardware IDs is:
devcon hwids {* | ID [ID …] | =class [ID [ID …]]}
Microsoft documents examples including:
devcon hwids *
devcon hwids acpi* *port*
devcon hwids =usb
DevCon is not the preferred current method, and it should not be assumed to be installed by default. If you use it, remember that * is a wildcard in DevCon identifier arguments. To match an asterisk that is literally part of a hardware ID, prefix the identifier with a single quote. For example:
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‘*PNP0600
An identifier containing an ampersand must be enclosed in quotation marks when used in a DevCon command.
What the list tells you
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Several Hardware Ids entries | The device exposes multiple possible matching identifiers. The list is generally ordered from most to less suitable. |
| PCI\VEN_… | The identifier uses a PCI-style format, including a vendor and device value. |
| ROOT\… | The identifier uses a root-enumerated device format. |
| Hardware Ids and Compatible Ids both appear | They are different properties. Select the one requested by the driver or troubleshooting instructions. |
Internally, Windows returns the hardware-ID list as a REG_MULTI_SZ value. Microsoft documents a maximum of 64 IDs in one list, although ordinary devices typically show far fewer.
If Hardware Ids is not the value you expected
- Confirm that you opened the correct device’s Properties window.
- On the Details tab, reopen the Property list and verify that Hardware Ids is selected.
- Do not substitute Compatible Ids or a device instance ID when the instructions require a hardware ID.
- Check every entry if the first identifier does not produce a driver match. Devices can expose multiple IDs, and the complete list may be needed for troubleshooting.
- Preserve the identifier exactly, including its punctuation and capitalization.
If the device is listed under an unexpected category or has a warning symbol, the hardware-ID steps are still the same: locate the device, open Properties, select Details, and choose Hardware Ids.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Are the steps different in Windows 10 and Windows 11?
No. The documented path is Windows Search → Device Manager → the device’s Properties → Details → Property → Hardware Ids. The relevant labels do not require a separate Windows 10 or Windows 11 procedure.
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Why are there multiple hardware IDs?
Devices commonly expose more than one hardware ID. Windows normally lists them from the most suitable identifier to less-specific identifiers. Use the first one when a single ID is requested, or provide the complete list when troubleshooting requires it.
Can I use Compatible Ids instead?
Not when the requested value is specifically a hardware ID. Compatible Ids is a separate property in the same drop-down list and returns a different set of identifiers.
Is a device instance ID the hardware ID?
No. A device instance ID identifies a particular device instance, while hardware IDs are used in driver-package matching. Select Hardware Ids in the Property list to obtain the hardware ID.
What is the current command-line alternative to DevCon?
Use pnputil /enum-devices /deviceids. PnPUtil ships with every Windows release, and Microsoft recommends it instead of DevCon.
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How many hardware IDs can a device have?
The hardware-ID list is returned as a REG_MULTI_SZ value, and Microsoft documents a maximum of 64 IDs in a list. The number shown depends on the device.
The Bottom Line
To find the value most driver guides call the hardware ID, open Device Manager, open the device’s Properties, select Details, and choose Hardware Ids from Property. Use pnputil /enum-devices /deviceids when you need a command-line method, and do not confuse Hardware Ids with Compatible Ids or a device instance ID.
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