With the advent of wireless technology, every manufacturer has hurried to make their gadgets cord-free. The cordless devices they have introduced use wireless technology relying on a transmitter and a receiver to communicate the commands.
Today, you’ll find lots of computer accessories like a keyboard, mouse, headphones, etc. coming with their own USB receivers that enable them to function wirelessly. Amongst the vast range of such products, the Logitech Unifying Receiver stands out both for its versatility and ease-of-usage.
However, despite its user-friendliness, this Logitech module sometimes fails to work. When this happens, the user, of course, is left stranded. Meaning, the receiver refusing to work, their input devices also stop working and put them in a hopeless situation. If you yourself have been a victim of such an occurrence, this post is just for you.
Today we have rounded up the most common reasons why a Logitech USB-C receiver fails to work and how you can fix this problem.
What is Logitech Unifying Receiver and How Does it Work?
To understand what is causing your Logitech receiver to malfunction, you have to first understand what it is and how it works.
Where most of the wireless receivers support either one or two devices, the Logitech Unifying Receiver made huge waves with its ability to support up to six compatible devices.
It is a mini USB dongle that plugs into your computer and allows you to wirelessly connect Logitech various keyboards, headphones, touchpads, and mice. It has a broad range of 10 meters so you can use it from a distance as well.
This small dedicated USB receiver uses 2.4 GHz band radio communication to allow up to six compatible Logitech devices to connect with one computer at the same time.
Where bundled Logitech receivers come pre-paired with their respective devices, with this unifying receiver, you can use the free Logitech Unifying software for pairing multiple devices with the same receiver.
Once you have paired a device with the receiver, it remains paired. You can continue using it without needing to synchronize them again. Plus, you can also use the pair for a different computer without needing to download the application over it.
When you pair a peripheral device with a wireless receiver, it creates and saves the profile of that particular device. While a regular receiver can only store up to two separate profiles, the Unifying receiver can store up to six different profiles allowing you to use all of them simultaneously.
You can easily move them from one computer to another as their paired status does not change even after being unplugged because this little receiver retains the pairing information saved inside its compact body.
Common Reasons Why a Logitech Unifying Receiver Fails to Function
Despite its many benefits and amazing performance, there are still some times when you plug in your Unifying receiver and a message appears; “Device driver software was not successfully installed”. While at others, the computer fails to detect the receiver altogether. So why does it happen? Let’s learn!
Faulty Device
Being an electronic appliance, your receiver can develop problems because of faulty or loose connections. If the device is physically broken, it won’t function properly.
Windows Update
Many of the Logitech Unifying Receiver users report that their dongles stopped working after installation of the Windows software update. This issue is most commonly observed in particular Windows 10 Update.
Once this update was installed on the computer, it messed with the receiver’s operation, preventing the users from using any of the Logitech peripherals that were previously running seamlessly.
Software issues
The Logitech Unifying Receiver needs the Unifying software to pair with the compatible peripheral devices. If there are any problems with the software, the receiver won’t pair with the respective device.
If your computer is detecting the module and the receiver yet fails to pair them, it can be an issue with the software.
Missing device files
Your Logitech USB-C receiver needs the compatible driver files to work. If these files are not installed on your computer, it won’t allow the receiver and its paired peripherals to function appropriately.
Outdated drivers
Since this module is a modern device, it also receives updates every now and then. These updates are designed to improve its function and usability. These updates can be made to the Unifying Software or the driver. Having an outdated version of either can cause the receiver to stop working.
Interfering third-party applications
There are several applications that are known to hinder the Unifying receiver’s function. One such app is the MotionJoy GamePad tool. If you have it installed on your computer, it can also cause your Logitech unified receiver to stop working.
Inaccurate configuration
Since this is a wireless module that connects to other devices over radio waves, you need to make sure that the configuration is accurate. Sometimes being in an inaccurate configuration also leads the Logitech receiver to not work.
Some Troubleshooting Tips to Make Your Logitech Unifying Receiver Work Again
While this module boasts easy usability with its plug-n-play function, you can run into problems once in a while. If your computer is failing to detect or recognise it, or if the Unifying receiver is simply not working at all, you can use the following troubleshooting tips to fix the problem yourself.
Make sure that the receiver is not broken
The first and foremost thing you should check is the receiver’s integrity. Make sure it is not broken in any way. If it appears fine on the outside, you might want to ensure that its internal connections are not loose. For this purpose you will need to take it apart.
Start by taking off its little black cover. Now bring the contact points closer by pressing them a little. If this doesn’t work try sticking a piece of paper inside. Now put the cover back on and plug in the device to try again.
Ensure that your peripheral devices are powered
Sometimes the solution to the biggest problems is pretty simple. One reason behind the receiver not working could be your peripheral devices being off. Make sure that your wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse are switched on and transmitting signals for the receiver to detect.
A low battery can also be the culprit behind the peripheral device’s malfunctioning. So, recharge or replace the battery before trying again.
Troubleshoot the Unifying App
As we already mentioned, you need to have the Unifying application to pair the receiver with the compatible peripheral devices. Not having the app or not updating can also be a reason why your module is not working.
To resolve this issue, install the app by navigating to the Logitech website. Download the execution file for the Windows and run the setup to install the software on your computer.
Once the application is installed and your computer has restarted, right click on the icon and select Run as administrator. Now try connecting your peripherals to make sure the issue is resolved.
Make sure that the device files are present
The receiver will also stop working if its respective files are not present on the computer. To make sure it’s there, search for the INF folder inside the Windows folder. This folder should contain usb.inf and USB.PNF files.
If they are not there, you need to arrange them from another source. Try copying from another PC with a working Logitech Unifying Receiver. Once you have the files, try using your receiver again to check whether the problem is fixed.
Update the drivers
Typically, a mouse can function immediately without the need for a driver to be installed. Once the mouse is connected to the computer, Windows will load the mouse driver. However, the mouse driver can malfunction without your awareness. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the mouse driver to resolve your Logitech wireless mouse not working problem.
These instructions might need the help of a mouse occasionally. If your mouse isn’t working, use your keypad instead.
- To open the run box, hit Win+R (the Windows logo key along with the R key at the same time) on the keyboard.
- To launch Device Manager, type devmgmt.msc, then press the Enter key on the keyboard.
- To access the device inventory, use the Tab key on your keyboard and the arrow keys to navigate to the group Mice as well as other pointing devices. To expand the category, hit Alt + right arrow keys together (To close the category, press Alt + left arrow keys). This group contains the Logitech mouse.
- Find the Logitech mouse device with an arrow key, then press Shift + F10 to access the context menu. To remove the driver, click remove.
- Restart the computer to see if the issue has been resolved.
Resolving the Windows update issue
Many Unifying receiver users have reported that their modules stopped working as soon as they installed a certain window update. While this may be a bit trickier to resolve on your own, the simplest solution to troubleshoot this issue is to uninstall the update.
Stop third-party app interference
Like we already mentioned, this receiver’s function can be altered by some third-party softwares. The easiest way to fix this problem is to uninstall such apps from your computer. It is also important to remove their residual files from the system as they can also stop your device from working optimally.
Try installing the Logitech SetPoint software
Some of the older Logitech keyboards and mice are more compatible with the Logitech SetPoint software so you also try installing it to your computer.
You can download it from the official Logitech website. Once the app is installed and you have restarted your computer, the software will automatically detect your peripheral devices.
Testing the receiver on another computer
A faulty transceiver can lead to the Logitech wireless mouse to stop working. You can try the receiver on another computer to see if it is the source of the problem.
Here’s how to you test a device on another computer:
- Launch Device Manager on a different PC. ( refer to the steps in Method 2).
- Mice and other aiming devices should be expanded.
- Connect the receiver to one of the computer’s USB connections.
- If the computer recognizes the receiver, a new HID-compliant mouse will appear in the group Mice, as well as other pointing devices. It means that the receiver has no problems in this instance. Then use Method 6. If you don’t see any changes under Mice as well as other pointing devices, it indicates the computer isn’t recognizing the receiver. It’s most likely damaged. It is possible that you will need to replace it with a new transceiver.
Attempt to use the mouse on a new surface
Electrical and metallic objects may conflict with the mouse’s signal. Keep the mouse and receiver away from electrical things like cordless or cellular phones, as well as other wireless mouse devices or receivers. Place the mouse or receiver away from metal surfaces or objects, particularly long metal rails, and cables.
FAQs: Troubleshooting Logitech Unifying Receiver
1. What to do if my Unifying receiver is not working with the mouse?
When it comes to pairing a peripheral device to the Logitech receiver, there is no difference between a keyboard and a mouse. But if your wireless module is detecting the keyboard and not the mouse, you should check its compatibility. Some mice and keyboards come with their own firmware and drivers that can trigger conflicts.
2. Why is it important to upgrade the Logitech Unifying Receiver?
The Unifying Receiver from Logitech is vulnerable in one aspect, it can be used as a radio to hack other wireless receivers leading to the Mousejack. You should always upgrade your dongle to the latest firmware to prevent this from happening.
3. Can other wireless devices interfere with my Unifying dongle’s performance?
If they are operating on the same frequency, other wireless devices can have some impact on your Logitech receiver’s performance. But it really depends upon how close all the devices are and how much the total noise is.
4. Is the Unifying Receiver universal?
No, the Unifying receiver from Logitech is not universal. It is currently compatible with Logitech devices only. You cannot use it with peripheral devices from other brands.
5. How can I tell a Unifying receiver from a regular one?
All the Logitech receivers with the Unifying protocol have an orange Unifying logo across the top of their black cover. You can check it to tell whether you have a Unifying receiver or not.
Conclusion
A Logitech Unifying receiver can stop working because of a number of reasons. It can be anything as simple as dead batteries in your peripheral device or something as complicated as missing files.
We have listed the common reasons as well as easy fixes to make yours start working again. You can try these fixes one by one until the receiver becomes functional. Plus, once you know the cause, you can easily avoid such problems in the future.
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Sarah Durrani 
Bethany Wilson 
