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momotye's avatar
momotye
Copper Contributor
Apr 20, 2025

Kinect for Windows not working

I recently moved to a new computer, and one thing I was looking to get set up is my kinect (the original, not the kinect 2), which I use for motion tracking on a livestream. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to register properly on my new computer, with the device detecting, but none of the sensors showing an output, and the device saying it needs to be plugged in to power (which it already is). I'm using the most recent 1.8 SDK, and have tried downgrading to no avail. 

I have tested all the hardware on a different computer, and it works flawlessly. Here's the specs for the computer I'm having trouble with:

Ryzen 7950x3d

rtx 4090

64gb ram

ASUS ROG Strix b-650A motherboard

2 Replies

  • Axtoniu's avatar
    Axtoniu
    Iron Contributor
    Sep 05, 2025

    Kinect for Windows requires installation of the official SDK 2.0 and connection to a dedicated USB 3.0 controller. Compatibility is limited to Windows 8.1/Windows 10.

  • CalebStone's avatar
    CalebStone
    Silver Contributor
    Aug 27, 2025

    You're facing a common issue when setting up the original Kinect for Windows on a new, high-end PC, especially with modern hardware and Windows versions. The message about needing to be plugged in for power, despite being connected, often indicates driver or power management issues, or compatibility problems.

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