No device drivers were found when installing Windows 11 from USB drive

If you came across "No device drivers were found" issue, the most effective way is to re-create a Windows 11 bootable USB using another tool. You can follow this guide to do that:

https://www.microonn.com/fix-no-device-drivers-were-found-issue

The "No device drivers were found" error during a Windows 11 installation from a USB drive is a serious pain, and it can really mess things up.  Basically, Windows can't see the storage drive (your USB or internal hard drive.)  If the problem is with your main hard drive and you're trying to install Windows on top of the existing operating system, you risk wiping the existing data.  Don't mess with this if you care about your important files!  I've seen this happen before, and it's a nightmare. Trying to figure out why Windows isn't recognizing your drive is a huge time suck.  You're likely restarting, checking ports, and downloading drivers.  Each attempt is a chunk of time you could be using for something else.  Especially if you're on a deadline!

In short, the "No device drivers were found" error during a Windows 11 install is a real roadblock that can cause a ton of trouble.  You need to get this sorted out ASAP or your install is gonna be seriously delayed.

When your USB is forced to FAT32 (4 GB limit) but you can’t switch to NTFS, splitting the install.wim into sub-4 GB chunks lets Setup load it properly without reformatting the drive. This is especially important when you are trying to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on non-Windows OS, which does not support NTFS write by default.

You should split the install.wim file into small parts in order to solve 'No device drivers were found' issue for installing Windows 11 from USB.

You can use DISM's /Split-Image to break the WIM into ~3.8 GB chunks:

dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:E:\sources\install.wim ^
  /SWMFile:E:\sources\install.swm /FileSize:3800

/ImageFile: points to the original WIM.

/SWMFile: is the prefix for the split files (install.swm, install2.swm, …).

/FileSize: sets the maximum size per file (in MB).

The original install.wim may remain; you can safely delete it after confirming the .swm files are present.

Now, eject and re-insert the USB into your target PC. Windows Setup will automatically detect the split files and proceed without asking for drivers.

When Windows 11 Setup can’t find the device drivers, it’s often because the huge install.wim file has been split or omitted on a FAT32 stick. By formatting your USB as NTFS and copying the ISO properly, you ensure all files and drivers stay intact.

Windows 11's official ISO includes an install.wim that can exceed the 4 GB file-size limit of FAT32. Many USB-creation tools automatically fall back to FAT32 (or split install.wim into .swm chunks), which can confuse Setup or drop necessary drivers. Using NTFS lets you keep the full, unsplit install.wim on your flash drive—so the installer sees every file exactly as intended.

By using NTFS, you preserve the full integrity of Windows 11's install.wim and all accompanying drivers—eliminating the "No device drivers were found" hiccup caused by FAT32 limits. WinBoootMate makes this simple: Just select NTFS, point it at your ISO, and boot from the freshly created stick. Once you’ve done this, the installer will immediately recognize your target drive and proceed without asking for missing drivers. Good luck with your installation!

The no device drivers were found when installing windows 11 error can be caused by a multitude of problems, all related to the installer's inability to find the necessary software (drivers) to talk to your computer's hardware.  It's not a single cause, but rather a symptom of a broader issue.  Here are some possibilities:

1. Missing or outdated drivers: No device drivers were found when installing windows 11, the most common reason. The installation process might not have the right driver files for your hardware. Older, outdated drivers installed on the computer might conflict with the Windows 11 installation. Sometimes, drivers installed after the installation process but before the system can boot can also cause problems. Your motherboard, graphics card, network card, and other components all need drivers.
2. Corrupted installation files: The installer itself might be damaged or incomplete. This can happen with a damaged USB installation drive, corrupted ISO image file, or an issue downloading the files.
3. Hardware incompatibility: Your hardware might not be officially supported by Windows 11, or the driver isn't properly compatible with the particular Windows 11 version. This is rarer but can happen.
4. Physical hardware issues: A loose cable, a failing USB port, or a damaged hard drive can all lead to driver issues, as the hardware can't be recognized properly. A faulty connector or even a broken component.
5. BIOS/UEFI issues: There might be compatibility problems between the BIOS/UEFI settings on your computer and Windows 11. These issues are less common but important to rule out.
   Conflicting hardware drivers or software: You might have incompatible software running during the installation or drivers already installed on your system that clash with those required by Windows 11.

Below is three helpful tips to help you fix No device drivers were found problem when installing Windows 11 from USB. You can try them one by one.

Try a USB 2.0 Port
Many motherboards expose both USB 2.0 (black) and USB 3.x (blue) ports. Windows 11’s installer may lack native USB 3.x drivers, so:

1. Remove your USB drive.
2. Plug it into a USB 2.0 port.
3. Reboot and retry the installation.

Switch SATA/NVMe Mode to AHCI

If your storage controller is in RAID or Intel RST mode, Setup may not see the drive without extra drivers.

1. Reboot into BIOS/UEFI (often F2, DEL, or F12).
2. Locate SATA/NVMe Configuration (sometimes under Advanced or Storage).
3. Change mode from RAID or Intel RST to AHCI.
4. Save and exit, then retry Setup.

Manually Load Mass-Storage Drivers

If your RAID/NVMe controller needs a proprietary driver:

1. On another PC, download the proper AMD/Intel/Samsung NVMe or RAID driver package (usually a .inf file).
2. Copy the driver files to a second USB stick (formatted FAT32/NTFS).
3. In Windows Setup’s "No device drivers…" prompt, click Load driver.
4. Browse to your driver USB, select the .inf, and let Setup load it.
5. Your target drive should now appear.

The error (No device drivers were found) is common during Windows 11 installation and they are many reasons for causing this.

Okay, It shows no device drivers were found when installing windows 11. That's a bit of a bummer, but don't panic! First, double-check your hardware.  Sometimes, it's not a driver problem at all, but a hardware issue.  Is the component even plugged in properly?  Is the cable secure?  Are the connections tight?  Loose connections can cause this error.  My experience is, I've once struggled with a faulty USB port leading to this error.  A quick visual check can save you a lot of headaches.

If everything looks good physically,  try a different USB drive.  Sometimes the installer just has trouble reading the one you're using. I've had this happen.  Try using a different USB drive or a different CD or DVD (if you're using that method).  There are probably other possible methods like downloading a ISO file to run the setup from a different drive.

If you've already tried all that, the next free option is Windows Update's built-in driver troubleshooting. This often solves the issue, including "no device drivers were found when installing windows 11" issues,  especially for things that are already being reported as having issues with compatibility with Win11.  You might be able to get a driver to work by installing update from the Windows Update component. 

Important Note: Windows Update doesn't always find everything.  If you have specific, unique hardware (like a very unusual sound card), you might need to download the driver from the manufacturer's website.  It's almost always a good idea to look for a dedicated driver on their website.  Make sure the driver is compatible with Windows 11, though!