Windows scans for hardware changes and installs drivers when you connect any new hardware to your PC. You can also scan for hardware changes manually. In either case, Windows 11 can sometimes freeze when it performs this hardware scan. To fix this, you can try out various fixes to resolve the problem.

Disconnect and Remove all Peripherals

Your computer can freeze when scanning for hardware changes if any of the connected peripherals are damaged or defective. To confirm this is the cause, disconnect all the peripherals attached to your computer and then try scanning for hardware changes again. If your PC does not freeze again, you can connect the peripherals one by one to identify which one is responsible for the issue.

In case your peripherals are not causing the problem, your hard drive might not be connected properly. Open your laptop or CPU case and check that your hard disk is connected to the right port. Also, check other cables and ports and ensure they are working fine.

Install the Driver Manually

Sometimes, the problem may lie with an outdated or faulty driver. You can try updating or reinstalling the driver using the Device Manager.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  1. In the Device Manager, click each device to expand it, then right-click and select Update Driver to update the device driver.
  1. Select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows download and install the latest drivers from the internet. Restart your PC and then check for hardware changes again.

Revert the Storage Controller Driver To Previous Version

A corrupted storage controller driver is another probable cause of your computer freezing when scanning for hardware changes.

  1. Open the Device Manager and click on Storage Controllers to expand it.
  1. Right-click the driver and select Properties.
  1. In the Properties dialog box, go to the Driver tab at the top and click the Roll Back Driver button.

Perform SFC and DISM scans

Corrupt system files can also cause your PC to freeze when scanning for hardware changes. You can run SFC and DISM scans to identify and fix such errors.

  1. Open the Start menu, type CMD and click Run as administrator.
  1. In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  1. Let the scan complete, then type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and hit Enter again. Once the scans are complete, try checking for hardware changes again.

Perform a Clean Boot

Third-party programs and services can sometimes cause problems when scanning for hardware changes. You can identify the service responsible by performing a clean boot.

  1. Open the Run dialog using the Win + R shortcut, type msconfig and press Enter.
  1. In the System Configuration utility, go to the Services tab at the top. Click the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox and then click the Disable all button.
  1. Next, go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  1. When the Task Manager opens, right-click all non-essential programs and close them using the End Task button.
  1. Close the Task Manager, click Apply in the System Configuration utility, and restart your computer. Once it boots into a clean state, try enabling third-party services one by one to determine which one is causing the problem.

Update your BIOS

BIOS updates are usually not required and should be avoided. However, if your system is frequently running into problems, a BIOS update might help. Visit your PC manufacturer's website to find out if a BIOS update is available. If it is, download the update and install it. Reboot and then check for hardware changes to see if your computer is still freezing.

Reset your PC

If nothing else works, you may have to reset your computer. Make sure to back up your data before doing so. Resetting will revert all programs and settings to their defaults.

  1. Open the Settings app using the Win + I shortcut and click System on the left. Then select Recovery from the right.
  1. On the Recovery page, click the Reset PC button on the right.
  1. You can then select whether to keep your files or remove everything. Windows will restart and begin the reset process. Wait until it is complete before scanning for hardware changes.

The above solutions can help you fix your Windows 11 PC freezing when scanning for hardware changes. When making system-level changes to your computer, make sure to create a backup just in case something goes wrong. Also, check your connected devices, peripherals, and accessories for hardware damage.