How it works
Every USB device is presented to the operating system with two 16-bit numbers: the Vendor ID, which the USB Implementers Forum assigns to each manufacturer, and the Product ID, which the manufacturer chooses for each model. This tool translates that pair of numbers into the actual manufacturer and product name.
You can paste the full identifier as it appears in the device properties on Windows, the line returned by lsusb on Linux, or just the four hexadecimal digits. The search is resolved against the usb.ids file, the community catalog maintained by the Linux USB project.
Examples
USB\VID_046D&PID_C52BLogitech, Inc. — Unifying ReceiverWindows Device Manager format, on the Details tab, property "ID. "hardware".1d6b:0002Linux Foundation — 2.0 root hublsusb format: The root driver that the kernel exposes as if it were a USB hub.8087Intel Corp.With only the Vendor ID you can obtain the manufacturer, without needing to know the model.Use cases
- Find out what an unknown device is that appears in Device Manager without a name or with an exclamation point.
- Finding the correct driver when the computer only reports the VID/PID pair.
- Document the inventory of peripherals of a computer or a laboratory based on the output of lsusb.
- Detect unauthorized USB devices connected to a machine by checking who makes them.
- Write udev rules or device filters by first checking which product each identifier corresponds to.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the VID and PID of a device?
In Windows, open the Device Manager, go to the device properties, Details tab, and choose the property "ID. "hardware". On Linux run lsusb and on macOS use System Information, USB section.
Why is the manufacturer listed but the product not?
The usb.ids catalog is maintained with contributions from the community and covers many more manufacturers than models. It is normal for a Vendor ID to be registered and a new, rare, or generic Product ID not yet listed.
Does the identifier guarantee who manufactured the device?
Not always. The Vendor ID identifies who it is assigned to, but many inexpensive products reuse the chip manufacturer's identifier, and there are even devices that claim cloned identifiers. Take it as a very strong indication, not as proof.
What is the difference with the PCI identifier?
They are two different records. USB numbers the peripherals that connect via that bus and PCI numbers the internal boards connected to the PCI Express bus. The same number can belong to different manufacturers in each record, so you must consult the corresponding catalog.
How often is the data updated?
The tool uses a copy of the usb.ids file that is periodically refreshed from the Linux USB project. Next to the result is the version and date of the catalog with which the query was resolved.