In this article, we will see some solutions to fix the Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API error on a Windows 11/10 computer. This error code is associated with the hardware, either the laptop’s touchpad or a USB device. The users who experienced this error have stated that their laptop’s touchpad and some of the USB devices connected to their systems have stopped working suddenly. On viewing the Properties of the device driver in the Device Manager, they saw the following error message:

This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API.

The most common cause of this error is corrupted or outdated device drivers. Apart from this, there are some other causes of this error, like insufficient or low disk space. In this article, we have listed some solutions that may help you get rid of this problem.

Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API in Windows 11/10

As explained above, low memory or disk space can also trigger this error. Therefore, first, close all the running programs to free up some RAM. If this does not fix the problem, try to free up some disk space. You can move your data from your computer’s hard drive to an external hard disk or you can upload your data to free cloud storage services, like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.

If you see this error message in the Device Manager, you can try the solutions explained below to fix the problem.

1. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
2. Update your device driver
3. Install the driver in Compatibility mode
4. Use another USB port
5. Troubleshoot in a Clean Boot state
6. Perform a System Restore
7. Reset your PC

Let’s see all these fixes in detail.

1] Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

You can run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter and see if it fixes the problem. In the earlier version of Windows 10, the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter was available in the Settings app. But in the later versions, Microsoft has removed it from the Settings. But you can still run this troubleshooter on your Windows 11/10 device by executing the following command in the Command Prompt.

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

Once you launch the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter, click on Advanced on the bottom left side and check if the Apply repairs automatically option is selected or not. If not, select it and then click Next.

2] Update your device driver

As explained earlier in this article, the most common cause of the problem is the corrupted or outdated device driver. Therefore, we suggest you update your device driver from the Device Manager. The steps for this are explained below:

1. Right-click on Start and select Device Manager.
2. Select the driver of the device you are experiencing the issue with.
3. Right-click on the selected device driver and select Update driver.
4. Now, select the Search automatically for drivers option.

Alternatively, you can also install the latest driver updates on your device via the Windows Optional Updates feature. If this does not work, visit your device manufacturer’s official website and download the latest version of the driver. Now, uninstall the current version of the device driver from your system. After that, double-click on the installer file to install the latest driver.

3] Install the driver in Compatibility mode

If updating the device driver did not fix your problem, you can try installing the driver in the Compatibility mode. First, uninstall the driver from your Device Manager. After uninstalling the driver, open the location on which you have downloaded the driver from the manufacturer’s website. Now, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on the driver installer file and select Properties.
2. Click on the Compatibility tab.
3. Enable the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” checkbox.
4. Select the older version of Windows from the drop-down list.
5. Click Apply and then OK.
6. Now, double-click on the installer file and then install the driver on your system.

4] Use another USB port

If you are experiencing an issue with your USB device, connect it to another USB port and check if the problem persists. For some users, connecting the USB device to USB 3.0 instead of the USB 2.0 port fixed the problem. If you have already connected your device to the USB 3.0 port, disconnect it from that port and connect it to the USB 2.0 port.

5] Troubleshoot in a Clean Boot state

The problem might be occurring due to some conflicting programs installed on your device. You can check this by troubleshooting your system in a Clean Boot state. If you find a problematic program on your system, uninstall it and then check if the problem disappears.

6] Perform a System Restore

The System Restore has fixed the problem of some users. It is a tool developed by Microsoft that helps users protect and repair their computers. When you run this tool, it creates a snapshot of the Windows System Image files and Windows Registry and saves them as a restore point. If any problem occurs on a Windows computer, the System Restore Point helps users to take their systems to the previous working state without reinstalling the Windows operating system.

If you have created a system restore point, running the System Restore can help you fix this problem.

7] Reset your PC

If the System Restore tool did not fix the issue, you can reset your PC to fix this problem. Before resetting your PC, backup all your data on a hard drive.

What is Code 10 in Device Manager?

The Device Manager shows Code 10 when Windows cannot start hardware or a USB device connected to the computer. Code 10 is among the Device Manager error codes. You can experience this error with your laptop’s touchpad or any other USB device you connect to your computer, like a speaker, keyboard, mouse, etc. Due to this error, the hardware device does not work. The main cause of this problem is outdated or corrupted device drivers. However, some other causes can also trigger this error.

Drivers are the software that develop a connecting link between the hardware and the operating system. If drivers get corrupted, the communication link between an operating system and the hardware device breaks due to which the hardware device does not work.

Why do we have insufficient system resources?

You will get the insufficient system resources error message when your computer is running on low memory or has low disk space. To fix this problem, free up some space on your disk. You can take advantage of free cloud storage services, like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.

How do I fix Insufficient system resources exist to complete the API?

You may see this error message in the Device Manager when your hardware or external USB device connected to your computer stops working. The main cause of the error is the corruption in device drivers. Hence, to fix this problem, you have to update or reinstall your device drivers.

Hope this helps.

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