Applies to: 3rd Generation Scarlett Range, Scarlett 2nd Gen (6i6, 18i8 & 18i20) and all Clarett interfaces. 

If you are not able to see your Focusrite interface in Focusrite Control, you may see one of two error messages:

• No Hardware Connected 
• No Hardware Detected  

Please note: Focusrite Control will NOT detect the following interfaces: 

• 1st and 2nd Generation Scarlett Solo, 2i2 and 2i4
• 1st Generation Scarlett 18i20, 18i8, 18i6, 8i6 and 6i6 Scarletts (Scarlett Mix Control is used). 
• Saffire interfaces
• Red Interfaces (RedNet Control is used)

For users of macOS Big Sur, you can find our support information for Intel and Apple M1 Macs.
This article addresses problems users may have with the Focusrite Control desktop application for Windows and Mac. For help with the "Focusrite Control iOS" app for iPhones and iPads please see this article.
If you are using macOS with a Clarett Thunderbolt, Saffire or Red interface, this article may solve your problem.

This article is split into two sections linked from the following:

• Focusrite Control is showing No Hardware Connected
• Focusrite Control is showing No Hardware Detected  

No Hardware Connected

For No Hardware Connected on macOS– click here.

Windows

On Windows systems, you can look in Device Manager to check your interface is being listed correctly. To access this:

Right-Click on the 'Start' icon > Device Manager.

Focusrite interfaces should appear under both: ‘Sound, Video & Game Controllers’ and 'Focusrite Audio.’  

If your interface is not shown in Device Manager, please test another USB/Thunderbolt cable and another USB/Thunderbolt port. If you are still unable to see the interface, please Contact Support. 

If your interface is showing correctly in Device Manager but Focusrite Control still displays No Hardware Connected, please complete the following instructions: 

1) Ensure you have the latest version of Focusrite Control from the Downloads page or from your Focusrite.com account.  The version number of Focusrite Control is shown in the bottom right of the software, so you can compare this to the version of the Downloads page.

2) Ensure Focusrite Control has been installed to the main C: drive of your computer. Installing Focusrite Control to a secondary drive can cause issues. If in doubt, please reinstall Focusrite Control using the default options. 

3) Check ‘Focusrite Control Server’ is running. To do this: 

• Right-click the Windows ‘Start’ menu and click 'Control Panel'.  
• 
Type 'local' in the search bar 
• 
Select 'View Local Services'


• Find 'Focusrite Control Server' in the list and click it
• If the service is currently stopped:
  • Please click 'Start' on the left side of the screen 
• If the service is running:
  • Please click 'Restart' on the left side of the screen 

4) You can manually run the ‘Focusrite Control Server.’ To do this: 

• Open File Explorer
• Go to 'This PC' > 'Local Disk (C:)'
  • 'Program Files' > 'Focusrite' > 'Focusrite Control' > 'Server' 
• Please right-click on 'ControlServer.exe' and click ‘Run as Administrator’ 

The service should now start, and Focusrite Control should recognise your interface. 

* Your hard drive may be named differently.

If this does not allow your interface to appear in Focusrite Control, then please Contact Support. 

macOS

If you are a user of a; Clarett Thunderbolt, Saffire or Red interface, on macOS 10.13+ please see the following article in addition to the below steps:

My Clarett / Saffire / Red Interface isn't working on Catalina / Mojave / High Sierra

To check if the interface is appearing as connected:

Click the Apple logo (top left of your screen) > About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > USB, or Thunderbolt.

If your interface is being seen at a hardware level, your interface model will be displayed in the main window as shown below.

If your interface is not shown in System Report, please test with another USB or Thunderbolt cable and another USB or Thunderbolt port. If you are still unable to see the interface, please Contact Support. 

If your interface is showing correctly in the System report, but Focusrite Control still displays No Hardware Connected, please complete the following instructions: 

1) Ensure you have the latest version of Focusrite Control from the Downloads page or your Focusrite.com account.  The version number of Focusrite Control is shown in the bottom right of the software, so you can compare that version to the version on the Downloads page.

2) If you are using a Clarett Thunderbolt interface then please ensure you have allowed the driver to load as per this article. 

3) Ensure the Focusrite Control Server is running, to do this: 

• Open Focusrite Control
• Open Finder and go to:
  • Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > Find 'FocusriteControlServer’ 
• Double-click on 'FocusriteControlServer’ > Click ‘Quit’

 

The service will not quit and will remain in Activity Monitor. Your interface should now appear in Focusrite Control. 

If this does not work, please go to step 4: 

4) Please manually start this server, to do this go to: 

• Finder > Applications 
• *Right-click* on Focusrite Control and go to:
  • Show Package Contents > Contents > Library > LoginItems 
• Double click on 'FocusriteControlServer'

 Now please open Focusrite Control and your interface should be recognised.

If you are still unable to see the interface, please Contact Support. 

No Hardware Detected

For No Hardware Detected on macOS– click here.

Windows 

1) Ensure you have the latest version of Focusrite Control from the Downloads page or from your Focusrite.com account. The version number of Focusrite Control is shown in the bottom right of the software, so you can compare that version to the version on the Downloads page.

2) Ensure Focusrite Control has been installed on the main C: drive of your computer. Installing Focusrite Control to a secondary drive can cause issues. If in doubt, please reinstall Focusrite Control. 

3) Check ‘Focusrite Control Server’ is running. To do this: 

• Right-click the Windows ‘Start’ menu and click 'Control Panel'
• 
Type 'local' in the search bar
• 
Select 'View Local Services'
 
• Find 'Focusrite Control Server' in the list and click it
• If the service is currently stopped:
  • Please click 'Start' on the left side of the screen 
• If the service is running:
  • Please click 'Restart' on the left side of the screen

4) Check your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking the ‘Focusrite Control Server’ from running. Note this is only relevant if you have 3rd party Firewall or antivirus software installed - Windows Defender will not cause this issue.  

Allowing certain processes and folders through as exceptions will differ depending on the firewall or antivirus software, but typically, you will have the choice to select a Process: 

• In which case select 'Focusrite Control' 

 or a Folder: 

• C: > Program Files > Focusrite. 
• C: > Program Files > Focusrite > Server. 

Please also run the Focusrite Control installation again with your firewall or antivirus disabled. When running the installer, please ensure to right-click the installer and choose Run as Administrator. 

5) You can manually run the ‘Focusrite Control Server.’ To do this: 

• Open File Explorer. 
• Go to This PC > Local Disk (C:):
  • Program Files > Focusrite > Focusrite Control > Server 
• Please right-click on 'ControlServer.exe' and click ‘Run as Administrator' 

The service should now start, and Focusrite Control should recognise your interface. 

If this does not allow your interface to appear in Focusrite Control, then please Contact Support. 

macOS

If you are a user of a; Clarett Thunderbolt, Saffire or Red interface, on macOS 10.13+ please see the following article in addition to the below steps: 

My Clarett / Saffire / Red Interface is not working on Catalina / Mojave / High Sierra 

Click the Apple Logo (top left of your screen) > About This Mac > System Report > Hardware > USB, or Thunderbolt.

If your interface is being seen at a hardware level, the interface model will be displayed in the main window as shown below.  

If your interface is not shown in System Report, please test with another USB or Thunderbolt cable and another USB or Thunderbolt port. If you are still unable to see the interface, please Contact Support. 

If your interface is showing correctly in the System report but Focusrite Control still displays No Hardware Detected, please complete the following instructions: 

1) Ensure you have the latest version of Focusrite Control from the Downloads page or from your Focusrite.com account.  The version number of Focusrite Control is shown in the bottom right of the software, so you can compare that version to the version on the Downloads page.

2) If you are using a Clarett Thunderbolt interface then please ensure you have allowed the driver to load as per this article. 

3) Ensure Focusrite Server is running, to do this: 

• Open Focusrite Control.
• Open Finder and go to:
  • Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
    • Find 'FocusriteControlServer’.
• Double-click on 'FocusriteControlServer’ > Click ‘Quit’.

The service will not quit and will remain in Activity Monitor, your interface should now be detected in Focusrite Control. 

If this does not work, please go to step 4: 

4) Please manually start this server, to do this go to: 

• Finder > Applications
• *Right-click* on Focusrite Control and go to:
  • Show Package Contents > Contents > Library > LoginItems 
• Double click on 'FocusriteControlServer'. 

 Now please open Focusrite Control and your interface should be recognised.

5) Check your firewall or antivirus software is not blocking the ‘Focusrite Control Server’ from running. Note this is only relevant if you have 3rd party Firewall or antivirus software installed. 
 
Focusrite Control Server should be added as a firewall exception automatically during installation. If the Focusrite Control server is not in Firewall Options you can add it by going to: 

• Finder > Applications.
• Right-click on Focusrite Control and go to:
  • Show Package Contents > Contents > Library > LoginItems - keep this open.
• Go to:
  • System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Firewall > Firewall Options.  
• Drag the 'FocusriteControlServer' to the 'Firewall Options' screen.
• Set 'FocusritecontrolServer' to 'Allow all incoming connections'.

Please drag the Focusrite Control application itself into the Firewall options while doing this.

 

If this article hasn't helped you, please feel free to search again at the top of this page or, to contact support, please click here.