What to Do If My Computer's USB Port Stops Working?

One day when you are using a USB wired mouse or keyboard, you suddenly find that the cursor does not respond or the keyboard fails. Will your first reaction be that the mouse or keyboard is broken? Sometimes it is indeed a problem with the accessories, but sometimes the USB port of the computer is faulty. There are many troubleshooting steps you can complete on your own to judge where the problem is and fix it.

Where is the problem?

If your computer has more than one USB port, you can connect the accessory to another USB port, or switch to another computer's USB port for testing. If the accessory is working properly, then the problem is the first port. if the device remains undetected, you have a faulty device.

Of course, you can also test this USB port with other accessories, such as connecting a USB flash drive to transfer data, connecting a mobile phone to charge, connecting a printer, etc. You'll know your port is in good working order if your other device works just fine. In this case, you may need to repair or replace the device that failed to connect. If the device still doesn't work, there’s likely a problem with the USB port.

How to Fix the USB Port?

You can first check for port hardware failures or simply try the following software fixes.

1, Firstly, check whether the appearance of the USB is damaged or dirty. Since USB devices can only be inserted in the correct orientation, we may sometimes force insertion without noticing and damage the USB port. If the port is seriously deformed, it's better to seek professional help or get a new computer. If there is no visible damage, check if the USB port is blocked by debris such as dirt or dust.

Dust can reduce airflow and cause the system to overheat. It's especially harmful to laptops, where overheating can degrade performance within seconds. If you find anything stuck inside, shut your computer down and gently clear the obstruction with a thin plastic or wooden tool like a toothpick. In some cases, products like compressed air can blow obstructions out of the USB port. Just be careful not to shove the obstruction further in. A vacuum cleaner might also prove handy here.

2, Next, check for loose internal connections. Connect a USB cable or flash drive and gently wiggle it around. If it connects and disconnects briefly, then there is a physical problem with either the cable or the USB port. If you feel a great deal of movement when you wiggle the USB connector gently, that indicates it may be bent or broken off the board. While this type of problem can sometimes be fixed, you're probably better off taking it to a professional.

If you feel that hardware repair is troublesome and time-consuming, you can try the following software repair methods.

1, When the computer freezes or the device is not recognized properly, restarting the computer is arguably the most straightforward method. Sometimes you get lucky, and the easiest solution ends up solving the annoying problem. If restarting doesn't do the trick, it's worth looking at the device in Windows Device Manager.

2, The Device Managerlists the devices attached to your computer by category. It's in alphabetical order, so you should find the Universal Serial Bus Controller at the end of the list. Expand the list and look for the device that contains the three words USB Host Controllers. No USB Host Controller? This may explain why your USB device doesn't work. To resolve this issue, click the Scan for hardware changes button on the toolbar. This will start checking all connected hardware and in most cases will detect the USB port and anything connected to it.

If that still doesn't work, it's worth taking the time to reinstall the USB Host Controllers. Right-click each USB Host Controller item in turn and select Uninstall device on each. Wait for them to be uninstalled, then restart your computer. When Windows restarts, the USB Host Controllers will be automatically reinstalled. This "refresh" can help to fix problems with the USB port.

Note: If you are using a USB mouse and keyboard, it will be disabled when the USB Host Controllers are uninstalled. Some steps may vary slightly depending on your version of Windows, but these work on Windows 10.

3, If you have a Mac, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) may solve your problem. Check out Apple’stutorial to reset the SMC, whether your computer is based on Intel chips (with/without Apple T2 Security Chip) or Apple silicon.

4, You can also check Windows' power management settings. If power management settings override your USB controller, this will affect the detection of USB devices. When the desktop is set to low power, it looks like the USB is not working, but in fact, the OS has put the device to sleep.

You can take following steps to solve it:

• Click Start and enter the Control Panel
• Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
• Here, find the selected plan and click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings
• Find USB settings and expand to find USB selective suspend setting
• Change the drop-down menu to Disabled
• Click Apply and OK to confirm
• Finally, restart your PC to make sure this change is applied
• You should find that the unusable USB port is now fixed.

5, You can also update your system. Although less likely, it's possible thatupdating your system can fix your USB port problem.

Available Accessories

A malfunctioning laptop's USB port is a real headache, and we inevitably have to plug and unplug devices on a computer, especially a laptop. However, when the USB port of the accessory is broken, we may not be so distressed because the value of the two is worlds apart. This means that we can transfer the pressure of frequent plugging and unplugging on the computer's USB port to the accessories, that is, the USB hub.

Like CableCreation's 4-port USB 3.0 hub with a long extension cable. In this way, we only need to use one USB port of the computer to expand more USB ports and make the connection more convenient, especially for iMac. I believe many people are tired of the inconvenience of plugging and unplugging USB devices behind the iMac every time. Using a USB hub to move the USB port in front of us makes us feel a lot better.

If you also need an Ethernet port, we have a 3-port USB hub with an Ethernet adapter. The USB port isn't the only potential weak spot on your computer. Taking good care of your hardware will reduce potential failures.