How-To

11 Ways to Fix USB Not Working on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Updated February 1, 2024

A USB device or port that isn’t working properly can be tricky to diagnose on a Windows 11 PC. Here’s how to fix the problem.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is the gold standard port for connecting most portable devices to a PC. Whether it’s a keyboard, a camera, a portable hard drive, or even a little desk fan, it’s quite likely that you’ll use a USB cable to connect and power it.

The plug-and-play nature of USB makes it easy to connect all kinds of devices to your Windows 11 PC, but what if things go wrong? If your USB stops working on Windows 11, there could be any number of causes, from a faulty cable to missing drivers (and plenty more).

To help you troubleshoot the problem, here are 11 troubleshooting tips you can try to fix things if your USB isn’t working on Windows 11.

1. Inspect Your Device (and USB Port)

Before you try any drastic fixes to USB ports on your PC, you should inspect for possible damage.

This includes removing the USB device, checking the cabling and the USB port, and re-connecting it. If there’s a broken cable, for instance, you may want to replace it. If there’s dust in the USB port, use some canned air to clear it out.

After checking for damage and cleaning out the USB port, plug the device back in and see if it fixes the USB not working error on Windows 11.

2. Try a Different USB Port

If you’re confident that your device is working properly, it could be a problem with the USB port you’re using.

This fix is simple—simply remove the USB drive from the port you’re currently using and place it in another port. If the device is recognized by Windows 11 and it works without any problems, then you can troubleshoot the previous port. Until then, however, you can carry on using the new port to get your work done.

3. Replace the USB Device

If the USB port seems to be working, then the fault could be with the device you’re using. You may need to switch your device for something else if Windows isn’t recognizing it (at least temporarily).

For example, a USB hard drive will only be recognized if the drive itself hasn’t failed. Make sure to try the device on another PC (if you can) to see if it works before you consider replacing it.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to determine why a USB device might stop working. You may need to consult the user manual for that device to investigate or, if possible, look at possible support options from the manufacturer.

4. Restart Windows 11

Think your USB ports or devices are faulty? Don’t panic—give your PC a restart first. This is a tried-and-tested method to fix any number of troubleshooting issues on your PC, including malfunctioning USB devices.

You may find that restarting your PC forces Windows to install missing drivers. If your USB isn’t recognized on Windows 11, this can fix the problem.

To restart Windows 11 quickly:

1. Keep the USB device plugged in and restart Windows 11 by right-clicking the Start menu.
2. In the pop-up, select Shutdown or sign out > Restart.

If there’s a software issue, Windows should recognize your USB device after rebooting and, if necessary, install any missing drivers.

5. Check for Windows Updates

Keeping your Windows 11 PC up-to-date is critical, as new Windows updates could include fixes for faulty USB ports or malfunctioning devices, as well as general usability improvements.

To check for Windows Updates on Windows 11:

1. Open the Start menu and press Settings (or press Windows key + I).

2. In Settings, navigate to Windows Update, then click the Check for updates button.

3. Windows 11 will check for any available updates and download them.
4. To install any available updates, click the Restart now button or set Active Hours so Windows restarts when you’re not using the computer.
   
5. You should also check for optional updates (which will often include non-critical device drivers). To do this, navigate to the Advanced options section in Windows Update, select Optional updates, then install any available updates listed.

6. Reinstall USB Drivers

Another thing you can do is ensure that your USB drivers are up to date. You can quickly update or reinstall your USB drivers by following these steps:

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Start button or the Windows key.
2. Type device manager and select the top result.
   
3. Scroll through the Device Manager tree menu and expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
4. Right-click each entry and select Uninstall device.
5. Restart your PC, and Windows should automatically reinstall the latest drivers for that device during the reboot.

7. Check for Software Updates Using OEM Tools

Windows Update isn’t a perfect resource, and it won’t include every possible update for your hardware. However, you may be able to check for software updates manually using an OEM update app created by your device manufacturer.

For example, if you’re missing important chipset drivers, your USB ports might not work properly. You can usually fix this by installing the necessary drivers from the manufacturer directly or by using an OEM update app.

To check for OEM software updates:

1. Launch the Start menu and search the first letter of the computer’s manufacturer. For example, search “D” for Dell or “L” for Lenovo.

2. Find and launch the manufacturer’s update tool and install any hardware updates it finds.

8. Check for Software and Driver Updates Manually

If you don’t have an OEM tool installed, you can search for your manufacturer online and download updates manually. If you search for the model number for your device, you should be able to find drivers and software updates available t0 download and install.

Certain types of device manufacturers will provide updated software and drivers more regularly. For example, if you have an advanced gaming keyboard, streaming microphone, or an audio interface device that connects via USB, you may see a faster update schedule than other types of devices.

To Install Driver Updates Manually

1. Download the latest USB device or software driver from the manufacturer’s website.
2. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
3. In Run, type devmgmt.msc and click OK.
   
4. When Device Manager opens, find your USB device in the list, right-click it and select Update driver.
   
5. Select Browse my computer for drivers, navigate to the driver you downloaded, and follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation.

If you’ve downloaded a software update, run the installer file and follow any on-screen instructions to complete the update. You may need to restart your PC to complete any changes.

9. Change Power Management Settings

USB devices need a good amount of power but, if you’re running on a battery, this power isn’t always available. For example, a USB drive might not see enough power because of the power management settings in place when your laptop is running from its battery.

You can resolve this by changing your power management settings. To do this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. In Run, type devmgmt.msc and click OK.

3. Scroll down and expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section in Device Manager.
4. Right-click USB Root Hub and select Properties.
   
5. In the USB Root Hub Properties window, select the Power Management tab.
6. Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option and click OK.

10. Disable USB Selective Suspend Power Option

Another potential problem for USB devices is the USB selective suspend power feature. This helps to conserve a laptop’s battery power by suspending devices that aren’t always in use.

Unfortunately, this can sometimes interfere with the USB devices you’re using. If Windows doesn’t think the device is being used, it’ll cut power to it and stop it from working.

To disable the USB selective suspend option on Windows 11:

1. Open the Start menu by pressing Start or the Windows key.
2. Type edit power plan and select the top result.
   
3. Next, click the Change advanced power settings option.
   
4. In Power Options, expand USB settings and change the USB selective suspend setting option to Disabled.
5. Click OK to save.

11. Run SFC and DISM Scan

If the options above don’t work, you may want to check that your Windows 11 installation isn’t corrupted. The SFC and DISM tools will check your local drive for corrupted system files and replace them.

To run the SFC and DISM tools on your PC:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) from the menu.

2. Enter the following command in the Terminal windows and hit Enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. After the DISM scan is complete, run an SFC scan by entering the following:

sfc /scannow

Note that these scans can take a while to run. When the scans are complete, restart your PC and see if the USB device is working again. If these tools can’t fix your PC, you may need to reset Windows 11 to factory settings instead.

Troubleshooting a Windows 11 PC

If your USB is not working on Windows 11, the steps above should help you to resolve the issue. USB problems can affect any type of USB device, but you may need to try more specialist fixes for certain devices.

For example, you can troubleshoot a broken USB keyboard on Windows 11 by installing the device management software and running the keyboard troubleshooter.

Your USB ports aren’t the only thing that can stop working on a Windows 11 PC. If you’re having problems with your display, for instance, you may need to consider fixes to your HDMI connection.