How to Fix USB Ports Not Working on a PC (Beginner Guide)

When a USB port stops working, it can feel like your PC is ignoring your keyboard, mouse, flash drive, or phone. The good news: most USB problems are caused by simple power, connection, or driver issues—and you can check them safely in a few minutes.

Before you start: quick safety and sanity checks

• • Save your work and close important apps if you can.
  • Try a different USB device in the same port (for example, test the port with a flash drive if your mouse isn’t working).
  • Try a different port with the same device (front vs. back ports on a desktop, or left vs. right on a laptop).
  • Check the cable (especially for phones and external drives). Many “charging” cables don’t reliably carry data.

Step 1: Do a proper restart (it matters more than you think)

A normal restart clears many temporary USB glitches.

• • Click Start > Power > Restart.

If that doesn’t help, do a full power reset:

• • Desktop: Shut down, switch off the power supply (if it has a switch), unplug the power cable, then hold the power button for 10 seconds. Plug back in and start up.
  • Laptop: Shut down, unplug the charger, then hold the power button for 10 seconds. Plug back in and start up.

Step 2: Look for obvious physical problems

USB ports can stop working if the connector is loose, bent, or blocked.

• • Use a flashlight and look inside the port: does anything look bent or jammed?
  • Gently try the USB plug—if it feels very loose or doesn’t sit properly, it may be a hardware issue.

Tip: Avoid poking inside the port with metal objects. If you see debris, the safest approach is usually to power off the PC and use gentle, dry air. If you’re not sure, it’s okay to stop and get help.

Step 3: Check Windows Device Manager (reset the USB drivers)

Windows manages USB ports through drivers. If they get stuck, removing them and letting Windows reinstall them often helps.

How to do it

1. 1. Right-click the Start button and choose Device Manager.
   2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
   3. Look for entries with a warning symbol (a yellow triangle). If you see one, that’s a clue.
   4. Right-click each item named USB Root Hub, Generic USB Hub, and USB Host Controller (wording varies), then choose Uninstall device.
   5. Restart your PC. Windows should reinstall the USB controllers automatically.

Note: If your keyboard/mouse are USB and you’re on a desktop, consider plugging them into working ports first (often the rear ports). If you’re worried about losing control mid-step, do the restart first and only uninstall one item at a time.

Step 4: Turn off USB power-saving (common cause on laptops)

Windows can power down USB ports to save battery. Sometimes it doesn’t wake them up correctly.

A) Disable power saving for USB hubs

1. 1. Open Device Manager.
   2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
   3. Double-click USB Root Hub (do this for each one).
   4. Go to the Power Management tab.
   5. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
   6. Click OK, then restart.

B) Adjust USB selective suspend (if available)

1. 1. Open Control Panel > Power Options.
   2. Click Change plan settings for your current plan.
   3. Click Change advanced power settings.
   4. Find USB settings > USB selective suspend setting.
   5. Set it to Disabled, apply, and restart.

Step 5: Check for Windows updates (and optional driver updates)

Updates can fix USB controller issues, especially after a big Windows upgrade.

• • Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
  • Also look under Advanced options > Optional updates for driver updates (if shown).

Install updates, then restart—even if Windows doesn’t insist.

Step 6: If only one device won’t work, focus on that device

If other USB devices work fine, the port is probably okay and the problem is the device, cable, or its driver.

• • External drives: Try a different cable (if possible) and a different port. Avoid unpowered hubs.
  • Phone: Try a different cable and unlock the phone—some phones ask permission for data access.
  • Printer/webcam: Unplug it, restart the PC, then plug it back in. If it has its own power, power-cycle it too.

Step 7: Test without a USB hub or front-panel ports (desktops)

USB hubs and front-panel ports can be pickier than the rear motherboard ports.

• • Plug the device directly into a rear USB port on a desktop PC.
  • If it works in the back but not the front, the front-panel cable inside the PC may be loose or damaged (a repair shop can check this quickly).

When it’s likely a hardware problem

Sometimes the port itself (or the USB controller on the motherboard) has failed. Clues include:

• • Multiple USB ports stop working at once, even after restarts and driver reinstall.
  • The port feels loose, looks bent, or only works if you hold the plug “just right.”Devices connect/disconnect repeatedly with no movement.

If you’re on a desktop, a simple workaround can be adding a USB expansion card. On laptops, a non-working port may require a board-level repair, so it’s worth getting a quote before spending time on complex troubleshooting.

Quick checklist (fast recap)

• • Try a different device and a different port
  • Restart, then do a full power reset
  • Device Manager: uninstall USB controllers and restart
  • Disable USB power saving
  • Run Windows Update (including optional driver updates)
  • Test direct-to-PC (no hub), and test rear ports on desktops

If you tell me what Windows version you’re on and whether it’s one port or all ports, I can suggest the most likely next step.