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Why are the USB ports not working on Windows 11? Quick Fix

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  • 7 min read

Some users have reported on various forums that their computer’s USB ports are not working on Windows 11. The problem ranges from USB ports not recognising the devices to the constant crashing of the plugged-in drives and devices.

Having trouble connecting a USB can be frustrating and serious if you have some important work pending. Fortunately, there are a few fixes that you can try to resolve the issue.

In this article, we’ll list several such fixes to help you troubleshoot the issue. But first, let us understand the possible causes behind why the ports aren’t working.


Why are the USB ports not working on Windows 11?

There are several possible reasons why your USB ports are not working on Windows 11. Here are the most common ones:

  • Outdated or incompatible drivers: Drivers act as a bridge between you and the hardware. The hardware won’t recognise your commands if the drivers are corrupt or incompatible.
  • Faulty or damaged hardware: Sometimes, the problem lies with the hardware and not the software side. A faulty or damaged USB port will not read the drive correctly. The port could be damaged because of wear and tear, physical impact or power surges.
  • Incorrect settings: Have you tweaked some USB settings on your Windows 11? If yes, then this is probably why the USB ports are unresponsive.
  • Software conflicts: Some antivirus programs may block USB drivers if they suspect it malicious.

Also read: Why is the keyboard not working on Windows 11? 


How to fix the USB ports not working on Windows 11?

Now that we have understood the most common reasons why the USB ports are not working on Windows 11, let us head to the fixes.

Restart or power cycle your computer

Sometimes, restarting your computer fixes many minor bugs, leading to a flawless performance after rebooting. When you restart your computer, the RAM clears the data. This data may contain some corrupt USB-relate data, too.

Power cycling is another way to fix some issues. In the power cycle, you turn off the device, pull out the cords and then wait for a few minutes before plugging the cords back in. If you have a laptop, remove the batteries too.

If restarting or power cycling the computer didn’t fix the issue, move on to the next steps.


Clean the USB ports to fix USB not working in Windows 11

How to restore USB drive to full capacity after making it bootable?

Over time, dirt and grime accumulate on the inside of the USB ports, causing them to malfunction on Windows 11. Therefore, you must learn the sorts and remove the dirt to get them back in working condition.

Cleaning ports is not difficult. However, it requires some caution. Before proceeding with the cleaning operation, turn off the computer and remove any peripherals.

Use tweezers to remove any visible dirt, and then use an air compressor to filter out the inside of the port. Remember, do not spray directly into the port. Hold the nozzle at an angle such that the compressed air touches the port only slightly.

After that, soak swabs in mild alcohol and wipe the port.

Also read: How to check CPU temperature in Windows 11?


Update USB drivers

As we have explained earlier, the USB driver might be corrupt, causing a break in communication between the user and the hardware. Updating the USB driver may help.

Step 1: Right-click on the start button and then select Device Manager.

Step 2: Locate and double-click on Universal Serial Bus controllers to expand the list. Now, right-click on the USB drivers you want to update and select Update driver.

Step 3: Next, select the Search automatically for drivers option if you want the OS to search the internet for the drivers. Or, if you have the driver already downloaded on your computer, click on the Browser my computer for drivers option.


Update Windows 11

Sometimes, outdated Windows 11 OS can cause problems with the functions and services. So, update your Windows 11 to fix the USB ports that are not working.

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Then, head to the Windows Update option at the end of the left panel and then click on Check for updates.

After that, Windows will show you all the pending updates. Click on Download and install.


Uninstall USB drivers

If updating the USB drivers doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall the USB drivers so that a fresh copy of the drivers gets installed. This may fix the USB not working on the Windows 11 issue.

Head to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers, and right-click on the USB drivers you want to uninstall. Next, click on Uninstall drivers.


Scan for hardware changes to fix USB malfunction in Windows 11

When you scan for hardware changes in Windows 11, the OS looks for new or changed hardware and configures it accordingly. It fixes many issues with the hardware, including non-functional USB ports in Windows 11.

Head to Device Manager and then right-click on Universal Serial Bus controllers. Next, select Scan for hardware changes.

Another way to do this is to head to the Action tab at the tap and select the Scan for hardware changes option.


Check the power output of your USB port

Another sure-shot method to check whether your USB port is working fine is to check the power output. The presence or lack of power output directly tells us whether the USB ports are working in Windows 11 or any other OS.

Here’s how to check the power output of the USB port:

Step 1: Open Device Manager and then expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.

Step 2: Next, right-click on USB Root Hub or USB Composite Device and then select Properties.

Step 3: Next, head to Details and locate Power data.

Here’s your power data:

The power capacity is represented by the number followed by D. In this case, the power is D0.

In conclusion, fixing the USB ports not working in Windows 11 issues is easy and requires a few moments. If none of the above solutions work for you, head to the nearest service centre and get your ports repaired.

Also read: Why is Windows Explorer Search not working? Quick Fix

Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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