Your USB ports just stopped working, and now your mouse, flash drive, or phone charger won’t connect. It’s quite frustrating. Whether you’re using a Dell, HP, Lenovo, or another Windows laptop, this issue pops up more often than you’d think. Sometimes it’s something simple, like a bit of dust in the port.

Other times, it might be a driver issue after a Windows update, especially common with Dell laptops.

No matter what caused it, we’re here to help you figure it out without needing any technical background. This guide walks you through the most common causes and how to fix them.

We’ll also explain how USB-C ports can be tricky because some only support charging or video, not data, and help you figure that out, too.

Let’s begin.

Why Is My USB or USB-C Port Not Working?

Before jumping into fixes, let’s look at what could actually be causing the problem. Here are the common reasons your USB (including USB-C) doesn’t not work:

  1. Dust or debris in the port. A tiny bit of dust or lint can stop your device from connecting properly. This is especially common if you carry your laptop around or haven’t cleaned it in a while.
  2. Power surges or inconsistent power supply. If your laptop experienced a power surge or didn’t shut down properly, the USB port might get “confused” and stop responding. Sometimes, just unplugging and restarting helps.
  3. Outdated or glitchy drivers. This is one of the top reasons, especially on Dell laptops. After a BIOS update or even a regular Windows update, your USB drivers can go out of sync and stop working. Deleting recently installed updates can help fix the issue.
  4. Power settings that disable USB to save battery. Windows tries to save battery by turning off USB ports it thinks you’re not using. This can accidentally shut down a port that is in use. You can disable USB selective suspend in Power Options to ensure ports stay active.
  5. Antivirus or security software blocking devices. Some antivirus tools can block USB devices for safety reasons, especially if they think it’s a new or “unknown” device. Temporarily disable your antivirus and check if the USB device works, then whitelist it if necessary.
  6. High-power devices needing more juice. Some devices, like external hard drives or docking stations, need more power than a standard USB-C port can give unless it supports Power Delivery (PD) or Thunderbolt. If your port doesn’t support either, the device might not work at all. You can use a powered USB hub or connect the device to a USB-C port with PD or Thunderbolt support.

Before we start tackling the problem of your USB-C or USB port not working, let’s clear up some confusion about USB and USB-C ports because sometimes what looks like a problem is just a misunderstood feature.

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Basic Things to Know About USB and USB-C Ports

Before you assume your port is broken, here’s something most people don’t realize: not all USB-C ports do the same thing. Some USB-C ports are meant just for charging, others for data transfer, and some only support video output, like connecting to a monitor. It depends on your laptop model. Let’s break it down:

USB-A are the standard USB ports

These are your classic USB ports used for things like flash drives, keyboards, and older external hard drives. While they all serve the same basic purpose, their version affects speed. For example, newer USB 3.0 and 3.1 ports (typically blue or teal) offer faster data transfer, while USB 2.0 (black) is slower.

If you ever spot a white USB port, it’s likely from an older device—modern versions have better performance. Knowing these differences can help you identify the best port for faster data transfers and compatibility with your devices.

USB-A are the standard USB ports
Credit: Adamicu

Not all USB-C ports support data transfer

Some USB-C ports only charge your device or act as a video output (like DisplayPort). So if your external drive isn’t working, it might not be the drive, or the port might not be made for that purpose at all.

USB-C ports are quite flexible

USB-C is flexible, but that flexibility can be confusing. It might work to charge your phone but won’t read a USB drive. That doesn’t mean the port is broken, just that it’s not made for that specific job.

PRO TIP
Check your laptop’s specs or look up your model online to see what each USB-C port is designed to do. You can usually find this on the manufacturer’s support page or user manual.

Common USB-C and USB-A port symbols and what they mean

Port label/icon What it usually means Data transfer Charging Video output Common on
⚡ or battery icon Power Delivery (charging only) Dell Inspiron, HP Pavilion
🔁 or USB symbol Standard USB-C with data ✅ (usually) Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer Aspire
🖥️ or DP icon USB-C with DisplayPort (video out) ✅ (sometimes) Dell XPS, Surface devices
Thunderbolt ⚡+3 or ⚡+4 Full Thunderbolt port (high-speed) Dell XPS, MacBook Pro, HP Spectre
No icon at all Unknown (check the manual) Varies widely
USB-A Standard USB-A for data and charging Most laptops and desktop

If there’s no icon or label near the port, it doesn’t always mean it’s faulty. It just means you may need to look up your laptop model to confirm what the port supports.

Quick Check: Is My USB Not Working Because of the Port or Device?

Now that you’ve got a better idea of what your USB-C or USB port is supposed to do, let’s figure out if the problem is actually with the port or the device you’re plugging into it.

  • Try a different device or cable

Plug something else into the same port. For example, if your flash drive isn’t working, try plugging in your phone or a mouse. If they work, your port is probably fine, and the issue might be with the device or the cable.

  • Test the same device on another port

If your laptop has more than one USB or USB-C port, try using a different one. If the device works there, the first port may be faulty or just not meant for that purpose.

  • Be extra careful with USB-C

USB-C ports are trickier because they can look the same but behave very differently. So, if you plug in an external hard drive or USB stick and nothing happens, but your monitor works fine through the same port, that’s a good clue that it’s not a data-capable port.

PRO TIP
If you’re comfortable with it, you can test the port using a bootable USB drive or run a portable OS like Linux. If the port works outside of Windows, that points to a software or driver issue, not a hardware one.

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How to Fix USB or USB-C Ports Not Working on Windows 10/11

If your PC USB ports are not working—no charging, no file transfers, no signs of life—don’t worry. Try these simple solutions one by one:

Fix 1: Inspect and clean the port

Here’s what you can do. Use a flashlight to look inside the port. Blow out any dust with compressed air, or gently clean it with a soft brush or toothpick carefully. Dust, lint, or debris can block connections and prevent the port from working.

Fix 2: Try a different cable or device

If your device works with another USB port but not the one you’re troubleshooting, check for bent pins inside the faulty port—they could be preventing a proper connection. Also, if using USB-C, ensure the cable supports both power and data, because some cheaper cables only allow charging.

Fix 3: Restart your PC and run the troubleshooter

Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh restart to reset temporary glitches affecting USB functionality. If that doesn’t do the trick, Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter designed to detect and fix common hardware problems automatically.

Here’s how to go about it:

  • Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and hit Enter.

Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and hit Enter

  • The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter should open. Click Next to run it.

The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter should open. Click Next to run it

Follow the prompts and wait for the process to complete, and then check if your USB or USB-C port is working again.

As you can see from the screenshot above, Microsoft is retiring this troubleshooter (and many others) this year. So, if the steps don’t work for you, try using Device Manager to fix the USB por t. We cover that in Fix 6.

Fix 4: Check your power supply and battery settings

USB ports rely on a steady power supply to function correctly, and certain power-saving features can interfere with their performance. If your USB-C or USB port is not working, the issue might not be with the port itself, but rather how your laptop manages power.

Windows includes a power-saving feature called USB selective suspend, which can disable USB ports to conserve battery life, especially on laptops.

Follow the steps below to turn it off:

  • Type Control Panel in the search field and hit Enter.

Type Control Panel in the search field and hit Enter

  • Go to Hardware and Sound.

Go to Hardware and Sound

  • Then, go to Power Options.

Then, go to Power Options

  • Click Change plan settings next to your active power plan.

Click Change plan settings next to your active power plan

  • Select Change advanced power settings.

Select Change advanced power settings

  • Expand USB settings and go to USB selective suspend setting.
  • Set it to Disabled for both On battery and Plugged in.

Set it to Disabled for both On battery and Plugged in

  • Click Apply, then OK.

Fix 5: Turn off Fast Startup to fix USB ports

The Windows Fast Startup feature is designed to help your PC boot up faster after shutting down. While this sounds great, it can sometimes cause problems with USB ports by preventing your system from properly reloading drivers when restarting.

Instead of fully resetting everything, Fast Startup keeps certain settings and drivers cached, which can lead to USB ports not working correctly if an issue was already present.

If your USB ports are unresponsive, turning off Fast Startup forces Windows to refresh all drivers on the next boot. This gives your USB ports a better chance of working again. Here’s how to do it:

  • Go to Control Panel and select Power Options.
  • Click Choose what the power buttons do.

Click Choose what the power buttons do

  • Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Click Change settings that are currently unavailable

  • Search for Turn on fast startup under Shutdown settings and uncheck it.

Search for Turn on fast startup under Shutdown settings and uncheck it

  • Click Save changes and check to see if the issue has been fixed.

Fix 6: Update or reinstall USB drivers

If your port worked fine before and suddenly stopped, there’s a good chance your drivers need a refresh. Updating or reinstalling them gives your system a clean slate to work with.

To do that:

  • Open Device Manager.
  • Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers and look for any devices with a yellow warning icon.
  • Right-click the affected device and select Update driver or Uninstall device.

Right-click the affected device and select Update driver or Uninstall device

  • Restart your PC for the changes to take effect. Then, check if the problem has been fixed.

Fix 7: Use System Restore if the USB port worked recently

If your USB ports were working just a few days ago and suddenly stopped after a system update, new app installation, or unknown change, System Restore can help. It allows you to roll back your system to an earlier point without losing personal files so that you can undo whatever broke your USB functionality.

Go through the steps below:

  • Press Windows + S, type Create a restore point, and click on the best match.

Press Windows + S, type Create a restore point, and click on the best match

  • Click System Restore.

Click System Restore

  • Click Next and select a restore point from a time when your USB port was working fine, and select Next again. You can click Scan for affected programs before proceeding to see which apps will be affected by the process.

You can click Scan for affected programs before proceeding to see which apps will be affected by the process.

  • Click on Finish to start the process.

Click on Finish to start the process

Fix 8: Reset BIOS/UEFI settings

UEFI or BIOS settings control how hardware interacts with your system at a foundational level. If your USB ports are disabled there, or something got misconfigured during a firmware update, they might not work regardless of what you try in Windows. Here’s how to reset to default:

  • Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI, usually by pressing F2, F10, or Del during boot.
  • Look for options like Load Defaults, Restore Defaults, or Setup Defaults, and choose it.
  • Save and exit the BIOS.
Brand Access key Steps to reset
Dell F2 (tap repeatedly during boot)
  • Enter the BIOS with F2 at startup
  • Use arrow keys to navigate to the Exit or Settings tab
  • Choose Load Defaults or Load Optimal Defaults
  •  Confirm and click Save & Exit

⚠️ Some Dell BIOS settings may disable ports by default or after updates. Look for any USB configuration settings and reset to factory defaults if unsure.

HP Esc then F10 (at startup)
  • Turn on and press EscF10
  • In the BIOS, find the File or Exit tab
  • Select Apply Defaults and Exit or Restore Defaults
  • Confirm and exit

⚠️ Some HP BIOS versions have USB power management settings that may disable ports when the system is in sleep mode. Check the Advanced tab for USB settings if USB ports are not working, whether on Windows 10 or 11.

Lenovo F1 or the Novo button (small button near the power button)
  •  Press Novo or F1 to enter the BIOS
  • Go to the Exit or Restart tab
  • Select Load Default Settings
  • Save changes and exit the BIOS

⚠️ Certain Lenovo models, like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 & 5 Series and Lenovo Legion gaming laptops, have a USB Always-On setting that keeps ports powered even when the laptop is off. If USB devices remain active, look for this option in the BIOS.

Acer F2
  • Boot and press F2
  • Go to the Exit tab
  • Choose Load Setup Defaults
  • Confirm and exit with Save Changes and Exit

⚠️ Some Acer BIOS versions may have ErP (energy-related products) settings that disable USB ports to save power (check your BIOS, motherboard manual, or manufacturer’s website for ErP support). If USB ports stop working, check for ErP settings. Here’s how:

  • Restart your Acer device and press F2 repeatedly during boot.
  • Navigate to the Advanced tab.
  • Look for ErP Mode, ErP Ready, or Energy-Related Products.
  • Enable or disable the setting based on your preference.
  • Save changes and exit the BIOS.

 

ASUS F2 or Del
  • Boot with the F2 or Del key
  • Find the Save & Exit or Advanced tab
  • Select Load Optimized Defaults
  • Save changes and exit the BIOS

 

MSI Del
  • Press Del during boot
  • Go to Settings → Save & Exit
  • Choose Restore Defaults or Load Optimized Defaults
  • Confirm and reboot

⚠️ Just like Acer, the MSI BIOS may include ErP Ready settings, which can disable USB ports when the system is off. If USB devices don’t work, check the Power Management section in the BIOS.

Fix 9: Check and clean the Windows registry

Sometimes, a damaged or incorrectly configured Windows registry entry can prevent USB ports from working. Specifically, the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values under a certain registry key can interfere with USB driver loading.

Important!
The Windows registry controls how your system operates. Mistakes here can cause system instability. So always back up your registry before making changes.

Here’s how to correct the problem using the Registry Editor. Carefully go through the steps below:

    • Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter

  • Click into the address bar at the top, copy and paste the following path, and press Enter: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Click into the address bar at the top, copy and paste the following path

Note
This registry location corresponds to the USB controllers (the class GUID for USB devices). If the filters here are corrupted or misconfigured, your USB ports may stop working.

  • In the right-hand pane, check for entries named UpperFilters or LowerFilters. If either exists, right-click it and choose Delete.
  • After removing the filters (if found), restart your PC.

Note
This step doesn’t apply to you if you don’t find the UpperFilters or LowerFilters entries in your registry.

Here’s a summary table of all the fixes to help you give a quick glance:

Fix Steps Key points to note
Inspect and clean the port Use a flashlight to check for debris, blow air, or gently remove lint with a brush/toothpick Dust or lint can block connections and stop the port from working
Try a different cable or device
  • Swap devices, cables, and ports to see if it works
  • For USB-Cs, check if the cable supports both power and data

 

Some USB-C cables are charge-only; use one that supports data too
Restart your PC and run the troubleshooter
  • Restart the PC to see if that fixes the issue
  • If not, press Windows + R, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, and run the troubleshooter

Microsoft is phasing this out

If it doesn’t work on your PC, move on to the next fix

 

Check your power supply and battery settings Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Advanced settings > USB settings and disable USB selective suspend Power-saving features can disable USB ports on laptops
Turn off Fast Startup to fix USB ports Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable and turn off Fast Startup This prevents cached driver issues by forcing a full boot cycle
Update or reinstall USB drivers Open Device Manager > Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers > Right-click the problematic USB > Click Update driver or Uninstall device > Restart

Manual updates may install generic drivers

Use tools like Auslogics Driver Updater for a safer update

Use System Restore Search for Create a restore point > Click System Restore > Choose a suitable restore point > Follow prompts

Rolls system settings back without affecting personal files

Use this method if the issue recently occurred and you already have restore points saved prior to the problem

 

Reset BIOS/UEFI settings Restart and enter the BIOS (e.g., F2 or Del) > Go to Load Defaults > Click Save and Exit

USB ports might be disabled in the BIOS

A reset can restore default behavior

 

Check and clean the Windows registry Back up the registry > Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} > Delete UpperFilters and LowerFilters if they exist > Restart your PC

Only works if those specific filter entries exist; harmless if they’re not present

Always back up first

 

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Prevent hardware errors and ensure problem-free device operation with this advanced tool that detects outdated drivers and safely gets them updated.

Get Your Laptop or PC Checked if USB-C or USB Is Still Not Working

If you’ve gone through all the fixes in this guide and your USB-C or regular USB ports still refuse to work, then unfortunately, you might be dealing with a hardware issue. Over time, USB ports can physically wear out, especially if you’ve been using them frequently or forcefully. Ports can become loose, damaged, or even completely unresponsive due to wear or debris buildup.

In some cases, the USB controller on your laptop’s motherboard might fail altogether, which is a more serious issue that typically requires professional repair. For USB-C ports, the issue can sometimes be even trickier. These ports are often soldered directly onto the motherboard in modern laptops.

If the soldering gets loose or the port shifts from repeated use, your system may not recognize connected devices properly or at all. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s always worth double-checking your laptop’s manual.

Some ports may be data-only, while others may be for charging or video output. If everything checks out and the ports still don’t work, it’s time to visit a professional technician.

Have you found this guide helpful? Feel free to share it and drop a comment below if you have questions or fixes that worked for you!

FAQ

How to check if a USB port is damaged?
Try connecting a known working device to the port. If it doesn’t respond, test the same device on another port or computer. Visually inspect the port for bent pins or debris. If nothing works and other ports or devices do, the port may be damaged.

Can power settings in Windows disable USB ports?
Yes. Windows can turn off USB ports to save power, especially on laptops. This can lead to unresponsive devices. Disabling USB selective suspend and changing power management settings in Device Manager can help.

Can malware affect USB ports?
In rare cases, yes. Some malware can interfere with USB functionality, disable device recognition, or block data access. Running a trusted antivirus scan or using tools like Auslogics Anti-Malware can help detect and resolve such threats.

What is a USB-C port used for?
USB-C is a versatile port that can be used for charging, data transfer, connecting to external displays, and even powering external GPUs, depending on the device’s capabilities.

Can a BIOS update fix USB issues?
Yes. BIOS updates sometimes include USB controller fixes or compatibility enhancements. Just make sure you follow your manufacturer’s update instructions carefully.

Why does my USB-C device keep disconnecting and reconnecting?
This could be due to a loose or damaged port, outdated drivers, a faulty cable, or power management settings in Windows. Disabling USB selective suspend or trying a different cable often helps.