[FIXED] USB Ports Not Working on Windows 10/11? Here’s What to Do

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 Outdated or glitchy drivers.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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• Go to Hardware and Sound.

• Then, go to Power Options.

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

• 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.

• 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 Change settings that are currently unavailable.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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}

• 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.

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

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