What to Do If Your USB Port Stops Working

The USB ports on your computer help you customize and control your PC experience. Need a mouse? A new keyboard? Just plug it in. This can make working and gaming on your computer a much more enjoyable experience—unless one of those ports malfunctions. If you’ve tried everything to fix your mouse or get your external drive to show up, the problem may be internal. Here’s what to try to get the ports working again before calling in the professionals.

1. Narrow Down the Problem

(Photo: Aleksandrs Muiznieks/Shutterstock)

If your computer has more than one USB port, try plugging your peripheral into a different one. This is an easy way to see if the problem is specific to one port or extends to all of them. You can also try a different cable; make sure the existing one is not torn, melted, or otherwise damaged.

Another option is to change devices. If a mouse isn’t working in a specific port, try a keyboard or printer instead to see if there’s an issue with the device itself. Or, plug the device into a different computer, if you have one.

2. Make Sure You Have the Right Port

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Are you trying to charge your laptop through a USB Type-C port? Some manufacturers designate certain ports as data-only, meaning you can transfer data through it but cannot draw power. Check your USB ports to see how they are labeled. Some may include a charger plug icon, or something similar, to indicate it’s meant for charging.

If you’re trying to charge through a data-only port, moving to the charging port should fix the issue. (For more on that, check out our guide for when your laptop is plugged in but not charging.)

3. Clean Out Debris

Falcon Dust-Off Electronics Compressed Gas Duster

Look closer at your USB ports. Debris or grime can block the port and prevent a proper connection between the computer and the plug. A good indicator that something is stuck is if the cable doesn’t plug in all the way.

You may need a flashlight, but see if you can spot any food or dust blocking the port. If so, turn the computer off and use a toothpick to gently free up anything stuck inside. You can also use canned air(Opens in a new window) to clean out the space—just don’t stick the plastic nozzle directly into the port because condensation can build up and cause more harm than good.

If you plug in your device and can connect briefly by wiggling it slightly, there is likely a physical issue. At this point you may need to pry open the computer’s chassis to see if you can fix the port yourself or call in a professional.

4. Restart and Update

It’s possible that all your USB port needs is a quick restart. Sometimes there’s an internal error that can keep components from acting the way they should, and restarting gives the computer a chance to fix itself. In Windows, click the Start menu > Power button > Restart. On a Mac, click Apple > Restart.

The issue you’re having also may be solved by updating your computer. The drivers used to make all your devices work can run into issues and need updates over time. Driver updates are typically packed within regular system updates, so it’s worth a try.

In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Check for updates button. Click the Download and install button if there is an update. For Windows 11, head to Settings > Windows Update and click Install now.

Mac users running macOS Monterey and older can go to System Preferences > Software Updates to scan for updates. If you have macOS Ventura or newer, open System Settings > General, then click Software Update.

5. Manage USB Controllers

Your USB ports are controlled by their own drivers. If there’s something wrong with these drivers, it may result in unusable USB ports. Right-click on the Start menu and choose Device Manager from the list. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus controllers and expand the list. Look for the option that includes “USB Host Controller” in the name.

Right-click on the entry and select Uninstall device. If there are multiple listings with the name, do the same for all of them. Let the drivers uninstall, then reboot your computer. The USB Host Controllers will be reinstalled automatically upon relaunch and hopefully clear up any issues.

Things work a little differently for Macs. The System Management Controller (SMC) is in charge of many hardware functions on a Mac. So if you can’t get a USB port to work, you can reset the SMC. The method differs depending on whether it’s an Apple silicon or Intel-based Mac, has a removable battery, or includes the T2 security chip. Apple has instructions on how to reset the SMC(Opens in a new window) in your device.

6. Disable USB Selective Suspend

Power management settings in your computer may be disrupting your USB ports. USB Selective Suspend can deactivate a USB port when not in use in order to save battery life, but can also sometimes disable the port when you’re trying to use it. When this happens, you can go into Power Options and turn off the setting.

Type “Power Plan” into the Windows search bar and select Edit Power Plan. Click Change advanced power settings. Find USB Settings, then drill down to USB selective suspend setting. Disable the options next to On battery and Plugged in, then click Apply. You must then restart your PC to stop it from turning off the USB ports unnecessarily.